On Wednesday 31 July, 20 Forces-friendly organisations from the Lowlands of Scotland, along with five from the Highlands, came together at Barry Buddon Training Centre in Carnoustie to meet with members of West Lowland Battalion Army Cadet Force (ACF).
Since 20 July, the West Lowland Cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) had been staying at Barry Buddon for their annual two-week summer camp. Throughout that time, the Cadets had enjoyed a wide range of training and leisure activities including paint-balling, water sports, drill, Fieldcraft and shooting with blank rounds, to name just a few.
As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering engagement between the Cadet Forces and the wider community, Lowland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) invited employers of all sectors and sizes from its network to visit the Cadets at camp, learn about how being involved with Cadets has changed their lives for the better, gain an insight into the training and learning opportunities available at an annual camp.
In turn, the employers would spend some time speaking with the Cadets about what their organisations do and what Cadet skills would be particularly valuable to their teams in the future. Each organisation in attendance has previously signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC), pledging to support members of the Armed Forces Community in areas such as employment opportunities, provision of services, housing and healthcare.
The visit began with a warm welcome from Colonel Alan Middleton MBE, Commandant of West Lowland Battalion, who gave the guests an overview of the Army Cadets as a ‘social value incubator’, offering mentored development, challenges and fun in a safe, controlled environment to young people of all backgrounds.
To highlight the immense value of the Cadet experience, Colonel Middleton’s address was followed by briefings from two Cadets and two CFAVs, detailing the professional qualifications they have gained, the lasting friendships they have formed and the personal challenges, including health problems and lack of self-confidence, that they have overcome thanks to their involvement in the organisation.
Attendees to the camp also heard from special guest Brigadier Jody Davies MBE, Commander 51 Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, who was himself an Army Cadet in his childhood. Brigadier Davies paid tribute to the employers for the support they show to adult volunteers in their teams by giving them leave to carry out their training and attend camps, and for the work placements and apprenticeships many have offered over the years to Cadets in their communities.
Following the talks, the employers joined senior Cadets and CFAVs out into the sunshine to take part in a series of activities that Cadets perform on a regular basis. The tasks ranged from administering First Aid to team-building challenges and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities.
‘This has definitely been the highlight of the day for me,’ commented Emma Davies, Director of Joint Force Alba, a recruitment consultancy based in Edinburgh and a former Army Reservist.
‘To go around the different display stands and see the Cadets perform so efficiently, to instruct us as adults on things like First Aid and to speak to us and engage with us so confidently is very impressive to a potential future employer.’
The afternoon of the visit was dedicated to the employers holding a Jobs Fair in the Training Centre’s dining room, setting up stands with educational and promotional materials and inviting the Cadets to chat with them about how they can apply their extensive range of skills and values in a future career within their respective businesses and sectors, including engineering, healthcare, higher education, security, local authorities and aviation.
‘The great thing about being a Cadet is that it can open so many more doors for you, whether you’re looking to go into the military or to get a civilian job,’ said Cadet Corporal Troy from the Battalion’s Balaklava Company.
‘Whatever I end up doing, I want to come back to the Cadets as an adult volunteer and support other young people in the way that I’ve been supported.’
On behalf of all the employers who attended, Lowland RFCA would like to thank the West Lowland and Barry Buddon teams for their exceptional hospitality throughout the day.
