:: Annual Camp Day 8 - Sunday 24 August 2008

Traditionally on ACF camps Sunday means church parade and this year was no different. All 340 cadets paraded in the cinema for a rousing service conducted by Padre Nigel Nicholson and Padre Nigel Knights-Johnson. Most impressive was the singing by the cadets who nearly brought the roof crashing down.

The County Banner Is Marched Into The Church	The Commandant Reads The Lesson	An Australian Cadet Reads A Lesson	The Cadets Get Into The Spirit Of The Service	Australian Cadets

After church parade the cadets were piled onto coaches and spent the rest of the day at Southsea. Before the service the weather looked very dodgy - but the singing did the trick! After the service the sun shone and the rest of the day was brilliant.

:: Annual Camp Day 7 - Saturday 23 August 2008

Saturday, all the training cadres are in camp, having finished their field training exercises. The weather remained reasonably kind and we have even had a bit of sunshine. The one stars were continuing their lessons on using a rifle safely. The two stars went adventure training whilst the three stars started their Junior Cadet Instructors Course.

Practice Makes Perfect Under The Watchful Eye Of SI Robinson	Commandant Meets The Cadets	Col Blowers And Cadets	A Fine Plateful	More Satisfied Customers

On Saturday evening the Non Commissioned Officers had their Regimental Dinner in the Officers Mess. The sergeants were led to dinner by the Corps of Drums.

The Likely Lads	The Corps of Drums Leads The Procession Of Instructors To Dinner

The Sergeants' Mess With Guests

:: Annual Camp Day 6 - Friday 22 August 2008

The two star and three star cadets finished their field training exercise today, despite the bad weather (rain and chilly conditions they appeared to be in good spirits and had great fun out on the plain.

The two star cadets really got stuck in:

Waiting For The Attack	A Bit Of A Smoke Screen

	Learning How To Prepare Composite Rations In The Field	L to R: Padre Capt Knights-Johnson, Major White & Padre Major Nicholson

Meanwhile back in camp the one star cadets were having breakfast:

A Full English	Hello Mum

Followed by a morning on the obstacle course:

And some more training:

Weapon Cleaning	Getting To Grips	With Map And Compass

In the evening the Officers had their annual Regimental Dinner in the Officers' Mess preceded by a display by the Corps of Drums. The winning company - once more A Company - received the Coopers' Cask from the Worshipful Master of the Company of Coopers, His Honour Judge Brian Barker QC. 

The Dining Room		Surrey ACF Corps of Drums	HH Judge Barker Presents The Coopers Cask

:: Annual Camp Day 5 - Thursday 21 August 2008

The senior 1 star cadre was out on Adventure Training today. Abseiling, canoeing, kayaking, clay pigeon shooting and archery were on the menu. The weather was perfect; not too hot and not too cold. Everyone was having a cracking time (except the poor cadet Sergeant major Pugh who managed to sink his canoe and get soaked in the process!

SI Bottomley Instructs The Cadets	Archery	Clay Pigeon Shooting	Reload	Commandant Seems To Have Broken His!	Major Mulder Blasts Away

Meanwhile out on Salisbury Plain the 2 star exercise continues despite the overnight rain. 

:: Annual Camp Day 4 - Wednesday 20 August 2008

Already it is day four of Annual Camp. The time has flown by, so much has happened. Today the three star cadre, which includes the Australians, has deployed for a three day exercise on Salisbury Plain. The two star cadre have left camp for an overnight expedition. The one stars have been on the ranges shooting. Oh, and the Brigade Commander, Brigadier Ian James OBE, lent us his helicopter for a few hours so more of our cadets could go flying.

Among All This Chaos There Is A Plan		Did He Say We Have To Put Stuff On Our Faces?		Ah! Now We Know What We're Doing!

All the cadets have commented on the high standard of food they have been getting at camp. It is very important for cadets to eat well so that they have the energy and stamina to get through the day.  

A Gazelle. The Brigadier's Helicopter	Brigadier James Chats To Cadets	Tension Mounting	Lovely Grub	Any Complaints?

Meanwhile, training goes on. The Three Star cadre moves out for a long trek across the plain. The two stars get to grips with fieldcraft.

Three Stars Off On The Long Haul	More Safety	Don't Point That Camera At Me	Learning Minor Tactics	Is That Kate Bush?

And then there are the boots. Always the boots!

	These Boots Are Made For Polishing

:: Annual Camp Day 3 - Tuesday 19 August 2008

Today was much better. The sun shone briefly albeit the wind was cold. A great day for the cadets - we had no fewer than three helicopters on camp -  two Chinooks and a Lynx. Every cadet was airborne at some stage in the day. 

The Chinooks Arrive	Safety Briefing		Deploying

As well as the helicopters, we were visited by Major General M Wood CBE MA the Chairman of the Army Cadet Force Association, an organisation that supports the ACF in the corridors of power. General Wood visited the cadets out on the ground to see them training and to get first hand experience of an Annual Camp. He was impressed with what he saw. Also visiting was Brigadier J Wallace OBE, Commander of Deepcut Garrison and Colonel Thursby from SERFCA.

The Lynx	General Wood Talks To Major Mike Jenkin of The WAACC	General  Wood Talks To The Cadets	Serious Stuff This Flying

Meanwhile normal Army Proficiency Certificate training goes on.

				Brigadier Wallace Visits 1 Star Cadre

I'm Sure There's A Bit Missing Here	Happy As Larry	Rehearsing Drills On The Light Support Weapon	Colonel Thursby Is Briefed By  2Lt Paice

:: Annual Camp Day 2 - Monday 18 August 2008

As predicted the weather was very cold and wet. Nevertheless, training went ahead with lots of good things to do. Firstly there was the safety test on the Cadet GP Rifle that all Instructors and Cadets must take to ensure that they are up to speed. Then there was the polishing up on drill and turn out - especially with the drill competition taking place later in the day. Oh and did I mention the helicopter that happened by to give our cadets a ride. Rain? What rain? Nobody seemed to notice.

The drill competition took place on the main square at the end of the day. The rain stopped temporarily as the competition got under way. The standard of the drill was very high with some competitors displaying incredible creativity in their exhibition. The RSMI and the Company Sergeant Majors had a tough job deciding on the winner. In the end it was the Australian contingent who took the prize by the smallest of margins. Well done to Cadet Under Officer Iyer and his team.

Eyeing Up The Opposition		A Worthy Winner	A Tough Decision		RSMI