Alnwick Detachment, Northumbria ACF

The George
and Dragon
The newsletter everyone is talking about.

Northumbria 15th May 2006 Volume 1, Issue 5

Special points of W Coy Weekend, May 2006

interest:
• W Company Weekend.
• Cadet Vocational Quali-
fications and Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award.
• Latest from the County,
Company and Detach-
ment.
• Alnwick in Action: Field-
craft Afternoon.
• Royal Engineers.
• Forecast of Events.
Inside this issue:
Cadet Vocational
Qualifications. 2
Duke of Edinburgh’s
Award Scheme. 2 Alnwick Detachment Website
News from Around the
Company. 2 up for some free web space
Army in Focus: Royal
Engineers. 3 www.freewebs.com/
Forecast of Events.
3 I hope to be able to put
News from Around the
County. 3 shortly. My knowledge of
Alnwick in Action:
Fieldcraft Afternoon.
4 will probably be limited to
W Company held an expedi-
tion weekend on 12-14 May.
Two expeditions took place:
2-star on the Pennine Way
and Upper Coquet Valley
and 3-star on St Cuthbert’s
Way in North-
Northumberland. The 1-star
training group worked out
of Cottonshope Head on
ATE Otterburn.
The 2-stars had a productive
weekend: 26 cadets and 26
2-star expedition passes. As
for the 3-stars, who knows?
Things got off to a worrying
start when a cadet from
Rothbury (no names, no
pack drill) came a cropper
halfway up Byrness Hill.
There was another near
The Detachment has signed
at:
alnwickdetachment
something on there very
such things is very basic so it
some text, links and a couple
of images. Don’t expect
complicated javascript and
death experience when sev-
eral cadets ended up past
their knees in very soft mud.
The stench was more terri-
fying than the prospect of
being swallowed alive in the
festering detritus.
It never fails to amaze me
what female cadets pack in
their bergans on an expedi-
tion. Two such dippy cadets,
Marshall and Nicholson of
Amble, came equipped with
the entire Boots make-up
counter, hairdryers and
straighteners, The thought
of using the toilet outside
and washing in cold water
was also too much to bare.
No such nonsense from the
frames!
In the meantime I have
started to upload our pho-
tos to the web via Photo-
box. We have three galleries
at the moment:
www.photobox.co.uk/
albums/3002364 and
3002436 and 3003061.
These will be linked to by
the website when I get it
going. If you buy any photos
we will be rewarded with
lads and Cdts James Hender-
son (Berwick), Michael Sar-
gent and Alex Mallaburn
(Alnwick) were straight in
the icy River Coquet for a
rinse down after the 18 km
trek that day.
A humorous event also hap-
pened to me. Confident of
the crystal clear purity of the
Coquet tributaries I was
straight in to demonstrate
how safe it was to drink. A
few moments later I hear
the sniggering of Cdt Kyle
Dytrych from Broomhill as
he points out the corpse of a
sheep lying in the shallows
about 5 yards further up-
stream. Whoops I thought.
Still here though.
extra web space to upload
more. If you have any pho-
tos for the galleries please
forward them to me (no
bigger than 3MP resolution).
I really need someone with
a little bit of web knowledge
to look after the website
for me. Any volunteers
(don’t all rush at once)
please come and speak to
me.

Cadet Vocational Qualifications
Senior cadets (2 star, aged 16
years or older) can obtain a
BTEC First Diploma in Public
Services alongside their APC
training. The diploma, the
vocational equivalent of 4
GCSE grades A-C, is achieved
by completing 6 out of 7 units:
• Public Services*
• Public Services Skills*
• Public Service Fitness*
• Outdoor Activities
• Land Navigation
• Expedition Skills
• Nautical Skills
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
The Duke of Edinburgh’s
Award Scheme (D of E) is a
challenging programme of
activities which will help you
to learn new skills, help oth-
ers, experience adventure and
gain a great sense of achieve-
ment. What’s more, many
organisations such as employ-
ers and universities take a
good view of the Award and
the person who has achieved
it. The award is complimen-
News from Around the Company
It has been a tremendously
successful month for W Coy.
Not only did we come out on
top in the County Athletics
(cover story last month) by
we won Exercise Magpie Flut-
ter. The competition was run
by 101 (V) Regiment Royal
Artillery. A team from Amble
Detachment, led by Cpl Chris
Braithwaite, romped home in
the competition which is very
similar to the annual Colts
Canter competition. Brigadier
N. Hepworth, the secretary of
* The first three units are
compulsory.
For an ACF cadet, completion
of the units will involve lead-
ership tasks, a small project, a
short presentation, map read-
tary to the APC: you can gain
a D of E award by very little
extra effort on top of your
ACF training.
The Award can be achieved at
three levels: Bronze, Silver
and Gold. Each level includes
four sections: Service, Skills,
Physical Recreation and Expe-
ditions. Additionally, at Gold
level, participants complete a
residential project. You can
start working towards Bronze
Cpl Chris Braithwaite
(Amble) receives trophy.
the North of England Reserve
Forces and Cadets Associa-
tion (RFCA) presented to
trophy.
We’ve had a good perform-
Volume 1, Issue 5
ing, expeditions, first aid train-
ing and completion of the
CVQO resource book. You “Senior cadets can
may have even already com-
pleted some of these units obtain a BTEC First
through your APC or D of E
training. Participation in the
scheme is free of charge to
Diploma in Public
cadets.
For more information check
Services….
out the Army Cadet magazine
or the Cadet Vocational equivalent to 4
Qualification Office website:
www.cqvo.co.uk GCSE grades A-C.”
To participate speak to the
DC.
“Learn new skills,
at the age of 14 years, Silver
help other people
at 15 years and Gold at 16
years. The upper age limit for
completion of any level of the and experience
award is 25 years. To enroll
on the scheme you need to adventure….
buy a record book (~£8) and
fill in a form.
Employers and
Further details from the DC,
or check out the website:
universities take a
www.theaward.org
good view .”
Contacts
ance on the County Clay Pi- If you have not already
geon competition too. Sgt done so please give your
Stephen Allan and LCpl Chris email address and mobile
Dunn represent Alnwick on number to the DC.
the team.
Email and text message updates
The Company Commander will be sent to you in future.
also held a Holland training
This newsletter will be emailed
day up at Rothbury, Cdts Alex
every month.
Mallaburn and Michael Sargent
represented Alnwick. Thank you.
It’s been a month of goodbyes
too. PI Alan Gibson of
Rothbury Detachment has
decided to leave us. Page 2
Army In Focus: Royal Engineers
Engineering in the Army is the
job of two of the technical
Corps: the Royal Engineers
(RE) and Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers (REME).
The RE is a fighting Corps that
supports the Army wherever
it is in the world. Trained as
soldiers and engineers, its
men and women rise to some
of the toughest challenges
military life can bring, whether
in conflict or peacetime.
All soldiers in the Corps train
as a combat engineer before
undergoing specialist training
for their particular trade. The
combat engineer’s job is to
provide engineering expertise
on the battlefield. Specialist
trades in the Corps include:
• Commando Engineers
Train with the Royal Marines
and become specialists in water-
borne assaults, cliff climbing and
jungle warfare.
• Technicians
Bricklayers, electricians, carpen-
ters, plumbers and similar roles.
• Parachute Engineers
Deliver a wide range of light
engineering skills after being
parachuted or flown in.
• Armoured Engineers
Use big kit to breach obstacles in
the way of our armour.
• EOD Engineers
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
(EOD) engineers clear unex-
ploded mines and shells from the
battlefield, as well as from civil-
ian areas.
Volume 1, Issue 5
• Air Support Engineers
Prepare landing sites, repair
runways and establish fuel points
for Army and RAF aircraft. “The men and
• Amphibious Engineers
women of the
Build bridges so our soldiers and
equipment can get to the heart
of the battle. Royal Engineers
• Divers
face some of the
Provide underwater reconnais-
sance, demolition and construc-
tion. toughest
Members of the RE also gain
many useful skills and qualifi- challenges military
cations for future life.
More info: life can bring.”
www.army.mod.uk

Forecast for the Next Few Weeks

• 12th-14th May: W Coy Weekend: CTC Otterburn: MAX ATTENDANCE (all cadets)
Corrections
• Sat 21st May: Regional Target Rifle: CTC Strensall (selected cadets only) In last month’s issue it was
incorrectly stated the PI Alan
• 27th-28th May: W Coy First Aid: Alnwick TAC (selected cadets only) Gibson (Rothbury) and PI
Wendy Aitchison (Belford)
• 29th May (Bank holiday): Alnwick Fieldcraft Training: Meet at Alnwick TAC at 1400 hrs
attended the Easter ITC up at
• 2nd-4th June: County Cadre Training: CTC Otterburn (selected cadets only) CTC Otterburn.

• 4th June: Regional Athletics: Venue tbc (selected cadets only) In fact only PI Billy Hall
(Berwick) and PI Kirsty Perry
• 8th-11th June: London Visit (selected cadets only)
(Amble) completed the ITC.
• 9th-11th June: Officer Training: CTC Otterburn: MAX ATTENDANCE (Officers only) We warmly welcome the two
new qualified SIs to W Com-
• 16th-18th June: W Coy Weekend: CTC Otterburn: MAX ATTENDANCE (all cadets)
pany and wish them much suc-
If you want more information about any event ask the DC. cess in the future.

News from Around the County Good Luck

Continuing the goodbye
theme the County bids fare-
well to long-serving and ex-
perienced Captain Andy Jer-
dan, the County First Aid
Training Officer (CFATO).
Andy has been with the ACF
for 18 years, before which he
was in W Coy 6RRF.
He was DC Rothbury Detach-
ment in the then A Company.
He was later 2ic A Coy before
moving to County HQ as the
ACFATO.
Still no news on the next
amendment to the list of pres-
sure wash users. As soon as I
get the memo you’ll hear it.
It is fair to say that our news-
letter continues to have a
‘popular’ following around the
County.
Good luck to everyone doing
exams at the moment (Amy
Waters, Chris Dunn and Kevin
McNab). Keep up the good
work. Your hard efforts now
will be worth it in the future.
Page 3
 Volume 1, Issue 5
Alnwick in Action: Fieldcraft Afternoon
On the afternoon of Bank Holiday Mon- that morning.
Cdt Allan
day 1st May the cadets of Alnwick De-
After lunch it was all change on the les- relaxes by
tachment (+ LCpl Lucy Cowell, Amble
sons. Those who were on the radios and the fire side.
Detachment) hit Cawledge Dean a couple
ambushes went to the shelter building and
of kilometres to the south-east of the
vice versa. The second group of shelter
town. On the agenda was an afternoon of
builders, ably assisted by shelter building
campcraft and fieldcraft training. The
veteran Sgt Stephen Allan, managed to
weather looked ominous as black clouds Cdt Sargent
produce a very effective lean to, weaved
hung low in the sky, but luckily the rain works on his
with bracken and wild garlic for extra
help off all afternoon. voice proce-
waterproofing. It would have kept the
dure.
First off was a quick recce of the area to rain off, but the occupants may well have
select a suitable campsite close to the succumbed to the garlicky fumes in the
track for access, water for drinking and middle of the night!
washing but far enough into the foliage LCpl Dunn
The afternoon was getting on by now so
not to be seen. introduces
we headed off back towards the minibus.
Half the cadets had a hour long lesson in On the way there was just enough time the cadets to
radio voice procedure and ambushes with for a spot of obstacle crossing. I don’t their lunch.
2Lt. Barry Lister (DC Rothbury Detach- know what it is with cadets and water,
ment) while the other half had a crash but they are attracted in much the same
course in shelter building off the Alnwick way as iron filings and a magnet. As the LCpl Dunn
DC, Lt. Tom Jackson. more confident cadets strode out across gives a
the rope bridge the remainder headed cooking
After the first lessons the cadets were
straight for the shallows for a mini water demostra-
beginning to feel slightly peckish and the
fight. As much as LCpl Waters protested tion.
breeze was getting slightly chilly. Now
she wanted to stay dry, she was the first
was the ideal opportunity for a group get
in the stream! A good afternoon had by
together round the fire, kettle boiling and
all and the promise that we’ll do it again Keeping
a quick demo of cooking in the field.
shortly. warm and
LCpl Dunn showed the other cadets how toasty.
to prepare their rations for cooking, while Next fieldcraft afternoon:
Cdts Michael Sargent, Liam Warren and
End of May Bank Holiday:
Jack Sturdy had a crash course in vegeta-
ble chopping under the beady eye of do- Monday, 29 May 2006
Warren and
mestic goddess, LCpl Amy Waters. The Meet at TA Centre, 1400 hrs. Mowbray
all-in-one stew, a concoction of onions,
Dress is combats. Bring a packed meal and sample the
carrots, potatoes and wild garlic, went
waterproof jacket. grub.
down surprisingly well with even the most
squeamish of cadets. Just in case nerves
got the better of the tasters it was subsi-
dised by a few sausages freshly purchased LCpl Waters
isn’t too sure
about eating
the stew.

Anyone wanting copies of these photos

please provide the DC with a CD-R and
LCpl Dunn on the ropes. Cdt Sargent takes the Lt. Jackson tests the bridge he’ll be happy to oblige.
plunge. strength!

Page 4

Alnwick Detachment,
Northumbria ACF
TA Centre,
Lisburn Terrace,
ALNWICK,
NE66 1XQ
Monday Evenings: 7-9.30 pm
Det Mobile:
07776 475089
Email:
alnwick.detachment@gmail.com
Inspiring to Achieve
WE’RE ON THE WEB:
W WW.NACF.ORG.UK
Disclaimer
This document is not an official
publication of Northumbria ACF.
It is produced for the guidance of
Alnwick Detachment cadets only.
Any opinions expressed herein are
those of the author and not neces-
sarily those of Northumbria ACF
or the Army.
Submissions
Deadline for June 2006 edition:
Monday, 12th June 2006
Publication of May 2006 edition:
Monday, 19th June 2006
The following items can be published:
Personal notices and announcements,
adult & cadet profiles, reviews of
weekend camps, photos. Items do
not have to be ACF related. All items
will be vetted and may be edited.
May’s Review 1
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3
Cert: 12A, Dir: J. J. Abrams
Duration: 125 mins
With the pungent whiff of familiarity, the beautiful and buff mem-
bers of the I.M.F. return in the third and most coherent mission
so far, gallivanting from home turf to Berlin, Rome and Shanghai.
Action set pieces are spectacular, beginning with an almighty
bang as the team storms a heavily guarded warehouse, before Edge of seat stuff in the newly
various pyrotechnic-laden showdowns by land, sea and air, in- released MI3.
cluding a helicopter chase that almost results in the untimely
demise of a flock of innocent sheep. During a daring break and enter in the Far East, Luther (Ving
Rhames) admonishes Ethan (Tom Cruise): 'There's a point where bold becomes stupid...' For the
most part, the three screenwriters listen to their own advice, keeping the hairpin twists to a mini-
mum and concentrating on characterization. Cruise slips effortlessly back into the black togs of
special operative Ethan Hunt, who has retired from active duty, and now restricts himself to train-
ing new agents, like his most recent protegee Lindsey Farris (Keri Russell). Instead, Ethan is happily
building a life with his fiancee Julia (Michelle Monaghan), dreaming of happy families and pretending
to be a researcher in traffic patterns. That dream is put on hold when Musgrave (Billy Crudup)
gets in touch: 'Farris has been off the grid for 11 hours. I'm sending in search and rescue. I hoped
you'd want it.' And so Ethan teams up with three fellow I.M.F. agents - Luther, transportation ex-
pert Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and the beautiful yet deadly Zhen (Maggie Q) - to save the
Lindsey from international weapons trader Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman). The mission
uncovers an even greater threat: Davian is attempting to sell something called The Rabbit's Foot
for $850 million. The team must recover The Rabbit's Foot - whatever that may be - before a
rogue state acquires it. Cruise performs many of his own stunts, adding to the authenticity and
also gets to show some emotion in the romantic sub-plot, which errs on the saccharine towards
the end. Indeed, the climactic action sequence is the possibly the film's weak point, with moments
of unintentional hilarity, including a time check to doomsday, delivered gleefully by Hoffman's ter-
rifically menacing baddie, that the film then willfully ignores. Tut tut.
May’s Review 2
THE DA VINCI CODE
Cert: 12A, Dir: Ron Howard
Released: 19th May
Duration: 149 mins
Film version of Dan Brown's international bestseller,
from a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful
Mind). Harvard professor Robert Langdon (Tom
Hanks) is summoned to the Louvre in Paris where the
elderly curator, Jacques Sauniere, has been brutally Audrey Tautou and Tom Hanks star in
slain. The dead man's final act, in his death throes, is a the film version of Dan Brown’s best-
series of baffling codes and riddles. Working alongside seller, The Da Vinci Code.
plucky French cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey
Tautou), Robert begins to solve the devilish conundrums and realises that the secret lies in the
magnificent works of Leonardo Da Vinci. On the run from a clandestine sect known as Opus Dei,
Robert and Sophie quickly assemble the pieces of an elaborate puzzle, point-
ing to the location of an important religious relic, hidden for many years by
the centuries-old Priory of Sion.
However, the treasure hunters
face many perils, not least greedy
aristocrat Sir Leigh Teabing (Sir
Ian McKellen) and albino assassin
Silas (Paul Bettany), who is
charged with killing anyone who
opposes Opus Dei.
Also available in Neveu (Tautou) and Langdon (Hanks) in
paperback. a close encounter.