CADETS VISIT NORTHERN IRELAND!

Rossett Platoon was invited by ex cadet WOII Mike Garnett a cadet from Rossett Platoon in the late 70s early 80s.

The training he and his team provided was second to none. The cadets who I have to say worked harder than any cadets I have seen for many years came not just from Rossett but we opened this up to the Battalion on the Forum and cadets from Holywell and Rhos came along.

The trip was 8 days long and we travelled by Platoon Mini Bus and car to Belfast were we were met by WOII Garnett and taken to Lisborn Barracks.

We had 2 days of visits and training before we deployed undercover to Ballykinler for 5 days of hard work that involved the best Fieldcraft I have ever seen in the ACF.

The 18 cadets spent the 5 days on patrol, in a Patrol Base, Flying in Helicopters as part of the exercise, using the SA80 A2 Weapon that they had spent over a month converting to and given over 10,000 rounds of ammo more Trip Flares, Smoke, Battle Simulators and Shamolies than I have ever seen.

This was all built into a 4 day none stop exercise around the clock patrols, section attacks, obsevations and map and compass exerciseses all designed to test the cadets and the adults in all the new skills we were picking up.

This was done under the strict supervision of the Regular Army who again, made the trip so good we cannot wait to go back.

The cadets would tell you if you ask them they were tired by the 5th day when we had the 3.30am attack but what an attack it was!

I wish to the also Thank the British Army Broadcasting Unit that came down and interviewed the cadets and it was good to tune in on the Friday May 29th to hear our report going out to all Serving British Troops arround the world.

We finished the trip with a visit to a number of Historic sites such as the TITANIC Dock in Belfast, The Stormount Castle, home of the Irish Goverment in the North, The Giants Causeway, and some of the British Army sites were Soldiers gave their life in trying to bring peace to the North.

This also gave us a chance to see some of the sites of Northern Ireland which I have to say are very stunning and we hope in the future the North will continue to come more and more together as they are a great people who have a great future ahead of them.

The cadets I have to say were great and this was due to the professionalism of the adults who came and gave up their time but also to the help given by WOII Garnett and his team.

More pictures in the Gallery!

Report by:

Capt Mervyn Jones

Albuhera Company