You Tube Video Thanks to joew666

Back Row (left to right) is Instructor Tris Bennett, MC2 West, MC2 Groves, LCpl Price, LCpl Pritchett, Sgt Andy Lawrence

Front Row (left to right) MC2 Havvock, LCpl Hacker, MC2 Kelly and LCpl Gibson.

The Marine Cadets from Bristol Adventure Detachment have done it again at the Annual Field Assessments.   This is the yearly test that all Marine Cadet Detachments undergo to assess a Detachment’s capability of mounting a fighting patrol (which will result in an enemy contact) and their ability to deal with the situation, using Section Battle Drills as the model.

The exercise is judged by the Staff Royal Marines Officer -  CSgt Ash (“Happy Days”) Bourne, who, along with Capt (SCC) Brian Reynolds RMR, has to judge every Detachment in the UK SCC including Channel Islands, Malta and the Falklands.     

On Friday 26^th September 2008, eight members of Bristol Adventure Marine Cadet Detachment, led by LCpl Pritchett, arrived at Swynnerton Training Area to take part in the exercise.

As usual, the Section is presented with a scenario and a mission, from which the Section Commander has to extract his own orders – a model is prepared and a full NATO sequence of orders is given.

The advance-to-contact results in effective enemy fire, which of course the Section Commander has to deal with – usually a flanking section attack and a final assault and reorg.

All of which is not bad going for Cadets aged between 13 -18 years.

During the section attack by Bristol Adventure, the SRMO decided things were going all too well and using his well-known sense of humour, added to the scenario and pinged LCpl Pritchett (the Section Commander) as dead.

MC2 Havvock immediately stepped in to fill the breach - digging out blind he took charge of Charlie team, led the assault, clearing the enemy position and calling the reorg.

Once Delta team had rejoined the section, Havvock again led out a recovery group of LCpl Price and MC2 West to recover the remains of the hapless casualty, lying comfortably some way back in the grass.  They carried him out in a fireman’s lift to complete the exercise and joined the rest of the section, LCpls Gibson and Hacker and MC2s Kelly and Groves. 

The SRMO, by now quite beside himself with excitement, pronounced it a hoofing display and Bristol Adventure Detachment were awarded a score of 95 out of 100 a VG Superior grade for the display and skill shown by the section, the best within Alpha Company and certainly one of the highest scores given to date. 

Congratulations to the Detachment Staff who trained the Section, Sgt Andy Lawrence and Instructors Tris Bennett and Phil Prys-Roberts. 

Bristol Adventure Detachment Website
Email: adventure@acoy.co.uk

Marine Cadet 1st Class Board - October 2008

Results from the National Cadet Sergeant's Board held over the weekend 3-5th October at SCTC Inskip:

Alpha Company

Cpl A Balfour                 Bristol Filton Det                  Pass     343 Credit Pass

Cpl D Balfour                 Bristol Filton Det                  Pass     347 Credit Pass

Bravo Company

Cpl G Smith                  Middleton & Chadd Det         Pass     283

Map Reading Re-assessment

Lima Company

Cpl S Banks                  Haringey Det                       Pass     319

Gained a IM 3 Grade

X-Ray Company

Cpl H Hornsey               Lincoln Det                          Failed   259 Failed One Subject Map Reading

To be re-assessed at Company Level                        Action: Company Commander

Cpl C Thompson-Hayes  Lincoln Det                          Pass     311

Zulu Company

Cpl A Richards              Eastbourne Det                    Pass     323

Cpl J Dowie                   Jersey Det                          Pass     349 Credit Pass

Gained a IM3 Grade

Cpl S Jones                   Windsor Det                        Pass     303

Results from this years Field Assessments which are now complete. BZ to all those who took part - Some work to do in the future for some of you! These results will now go towards this years efficiency grading.

Lance Corporal Eynon from Stroud Marine Detachment was recently selected to take part in a pilgrimage to the battlefields of Ypres - Belgium.

A group of sixteen Sea and Marine Cadets from Units across the Gloucestershire region, along with Instructors and members of the Severn Marine Society and Sea Cadets, set off for Belgium on Friday 5^th September.

The group visited various cemeteries, including the infamous Hill 62 and Ypres town centre itself, where the Menin Gate stands as a memorial to the British and Commonwealth troops who died in the Great War but whose bodies were never found.

The Cadets were invited by the Last Post Association in Ypres to lead the daily remembrance service at the Menin Gate. At the ceremony on Saturday evening, they marched in formation behind the pipe band with piper Iain Willox, from Cheltenham-based St Andrews Pipe Band.

For more details contact:

Stroud Detachment Website
Email: stroud@acoy.co.uk

On the 5th July 2008 Sgt Robert Mitchell - Yeovil Detachment Commander did a Solo Endurance Run, starting at the foot of Ben Nevis, in Fort William to raise money for his Detachment. The course runs from Fort William along the Great Glen, passing Loch Ness and finishing at the grounds of Inverness Castle.  A total distance of 80 miles. Despite terrible weather conditions for the time of year and several blisters  Rob earned himself a top five finish.

Rob said "I had prepared enough equipment to last 4 days unaided, a total weight of around 24kg / 50lbs. I completed the run 26 hours early which which pushed me just a little. I would like to thank all those who were kind enough to sponsor and support me for the run".

Rob has raised just under £600 in sponsorship, which will go towards the purchase of much needed field equipment for Yeovil Detachment.  Rob is currently planning his next event which will involve cycling from Yeovil to Rome via Paris!

Alpha Company's 2 IC - Maj Tony Benton and his partner Gill spent the day at Buckingham Palace at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen for a Royal Garden Party.

Royal Garden Parties are held during the summer, at least three times a year at Buckingham Palace and one at the Palace of Holyrood house in Edinburgh.

Royal Garden Parties have been held at Buckingham Palace since the 1860s. People from all sections of the community are invited to Royal Garden Parties. Invitations to Royal Garden Parties are sent out by the Lord Chamberlain on behalf of The Queen, all the arrangements are planned by the Lord Chamberlain's Office. Gentlemen wear morning dress, lounge suits or uniform; ladies wear afternoon dress (usually with hats). National dress can also be worn.

Maj Benton said “A thoroughly wonderful day for both of us, a really fantastic opportunity and experience”

The day was rounded off with a show at the Dominion Theatre.

Interested in doing something different during   your weekend; bored with the same old computer games and television repeats, then Contact Us   to find a Detachment near you to make your weekend different!

On May 29th  a party of 13 Cadets Sea and Marine Cadets escorted by the Unit Commanding Officer (Lt Cdr Lawes) and the Detachment Commander (Sgt Morgan) from Bristol Adventure Sea Cadet Unit and Marine Cadet Detachment joined HMS Bulwark in Devonport for a very special trip.The ship was sailing to the port of Dunkirk to pick up 300 cyclists who had completed a charity bike ride in Northern France. The ride was to raise money for the Charity 'Help for Heroes'.

The Cadets were given a full programme of activities organised by the ship's liaison officer Lt Will Burgoyne including, seamanship, drill, visits to the Operations Room and Bridge and a session of PT on the flight deck. The ship reached Dunkirk harbour on Saturday 31st May and launched the 4 large landing craft from the Well Deck (a spectacular sight to watch) and loaded with the welcoming parties they set off to pick up the cyclists. With the Cadets lining the stern the craft returned to loud cheers and applause .The riders were welcomed on board by the Captain and presented with a cheque from the ships company.The cadets enjoyed showing the guests to cabin and toilet facilites before everyone assembled on the Flight Deck for a Commemoration Service to mark the 68th Anniversary of the Dunkirk Evacuation in 1940. This was a moving occasion for the Cadets as some of the riders read from diaries of evacuees explaining their experiences at the time. The best was yet to come as the Staff and Cadets boarded the smaller Landing craft and were lowered slowly down the port side and into the water for the journey to Dover beach where the ramps were lowered and everyone clambered up the beach.The cyclists were already ashore having used the larger craft. The Red Devils Parachute display team completed the day with a landing on the beach. The riders continued to London where they laid a wreath at the Cenotaph and the Cadets boarded a mini bus back to Bristol having enjoyed a short but eventful visit to their affiliated ship.

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MC1's Board Results

Cpl's Board Results

Cadets and Staff from T.S. Exmouth were recently invited to visit the Hunt Class Minehunter H.M.S. Middleton at Devonport.

Amongst the Cadets were members of Exmouth’s newly formed Marine Cadet Detachment, some of who have recently passed their recruit tests and been promoted to Marine Cadet. This was their first opportunity to be out and about wearing their hard won berets with the infamous insignia of the Royal Marines and to get a taste of life in the “Small Ship” Navy.

The Cadets were given a full tour of the ship, watched an actual fire fighting drill and were given demonstrations on the ships main 30mm gun and the remotely piloted Sea Fox mine detection system. The tour ended with “nutty” for all in the wardroom and gifts from the Ships Company.

All agreed that it was a “Hoofin” day out.

Alpha Company's very own Boss - Major I D Devenish GCGI MInst RMR is the McCarroll Trophy recipient for 2007 for outstanding personal achievement.

Maj Devenish was presented the Trophy by Commander Neil Hinch RN - Area Officer South West Area at the South West Area Drill Competition at HMS Raleigh.

The McCarroll Trophy was presented to the Corps by CSgt G.R. McCarroll RM in 1970. It is presented nationally each year for an outstanding personal achievement by an Marine Officer, Warrant Officer or Senior Non-Commissioned Officer within The Sea Cadet Corps.

Cpl Board Results Sheet - January Board 2008

MC1 Board Results Sheet - January Board 2008

Maj Devenish LCGI MInst RMR has achieved a Graduateship in Youth Management and Training to go along with the Licentiateship in Youth Leadership and Training that he achieved in 2007.

Congratulations to Capt Benton who has been promoted to Major as of 01/01/08. 2007 celebrated fifty years in Uniform for the 'Company Sage'. Congratulations ‘Spud’!

Alpha Company Marine Cadets Yomp In Remembrance

Marine Cadets from Alpha Company South West Area have commemorated the Falklands Campaign by Yomping across Dartmoor.

On 28 May 2007, each Marine Cadet Company within the Sea Cadet Corps had to complete a 10-12 mile Yomp. The cumulative mileage was to commemorate 45 Commandos epic trek across East Falkland.

3 Troop Alpha Company Marine Cadets from Truro, Plymouth Manadon and Weymouth joined up to trek across Dartmoor from Cadover Bridge to Princetown.

The Cadets are aged between 13 and 18 years old and their training follows that of the Royal Marines. Royal Marines history plays a significant part of their training and all the Cadets are familiar with the Falklands Campaign, so their part in the Falklands 25 Commemorations is very special to them.

During the 1982 Falklands War, after disembarking from ships at San Carlos on East Falkland, on 21 May 1982, Royal Marines and members of the Parachute Regiment yomped with their equipment across the islands, covering 56 miles (90 km) in three days carrying 80 lbs (36 kg) loads.

Interested in during The Marine Cadets? Contact us on 01179531991 or alpha.company@acoy.co.uk

If you have news stories and pictures please email alpha.company@acoy.co.uk