Captain Simon Chaplin from Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force, Garth Hughes of Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force and Colonel L T Williams of 160 Brigade put a plan together to deliver some much needed training for cadet force adult volunteers within Wales.
Part of the Army Cadet Force training syllabus for young people is to go on an expedition themselves and for this to happen the adults that look after them need to be qualified so it was decided to hold a lowland expedition leader training course for Wales.
This presented itself with a number of issues surrounding the locations that will be used and how the adults would attend based on their presidential status and the geography of the land. Keeping in mind the number of driving hours that may be needed to travel for training against already known work commitments and the well-being of the volunteers.
Early on it was decided that we needed to be as environmentally friendly as possible in relation to our carbon footprint and to achieve this objective the trainer Captain Chaplin would be the one that would travel around reducing this and with this knowledge two locations were chosen, one would be based from the Army Cadet Force training centre in Crickhowell and one would be based from an Army Cadet Force training centre in North Wales which were situated in areas that are suitable.
Notifications went out to all members within Wales and from this 15 people have since attended the training course, from this some of those that attended have been granted a unit leader on foot authorization due to showing sufficient knowledge and understanding through the training they can take cadets walking in low country. For a couple of those that attended he had not already completed a bronze or the national navigation award scheme, they were also awarded with this personal navigation qualification which is again recognised by the army cadet force to be able to teach navigation to cadets.
Since the training many of the adults have been working hard to complete their portfolio by either going on personal walking trips or expeditions or have been assisting other qualified staff within the organisation with cadet activities.
The benefit of this qualification will allow cadet force adult volunteers to be able to take cadets walking and camping in that local area without the need to call on further specialist help. It will also mean that the cadet force adult volunteer can deliver and assess navigation in line with the national navigation award scheme up to bronze level giving the young person extra personal awards whilst being a member of the army cadet force.
Simon Kendall said “One of the main points I learnt is planning is key for events and this has given me the tools to take forward to planning my events. It’s also given me more confidence to know I’m doing the right training and assessing with the army cadets.” Kev Reynolds said “The course helped to confirm my existing navigation skills, and it also developed my understanding of leading groups of differing abilities so everyone can experience the outdoors.”
Kev Reynolds said,
“I attended the Lowland and Expedition Leaders course, supported by the Ulysses Trust, in May this year. I had a lot of navigation skills from previous years of experience in various sectors from the Military to the Emergency Services, but no formal accredited qualifications, and  was fairly unsure as to what the course would give me. The course content and delivery not only confirmed my knowledge but added to it aswell as giving me greater confidence to lead and teach others whilst getting them in the great outdoors. The networking with other like minded individuals allowed the sharing of personal tips, skills, knowledge and experience which I have benefited from whilst also then benefiting those who I lead whilst out walking. My initial concerns, prior to the course, evaporated immediately upon speaking with the lead trainer and attendance on the course has now put me in a position with a duly recognised and accredited qualification whilst also improving my skills. I would highly recommend this program to anyone with an interest in walking, camping and navigating in the British countryside.”
