A local MP paid a visit to an Army Cadet unit, to meet the young people who give up some of their spare time to learn about life in the military. Rayleigh & Wickford MP, Mark Francois, who served as an infantry officer in the Territorial Army during the Cold War, joined the Wickford Army cadets for a recent training evening at the Downtowner Youth Centre, in the heart of the town.
Mark witnessed the detachment of around 30 cadets, led by 2Lt Duncan English, on parade and saw a number of training presentations, including first aid, navigation, and cooking and living in the field. Joining the Army Cadet Force (ACF) allows young people, aged from 12 to 18, to benefit from an introduction to the military ethos, including values of discipline, teamwork, comradeship and mutual respect.
Speaking about his recent visit, Mark said: “
The Wickford cadets were very smart. During their parade, I spoke to each of them in turn and I was impressed by how many eventually want to join the British Army, even including a couple who wanted to join my old regiment, the Royal Anglians. I can thoroughly recommend young people in my constituency joining the cadets to get a taste of military life, which would stand them in good stead for the future.”
Anyone who is interested in joining the Army Cadet Force is encouraged to Google “How to Join the Army Cadets” for further information.
