A Colour Sergeants Selection Board was run this weekend at Cheltenham by the South West Area Team. Alpha Company put two candidates forward.

Sgt M Cann - Stroud Detachment Commander/PW2 - Passed and will go forward to the National Board in 2010

Sgt N Thompson - Exeter Detachment Commander/3 Troop Sergeant - Partial Pass

BZ Both, Good Effort all round.

A Potential Officers Selection Board was run this weekend at Cheltenham by the South West Area Team. Alpha Company put two candidates forward.

CSgt P Edwards - 2 Troop Commander/Company Training Officer

Sgt V Wagstaff - Walsall Detachment Commander/Alpha Company Clerk

Well done to both who passed and will go forward to the National Board in 2010 - BZ Both, Good Effort all round.

Major Dave Poke RMR (CVQO) and CSgt Paul Edwards at BRNC Dartmouth For the Presentation

CSgt Paul Edwards GCGI MInstLM with

The Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Sir Henry Elwes

Congratulations to the Alpha Company Team who were presented with Lord Lieutenant Awards during 2009 at ceremonies from the Gloucestershire to Cornwall.

Lord Lieutenant Awards 2009

• CSgt Paul  Edwards GCGI MInstLM - Alpha Company - Training Officer
• CSgt Marcus  Claridge - Alpha Company - PTI
• CSgt Mike Webley - Alpha Company - PW1
• CSgt Neil Hignet - Alpha Company - Medic 2

CSgt Marcus Claridge with Lord Lieutenant of Bristol Mary Prior MBE

Alpha Company - Southern Field Assessment Results 2009

Bristol Adventure Det - 85/100 Very Good Superior

Truro Det - 72/100 Very Good

Yeovil Det - 66/100 Very Good

Weymouth Det - 64/100 Very Good

Plymouth Manadon Det - 55/100 Good

Plymouth Drake Det - 45/100 Satisfactory

Exeter Det - 44/100 Satisfactory

Rugby Det - 38/100 Satisfactory

Gloucester Det - 36/100 Satisfactory

Exmouth Det - 32/100 Satisfactory

Alpha Company - Northern Field Assessment Results 2009

A mixed bag of results for the first assessment of the year!

Bristol Filton - 78/100 Very Good Superior

Stroud - 65/100 Very Good

Birmingham Perry Barr - 54/100 Good

Torfaen - 45/100 Satistactory

Redditch - 38/100 Satistactory

Cheltenham - 37/100 Satistactory

Walsall - 30 Fair

Birmingham Vernon - 0/100 Poor (DNA)

It's all over for Alpha Company's adventurers as they make it to Istanbul - Turkey with catastrophic suspension failure and no way of fixing the ford Fiesta after Day 8 of the Rally! Update to follow.

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We are tracking that lads (Sgt's Kesterton and Burlace - Birmingham Perry-Barr Detachment) who form part of Team GB Rally as they take part in the 2009 Mongol Rally.

Starting at Goodwood UK, this epic adventure takes in 10,000 tyre shredding, car destroying and soul breakingly torturous miles to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia! - All to raise money for charity.

Once they set off, there is NO break down recovery,NO support team, NO emergency help..... and for most of the journey, no roads! This is a true challenge in the very meaning of the word.

It will be up to the team to navigate, drive, push, walk, beg, bribe and survive our way across 16 different countries to our destination.

Each night Alpha Company get sent an update to the teams progress via a GPS spot tracker.

Its still not too late to donate go to: http://www.tgbrally.com/

MC1 Board Results - May 2009

The annual battle for the converted National Marine Cadet Drill Championships took part 24-26th April 2009 at HMS Raleigh.

Alpha Company has had a run of successful wins since 2002 at this prestigious competition. 3 Troop – Alpha Company (Plymouth Drake Detachment) winning the competition from 2004-2007. 1 Troop - Alpha Company (Perry Barr/Walsall Dets) winning in 2008.

A close competition ensued; as 3 Troop - Alpha Company represented by Plymouth Drake Detachment  took on the might of XRAY, Yankee and Zulu Companies under the watchful eye of Sgt Macey - Team Principle and Trainer.

Results:
Best Dressed Troop: Zulu Company.
Best Guard Commander: Yankee Company.
Best Arena Display: Alpha Company.

4th - XRAY Company

3rd - Yankee Company

2nd - Zulu Company

Overall Winners and 2009 National Drill Champions: 3 Troop - Alpha Company (South West Area).

Alpha Company Pose For The Camera After the Final Attack at Ex Loyal Defender'08

Alpha Company ran Exercise Loyal Defender'08 over Easter Weekend. 3 Troop put up a good fight against the advancing 1 & 2 Troop.

Checkout the gallery.

If you want to add some pictures to this news story then please email alpha.company@acoy.co.uk

The annual Dorset Cadet Challenge, organised by the Army Cadet Force, was held at Bovington Camp last Sunday. 
 
The competition comprises of three phases consisting of a three mile speed march in full fighting order, 25m shoot and assault course.
 
19 tri-service teams representing the Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force entered the challenge the year to battle it out for the top spot.
 
In true Bootneck spirit the Yeovil team rose to the occasion and won the competition 'hands down'. The lads had a great day competing and are looking forward to retaining the top spot next year.
 
This is a great victory for the Yeovil Detachment; the competition has previously been won for a number of years by the Army Cadet Force. 

Medals were presented to the winners along with the prized trophy.

You can contact Yeovil Detachment at Email: yeovil@acoy.co.uk or Telephone: 01935 455711

Picture To Follow

The Company Drill Competition was held over weekend 1-3rd March 2008 at HMS Raleigh. A tough competition and a very close result........

Company Drill Results

Best Troop and Overall Winners - 3 Troop - Plymouth Drake Det
Runner Up - 2 Troop - Bristol Filton/Adventure Dets

Best Guard Commander - MC2 Carwithin Plymouth Drake Det

Runner Up - LCpl Higham - Bristol Filton Det

Best Dressed Guard - 2 Troop - Bristol Filton/Adventure Dets

Runner Up - 3 Troop - Plymouth Drake Det

Best Dressed Cadet - Cpl Bissell - Bristol Filton Det

Runner Up - MC2 Siviter - Birmingham Perry Barr Det

Good Luck to 3 Troop - Plymouth Drake Det for the forthcoming National Competition.

One week to go before the annual Gibraltar Cup Competition to be held at Commando Training Centre.

The Gibraltar Cup is a section competition, where each Company nominates their best Detachment. The nominated Detachments then go head to head to be crowned the UK's Top Marine Cadet Detachment.

Alpha Company's nominated team is Bristol Adventure. The team has been training hard for a number of months now with a final week at CTCRM consolidating all their skills.

Come on Fella's lets make it five in a row for the mighty "Saint's"

 MC1 Board Results 

 Do you:

• Like helicopters?
• Like Field Skills?
• Like Sea Survival Training?
• Like Rock Climbing?
• Like Flying in fixed wing aircraft?
• Like Navigation?
• Like a Challenge?

Well get your applications in for the C88 (Formerly C64) National Course at SCTC Inskip. 

The Course is broken into two modules:

• Module One - Friday 1^st – 4^th May 2009
• Module two - Saturday 18th – 25^th July 2009

All Enquiries to Sgt M Cann - Alpha Company - PW2

Exercise Loyal Defender'09

Congratulations to the Alpha Company Team who were presented with Lord Lieutenant Awards during 2008 at ceremonies from the West Midlands to Cornwall.

Maj Devenish said - "It is very humbling to be in command of such skill and dedication which makes up the backbone of the Alpha Company family. December 2008 saw the end of yet another highly successful year for Alpha Company. Receiving so many Lord Lieutenant Awards within the same year is very much a first and can only be the icing on the cake for all the hard work from the very youngest Cadet to the very oldest Instructor. Congratulations to all".

Lord Lieutenant Awards 2008

• Maj I D Devenish RMR - Company Commander
• Maj ARS Benton RMR - Company 2IC
• WO2 PJ Wagstaff - Company Sergeant Major/1 Tp Commander
• CSgt K Cooper - Company Drill Leader/3 Tp Commander
• CSgt PB McEllin - Company Quartermaster Sergeant

A Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from

All At Alpha Company Marine Cadets

Alpha Company Awards 2008

Spean Bridge Award (Top Detachment) - Bristol Adventure Detachment

The Port Stanley Cup (Most Improved Detachment) – Exeter Detachment

Zeebrugge Shield (The Officer or SNCO that has made an Outstanding Contribution) – Sgt Thompson Exeter Detachment

Nominees For National Awards 2008

Gibraltar Cup – Bristol Adventure Detachment

SRMO’s Award – Exeter Detachment

McCarroll Trophy – Sgt Thompson Exeter Detachment

The Indefatigable 1906 Shield – MC Simms Bristol Adventure Detachment

Commander Brown Award – Cdt Sgts A & D Balfour Bristol Filton Detachment

Congratulations to the winners of Company Awards and good luck with your National Nominations for 2008.

Training Ship Exeter said a sad farewell to their affiliated ship this week during their visit to Portsmouth Naval Base to have one last look over her before she is decommissioned in May '09. 

The ship was launched in 1979 by Lady Mulley and entered service in 1980. She is the 5th Ship to bear the name Exeter, her predecessor being famous for her role in the Battle of the River Plate and the sinking of the German "Pocket Battleship" the Graf Spee on 13 Dec 1939. The current Exeter saw service in the Falklands Campaign in 1982. Exeter has proud and long links with the City of Exeter and has many affiliates associated with the City. Ship's Motto Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)

It was a full day of activities which also included a tour of another type 42 Destroyer - HMS Nottingham, a boat trip around Portsmouth harbour to Gosport to see the Submarine Museum and a visit to the infamous Royal Marines Museum.

Exeter Detachment

Email: exeter@acoy.co.uk

Telephone: 01392 426664 

You Tube Video Thanks to joew666

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

During the summer the Captain of the Sea Cadet Corps - Captain Jonathan FRY Royal Navy, visited Yeovil and District Sea Cadets at Sutton Bingham Reservoir The purpose of the visit was to congratulate the ships company on a very successful year culminating in the retention of their ‘Burgee’ status which he presented to the unit along with individual awards to cadets. 

During the evening he watched cadets sailing and pulling on the reservoir and Cadets from the newly formed Marine Cadet Detachment receiving instruction in field craft.

MC Newbury with his new bivvy partner looked on by members of Yeovil Unit and Detachment

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.

Alpha Company's Website is open for business. If your reading this your already here and you've found it. Spread the word:  www.acoy.co.uk - Viva la Revolucion! - www.acoy.co.uk

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