the ACF is all about. The venue for Annual Camp in August 2010 was Wathgill. Last year’s Camp at Lydd proved a great hit with the cadets who used the firing ranges daily to hone their personal shooting skills and one common feedback we received was that any form of shooting was a real highlight and not to be missed. It is intended to afford the same opportunity as a part of this year’s training package which also allows time for a day trip to Scarborough for everyone to relax following both a physical and mentally challenging week.
This summer, a group of 60 cadets will take part in an expedition to Lesotho in southern Africa. The four Cadet Forces representing 131,000 young people were invited to nominate their best cadets to attend a challenging assessment weekend in Somerset and Cdt SSgt Emily Brough (16) from Sandfordhill Detachment in Stoke was successful in the final selection. Emily will now be trekking the Drakensberg Mountains, riding the lake from the Katse Dam and camping in local villages. The expedition Patron is HRH Prince Harry and the cadets will be working to help his charity, Sentebale, which works with orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS in Lesotho.
Staffordshire and West Midlands (North Sector) Army Cadet Force continues to be successful in attracting young people from
within the County structure who have an interest in the Military way of life and the skills practised within the framework of the Army Cadet Force conventions. County numbers are presently running at 1,236 Cadets (of which 368 are female) along with 207 Officers and Adult Instructors. The County is made up of four Companies (each averaging ten Detachments, of which ten proudly wear the Mercian Eagle) located throughout the area with Company Headquarters in Walsall, Wolverhampton, Stafford and Stoke on Trent. We are the largest ACF County in the Brigade and can be rightly proud of our achievements to date. We encourage our cadets and Adult Instructors to wear their uniform with pride, remembering that the Regular and Territorial Army are thin on the ground and, whether they are bag packing at their local supermarket or helping out the British Legion, we are now often the only “military” footprint in our local community.
Each year, there is an opportunity for a number of Cadets and Adults to take part in overseas expeditions to Canada, India, Germany or Spain. This year, from 13th to 20th February, Capt Andy Lester (CCAT) and 2Lt Sarah Howes represented our County on the Ski slopes in Bavaria accompanying Cdt Lucy Hargrave and Cdt Olivia Hutchinson (both of Stafford College detachment) and
Colonel R J Westley OBE MC late WFR Team (NITAT (UK)) before going back to Northern Ireland for 18 months. He returned to 1 RWF as a Company Commander serving in Bosnia with the United Nations - where he was awarded the Military Cross for the defence of Gorazde - and in Northern Ireland. Thereafter, he was posted to Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) as SO2 G2 (Intel), deploying to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Kosovo and commanding a Field HUMINT Team in Albania. After two years at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a Company Commander, he was posted to the Joint Force Headquarters as SO2 J3 Ops (Land) and deployed to United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), West Africa and Afghanistan in 2001/2002. On promotion, he was selected to instruct at the Joint Services Command and Staff Course (ACSC).
Departures
Battalion and was conducting Ceremonial Duties when it was selected at short notice for Op Herrick 6 in Helmand Province. After four and a half months as Commanding Officer of a combined arms Battle Group conducting COIN operations in Central Helmand, he relinquished command on promotion and assumed command of OPTAG.
At OPTAG, he delivered pre-deployment training to all UK Force Elements deploying to Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan (40,000 per annum) and oversaw the design and building of two new Afghan villages at Thetford and the restructuring of the Army’s pre- deployment training progression to reflect the Campaign in Afghanistan. He retired from the Army in June 2010.
Richard Westley was commissioned into The Royal Welch Fusiliers (RWF) in April 1984. He served at Regimental Duty between 1984 and 1991 as Platoon Commander, Battalion Intelligence Officer and Operations Officer in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Berlin. He spent 14 months as an instructor with the Northern Ireland Training and Advisory
108 October 2010
In 2004, he assumed command of 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (1 WFR) in Afghanistan in December 2004. Based in Hounslow, 1 WFR finished a six month period at Readiness State 1 as the Op Telic Reserve
Married with two children, his interests include skiing, rugby and swimming. In his spare time, he lectures on leadership to national sporting bodies and major corporate firms and is an alumnus of the Windsor Leadership Trust. He also remains heavily involved with “Combat Stress” and is a supporter of “Autistica”.
The Mercian Eagle
Cpl Phillip Bailey and Sgt Stephanie Bailey (both of Bloxwich detachment) who took part in Ex Ski Caper provided by CCAT, the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training. All Cadets and young Adult Instructors between the ages of 14 and 23 are encouraged to join the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The Award broadens the outlook of individuals and works in conjunction with their Cadet or Adult training. Over the years, Staffordshire and West Midlands have always had a good response to the Award and have had many successes - particularly at Gold level with many of our young people attending a Royal Palace to receive their award. The Army Cadet Force Association (the National Cadet Force body) is an operating authority for the Award. 2010 is proving to be an extremely memorable year for the County and more news of the activities which have taken place or which are due to take place can be found on our website
www.staffsacf.org.
The Army Cadet Force is a national voluntary youth organisation. It is sponsored by the Army and provides challenging military, adventurous training and community activities. Any person aged 22 - 45 who feels that he/she can assist our dedicated team of Officers and Adult Instructors is asked to contact us on 01785 257804 during normal office hours. Previous military experience is not essential as all training will be provided.
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