Alnwick Detachment, Northumbria ACF

The George
and Dragon
Online at www.nacf.org.uk

Northumbria 16th January 2006 Volume 1, Issue 1

Special points of Annual Camp 2006: Otterburn

interest:
The Army Training Estate communications, roads, August and finishes on 19th
• Annual Camp 2006. The Otterburn (ATE O), a place drainage and accommoda- August 2006. The training
situation so far. very familiar to us all, is the tion up to the job of hosting programme has not been
venue of annual camp 2006. the big guns. The camp itself finalised but it is expected
• Gain more from your ATE O, covering some that week 1 will be for adult
ACF memberships:
BTEC and D of E. Gain 60000 acres, is the second training and cadets will at-
extra qualifications for largest training estate in the tend for week 2 only. We
little extra effort. UK. Only ATE Salisbury will probably do most of our
Plain in Wiltshire surpasses training in the field. As usual,
• The latest news from
the vastness of Otterburn. there should be adventurous
around W Company.
The varied nature of the training, visits and competi-
ground makes Otterburn a W Company in action! tions. The cost of camp
• Forthcoming events.
Fighting battles up at
popular choice for infantry, Otterburn (again). should be £20 for the week.
artillery and airbourne units,
although the wet and boggy To go to camp you need to
ground precludes the use of has enough facilities to sup- be enrolled. The deadline
heavy armour. Otterburn is port 1600 troops at any one for enrolment (the day the
one of only two places time. Military training has DC must have your com-
where the Army can fire the taken place at Otterburn pleted AF E529, size roll
Inside this issue: Multiple Launch Rocket since 1911, long before the and enrolment fee) is 15th
System (MLRS) and AS90 advent of the National Park April 2006. If you don’t
Cadet Vocational
Qualifications 2 gun. Recent multi million
pound work on the range
which now encloses much of
the estate.
make the deadline you don’t
go to camp.
Duke of Edinburgh’s has concentrated on getting
Award 2 Annual camp begins on 5th

News from Around the

Company 2 New Year, New Newsletter
Frimley Focus
3 As promised late last year, publication, but don’t send catchy and relevant title that
we have a new detachment anything offensive, liableous reflects the Detachment,
Forecast for the Next newsletter this year. or that breaches copyright. Regiment or town (or all
Few Weeks 3 three). If anyone has a better
Please contribute towards it. Everything will be vetted by
News from Around the suggestion than that above,
County 3 I want your articles and your
photos. If you want anything
me and I reserve the right to
refuse an article and to mod- feel free to put it forward.

in particular included let me ify articles before publica-

Get those pens and cameras
know. tion.
working!
I will consider everything for The newsletter needs a
 Volume 1, Issue 1
Cadet Vocational Qualifications
Senior cadets (2 star, aged 16 * The first three units are ing, expeditions, first aid train-
years or older) can obtain a compulsory. ing and completion of the
BTEC First Diploma in Public CVQO resource book. You “Senior cadets can
Services alongside their APC may have even already com-
training. The diploma, the pleted some of these units obtain a BTEC First
vocational equivalent of 4 through your APC or D of E
GCSE grades A-C, is achieved training. Participation in the
Diploma in Public
by completing 6 out of 7 units: scheme is free of charge to
cadets.
• Public Services*
For more information check
Services….
• Public Services Skills*
out the Army Cadet magazine
• Public Service Fitness* or the Cadet Vocational equivalent to 4
Qualification Office website:
• Outdoor Activities
www.cqvo.co.uk GCSE grades A-C.”
• Land Navigation For an ACF cadet, completion
To participate speak to the
of the units will involve lead-
• Expedition Skills DC.
ership tasks, a small project, a
• Nautical Skills short presentation, map read-

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme “Learn new skills,

The Duke of Edinburgh’s tary to the APC: you can gain at the age of 14 years, Silver
help other people
Award Scheme (D of E) is a a D of E award by very little at 15 years and Gold at 16
challenging programme of extra effort on top of your years. The upper age limit for
activities which will help you ACF training. completion of any level of the and experience
to learn new skills, help oth- award is 25 years. To enroll
The Award can be achieved at
ers, experience adventure and three levels: Bronze, Silver on the scheme you need to adventure….
gain a great sense of achieve- buy a record book (~£8) and
and Gold. Each level includes
ment. What’s more, many fill in a form.
organisations such as employ-
four sections: Service, Skills, Employers and
Physical Recreation and Expe- Further details from the DC,
ers and universities take a
ditions. Additionally, at Gold or check out the website:
good view of the Award and level, participants complete a universities take a
the person who has achieved www.theaward.org
residential project. You can
it. The award is complimen- start working towards Bronze good view .”

News from Around Company

Captain Michael Grey of Am- appointed acting Company
ble has returned to the Com- Sergeant Major following the
pany as 2ic. Captain Grey, retirement of SMI Michael
already a familiar figure to (Mitch) Mitchinson. SMI Elliott
most people in W Company, is the only person in North-
has been in the ACF for more umbria ACF to have attended,
than 30 years. He has been a and passed, the prestigious All
Cadet, Detachment and Com- Captain Michael Grey Arms Drill Course at ATR
pany Commander, Adventure Pirbright. SMI Elliott has previ-
Training Officer, County has recently completed his ous experience of being a
Sports Officer and recently Mountain Leader (Summer) Cadet, Detachment Instructor
Officers Mess PMC: experi- qualification. and Detachment Commander.
ence which will be of benefit SSI Paul Elliott, formerly of
to W Company. In his spare
Amble Detachment, has been
time he enjoys hill walking and Page 2
 Volume 1, Issue 1
Frimley Focus
Frimley Park is the national the scent of rose and honey- Commanders, attend the
Cadet Training Centre (CTC) suckle drifts in the breeze. ‘Area Commanders Course’.
in Surrey. It carries out train- The housekeeping staff make For three weeks every sum- “An enchanting
ing for adults and senior ca- everyone’s stay at Frimley an mer, senior cadets of the 4
dets in the ACF, CCF and, to enjoyable experience, with a cadet forces can attend the
a much lesser extent, the helpful manner, comfortable prestigious ‘Cadet Leadership
world of colorful
ATC and SCC. surroundings and good food. Course’. Senior ACF cadets

The CTC is a old Manor Training is carried out by can also attend the ‘Master blooms,
Cadets Course’. Every year
House nestled between lofty Regular Army personnel. ACF
master cadets from ACFs
ancient trees and edged by adults first attend the ‘Adult painstakingly
across the UK take part in the
beautiful gardens and a lake. Instructor’s Course’ in the
Claire Short competition.
The house itself dates back to second year of their adult trimmed hedges
1699 and holds lavish furnish- service. This qualifies them for www.ctcfrimleypark.army.org.
ings in dark oak paneled promotion to Lt (officers) or uk
rooms. Despite being in one SSI (adult instructors). More and perfectly
of the most populated parts of experienced adults attend the
the UK the gardens offer a ‘King George VI Leadership mown lawns”
peaceful retreat for the stu- Course’, often just called the
dents. A walk around the ‘KGVI’, which qualifies them
grounds reveals an enchanting for promotion to Captain
world of colorful blooms, (officers) or SMI (adult in-
Students put through their
painstakingly trimmed hedges structors). Captains, or re- paces on the Adult Instruc-
and perfectly mown lawns as cently appointed Company tor’s Course.

Forecast for the Next Few Weeks

• NCO weekend 1, 20th-22nd Jan 2006, CTC Otterburn

• W Company Staff Meeting, 25th Jan 2006, 1900 hrs, Alnwick

• County First Aid Competition, 4th-5th Feb 2006, County HQ Cramlington

• County Cross Country, 11th Feb 2006, CTC Otterburn (MAX ATTENDANCE)

• W Company Skill at Arms Weekend, 18th-19th Feb 2006, Alnwick

If you want more information about any event ask the DC.

News from Around the County

It has been a quiet month due to the Christmas break. Nothing major to report from County
HQ. Hopefully more news next month.
Page 3
 January’s Adult Profile
No adult profile this month.

Nominations for next month.

Alnwick Detachment,
Northumbria ACF

TA Centre,
Lisburn Terrace,
ALNWICK,
NE66 1XQ

Monday Evenings: 7-9.30 pm

Det Mobile: 07776 475089

January’s Cadet Profile
No cadet profile this month.

It could be you next month!

If you want to appear here

Inspiring to Achieve and you want the entire world
to know all about you (by the
magic of the www) send a
short note about yourself to
W E ’ R E O N THE WEB :
the DC. Photo also needed.
W W W . NACF . ORG . UK

Disclaimer January’s Review

This document is not an official JARHEAD
publication of Northumbria ACF.
Director: Sam Mendez, Rating: 15
It is produced for the guidance of
Alnwick Detachment cadets only. Forget the usual high adrenaline action-
Any opinions expressed herein are packed war shoot ‘em up: Jarhead is a
those of the author and not neces- movie with a difference, We hear about the
sarily those of Northumbria ACF more routine, mundane and boring life of
or the Army. accidental Marine sniper Tony Swofford
(Jake Gyllenhaal) and his best friend and
spotter Troy (Peter Saarsgard), as they
Submissions protect Saudi oil fields on the Iraqi border.
Despite long and exhausting days of training
Deadline for February 2006 edition:
they never fire in anger. Air power has all Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard as US Marines in
Monday, 6th February 2006 but made the infantry obsolete. They spend 1991 Gulf War drama Jarhead.
most of their days staving off the hot, sandy
tedium with illicit booze, football and war flicks. The war, when it does arrive, is plagued by
Publication of February 2006 edition: friendly fire and faulty equipment long before the first sight of an Iraqi. The most dramatic scene
Monday, 13th February 2006 comes as Swofford catches an Iraqi officer in his sights. As he takes up the first pressure on the
trigger he is stopped from firing, for fear the shot will give the enemy prior warning of an air
strike. There is more tension as the Marines stumble across eight Arabs with five camels in the
The following items can be published: middle of the desert. Sensing a trap the men adopt a defensive formation and are poised for ac-
Personal notices and announcements, tion. Much to their frustration the only anger the Arabs show is to the men who killed their three
adult & cadet profiles, reviews of missing camels earlier.
weekend camps, photos. Items do Is it any good? The critics seem to think so. The lack of gory action is compensated for by the
not have to be ACF related. All items realism and fascinating personality of Gyllenhaal’s character. Worth a look.
will be vetted and may be edited.