THE Ballygowan Army Cadet Detachment is celebrating a remarkable year of success in a series of competitions.
The run of wins began last October when a team from the detachment beat off stiff opposition from other teams across Northern Ireland to claim the first aid trophy at the annual military skills competition.
In February of this year the same team then went on to win their Company Patrols Skills Competition, the first time the detachment has won the award in many years.
In March two cadets from the detachment went forward to represent the Battalion at the annual Champion Cadet Competition at Ballykinler. The competition was hotly competed but Ballygowan triumphed with Colour Sergeant James Connery becoming Northern Ireland Champion Cadet for 2012-2013.
Sergeant Patrick Shepherd finished in an equally impressive third place while also claiming first place in a number of the individual awards at the competition.
The detachment returned to Magilligan in early October to compete in the Northern Ireland Cadet Military Skills Competition, known throughout the cadet world as the Calcutta Cup. The top eight detachments in the Provence are invited annually to take part in this competition of various military skills ranging from patrolling to first aid. The cadets pushed themselves throughout the weekend and were successful, winning the Calcutta Cup.
There has been one final success with the detachment winning the Irish Guards Competition which is competed for by units from throughout the UK. The Ballygowan group can now consider themselves the best Irish Guards cadets in the UK.
The detachment continues to work hard and is looking forward to the annual two week camp in early July next year in Otterburn in the north of England.
The group is always looking for new recruits to join who are looking for some fun, action, challenge and adventure. Through the cadets members can achieve many qualifications and awards ranging from First Aid and Duke of Edinburgh Awards to a BTEC National Diploma which is worth four GCSE’s grade A-C.
Anyone interested in joining the detachment can go along to an open night on Wednesday December 5 between 7:30pm and 9:30pm. There will be a number of exhibits and demonstrations to show the kind of activities you could be doing as part of the ACF and Cadets and Adult Instructors will be on hand to answer any questions.
Ballygowan Detachment is based at a dedicated cadet centre at 35 Manse Road, Carryduff BT8 8DA and meets every Wednesday night between 7-10pm.
If you cannot make our open Night feel free to visit any Wednesday evening to see what the ACF can offer or visit www.armycadets.com or call 028 90 815223.