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Community Cheque Recieved
Our Chairman Mike Fox today, the 12 February 2010 recieved a cheque from Waitrose Supermarkets as part of its community iniative. The money was greatfully recieved and will go into the fund to help fit out the new HQ building.
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Full Steam Ahead For Summer
Far from being a quiet period in our calender, the winter season has seen the staff and the cadets preparing for the coming spring and summer seasons. Seamanship training has been taking place preparing the cadets for the forthcoming boating season, and a team has been cleaning out the boatshed in readyness. A group of Sea Cadets will be joining with our Marine Cadets on a natural resources weekend in March, hopefully the weather will smile on the team as they learn how to make shelters to keep themselves dry and warm and also will learn how to try to live of the land. Our CO S/Lt Andy Marlborough has asked for volunteers to go on outward bound courses being held in Snowdonia, and for volunteers to spend twenty four hours at sea on RN and RFA ships during this years Air Show. Do you fancy being part of this ? Are you aged between ten and sixteen ? Then get in touch and join us !
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2010, An Exciting Year Ahead
Bournemouth Sea Cadet Corps are looking forward to an exciting year ahead. Our first parade night is on Friday the 8th January 2010. A new Commanding Officer S/LT (scc) Andy Marlborough RNR has been appointed after the resignation of the former CO, CPO (scc) Ernie Clews who had to give up the post due to work commitments. All the Instructors and cadets would like to say a big thankyou to Ernie, and we all hope to see you again very soon.
The New CO, S/LT Marlborough held a meeting for all the instructors over the holidays to brief us on the year ahead. It is hoped that the new headquarters will be built and opened this year. The plans are moving ahead with help from Bournemouth Council. It will be the first time in its history that the Bournemouth unit has had a purpose built HQ. This will enable the unit to offer far more to the cadets.
Also discussed were more opportunities for boating, it is also hoped to hold a camp, and more adventure training for the cadets. So it should be an exciting year ahead.
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Remembrance Sunday November 8th 2009
On Remembrance Sunday Bournemouth Sea Cadets participated in the parade and service at the war memorial in Bournemouth gardens. There was a very good turnout of cadets and juniors for this important occasion to remember the war dead. The CO, CPO (SCC) Clews leads the parade from Exeter Road towards the Upper Gardens.
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Bournemouth Sea Cadets fallen in at the War Memorial prior to the start of the service.
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The service at the memorial commences. It was a bright but cold day in the gardens. On completion of the service and wreath laying, the parade marched back to Exeter Road and was dismissed. Bournemouth Sea Cadets then made their way back to the gardens for a small service at the HMS Phoebe memorial.
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Following the main Remembrance Sunday parade Bournemouth Sea Cadets attended an annual service and wreath laying with members of the HMS Phoebe association at the Phoebe memorial stone in the Upper Gardens, the service was conducted by the unit chaplain.
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Bournemouth Sea Cadets Annual Prizegiving November 2009
On the afternoon of the 8th November, having thawed out with hot soup and hot dogs after the Remembrance parade, Mike Fox the chairman of the comittee carried out the annual prizegiving a large number of trophies were presented, including : best fundraiser, Smartest marine cadet, best overall cadet, best boatwork, and best instructor, amongst others.
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Royal Navy Parade 2009
Bournemouth sea cadets hosted a Royal Navy parade and displays on the evening of the 5th October 2009. The inspecting officer was Commander AR Giles RN, and all the cadets, parents and friends were invited for the evening. It was apparent that a lot of preparation had gone into making the evening such a success, and as Commander Giles said in his address; "the cadets were the stars of the show".
The evening began with a formal parade being taken by PO Cadet Price, and the guard of honour being commanded by Leading Cadet Geraghty. Commander Giles inspected and chatted to all the cadets on parade.
The evening was a total success, and demonstrated to all present the commitment of the staff and the cadets.
After a break the Cadets then put on their displays (evolutions), these were hosted by Leading Cadet Brake. The Juniors gave a demonstration on signal flags, this was followed by the Marine cadets giving a demonstration of field signals, there was then a demonstration of first aid and finally the stewards gave a demonstration on how to serve a meal in the wardroom.
The guests enjoyed all of the displays until after the end they were roped into a knot tying exercise, mums and dads a bit more practice is required !!
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District Full Bore Course 2007
Following the success of the 2006 Full Bore Course held at Longmoor Camp, instructors and cadets from Bournemouth Unit organised, ran and took part in the 2007 course held in December.
Following the same two-weekend format of weapons-training followed by a live-fire shoot, the course was boosted by being able to use two different ranges.
In addition to using Range 1 at Longmoor, a 600m Gallery range, cadets were also able to test their skills on the 300m Electronic Target Range (ETR). With targets popping up at different ranges of between 100-300m, cadets were able to finely hone the principles of marksmanship taught the previous weekend. The Gallery Range enabled the cadets to practice groupings and earn a Good Shooting Badge (if they were good enough).
Three cadets from Bournemouth earned the Full Bore Advanced award.
Marksmanship is open to all cadets and used within the Sea Cadet Corps as a tool to help develop self-discipline and learn the importance of safety. Cadets from the age of 10 are able to use Air Rifles, from 12 can use Small Bore (0.22) rifles and from the age of 14.5 can learn the skills required for using the L98A1 Cadet GP Rifle and L81A1 Target Rifle.
All marksmanship is taught by appropriately qualified instructors. All SCC Range Conductors have completed an Army-approved training course. Regular tests of training are carried out to ensure that weapons-handling skills have not atrophied over time. When on ranges, coaches and safety supervisors monitor the safety drills of all firers.
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Cadets All At Sea
Eight young people from Bournemouth Sea Cadets returned from a week of offshore training aboard the Sea Cadet Corps' offshore Training Ship, the JOHN JERWOOD. The cadets were joined by others from Christchurch and Parkstone units.
The cadets formed the crew of the vessel under the direction of the ship's permanent staff as it steamed from Gosport in Hampshire to Poole before returning back to Gosport via Alderney in the Channel Islands and Cherbourg.
All the cadets aboard except one were working towards a basic Offshore qualification recognising all the skills required for manning a ship at sea such as Navigation and Chartwork, Marine Engineering, Seamanship, Helmsmanship and Lookout duties.
The remaining cadet, on his fourth Offshore cruise with the sea cadets achieved the status of Offshore Power Watch Leader, recognising his leadership and practical seamanship. Part of his assessment was to take charge of bringing the ship alongside at Gosport - normally a task carried out by the ship's First Lieutenant. He also planned the passage back from Cherbourg to Gosport. He became one of only eight cadets in 2007 to achieve this award.
A selection of phots from the cruise are posted in the Picture Gallery.
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Bournemouth Sailor in National Regatta
AB Speck, a sea cadet from Bournemouth, became the first cadet to represent the Area at the National Sailing Regatta for six years, last month.
The competition, featuring the best sea cadet sailors in the UK was held at HMS EXCELLENT in Portsmouth. AB Speck was part of the team representing Southern Area Sea Cadets. In his three races, he came second, seventh and eleventh helping to bring the award for second overall to Southern Area in the Pico Class.
Lt Budden, Commanding Officer of Bournemouth Sea Cadets, said: "I'm very proud of Ryan for having done so well in this competition. He has taken to sailing with a passion and this result reflects that enthusiasm."
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Last Boatwork Course of 2007
The weekend of 14-16 September saw the final boatwork course of 2007. 13 cadets from Bournemouth and Taunton took part in pulling and powerboat courses with almost all taking away a qualification.
Some of the new entry cadets achieved both Sea Cadet Swimming Tests and Water Safety Awards after the course, other cadets won the pulling Competent Crew and still others achieved RYA Power L1 or L2 (Displacement) qualifications. Two cadets were seeking higher level pulling qualifications and successfully achieved the practical part of their awards.
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Sailing Glory for Bournemouth Sea Cadets - updated 30th Aug
For the first time in over eight years Bournemouth Sea Cadets are toasting success in a sailing event after winning the Open Pico Class competition at the weekend.
Two cadets represented the Bournemouth Unit in the Pico class, Able Cadet Speck and PO Cadet Ellement.
After winning 5 of the six races, AB Speck walked away as undisputed class winner and will represent Wessex District Sea Cadets at the Area Regatta to be held later in the year. The single race that he didn't win was due to a capsize - the result of which being that Speck dropped to last place and having to sail through the field to claim second.
POCdt Ellement achieved a creditable fourth place in the class but admitted later that he would probably have performed better in the Bosun Class.
On learning of the cadet's success the Commanding Officer, Paul Budden, said: "I am especially pleased that AB Speck has done so well at the District regatta. We have to do most of our sail training as guests of other sea cadet units due to a lack of suitable sail boats and training area.
"Our boat-station is on the banks of the Stour River and we don't have the physical space on the river to teach sailing," he added. "Our sail training is usually carried out at the National Sea Cadet training centres at Weymouth or Portsmouth."
Picos are designed for single-handed sailing, while Bosuns have two crew. Both types are used extensively in the Sea Cadet Corps for sail training.
STOP PRESS
During the recent Area selection exercise at Southern Area Boat Station in Portsmouth, AB Speck was picked as part of a team to represent Southern Area in the National Pico sailing regatta to be held shortly at London Area Boat Station - Royal Victoria Docks. More information to follow when available.
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National Courses Season In Full Swing
Sea Cadets from Bournemouth are well into an action-packed summer.
Three senior cadets returned from a prestigious leadership course on Saturday after spending a week at the Frimley Park Cadet Training Centre. The course, run by teams of instructors from the Sea Cadets, Army and Air Cadets is designed to test young leaders' abilities to the full with a demanding series of exercises in the classroom and the field.
Despite not having been represented on the course in the past seven years, three cadets from Bournemouth took part this year: PO Cadets Ellement and Bray, and Cadet Corporal Metcalfe. All three returned with exceptional course reports. The course was particularly tough for the PO Cadets as their normal training syllabus does not normally include military training as it would for the Army, Air and Marine Cadets. Despite this, PO Cadet Bray distinguished himself as having the highest level of Skill-At-Arms in his platoon.
Probably the unit's busiest cadet, PO Cadet Bray, returned on Monday 7th August from another leadership course held at BRITANNIA ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE (BRNC) in Dartmouth. With just 30 places open to Sea Cadets nationwide each year, competition to attend is incredibly tough. PO Cadet Bray's presence on the course marks the second consecutive year that Bournemouth Unit has been represented at BRNC. Last year PO Cadet Ellement attended and achieved an outstanding course report.
PO Cadet Bray has since returned to Portsmouth to complete his PT 1st Class course. He returned on Friday after completing his pre-PT1 course and enjoyed his single day off.
Further courses run by and from Bournemouth Unit recently included a cruise aboard the square-rigged brig TS ROYALIST, a purpose-built sail training ship 100' long. Spending a week sailing around the coast of Scotland, further details and photos will be online as soon as possible. Three cadets also attended National Sea Cadet Summer Camp in Portsmouth in the first week of the school holiday. Phots are still pending for this course.
Six Marine Cadets and three adults staff returned recently from the annual Marine Summer Camp. A full report will be posted online once it has been compiled by the Commanding Officer (and Company Commander), Lt Budden.
Finally LC Hector returned from the Sea Cadet Training Centre at HMS RALEIGH, after attending a First Aid 1st Class course. This award, accredited as RN Level 2, is equivalent to the four-day HSE recognised First Aid At Work award. Congratulations to him.
The next courses will be a boatwork course at Christchurch postponed from the end of August. Only limited numbers of places are available for this, so if interested, put names on the noticeboard and see CPO Spence for further detail.
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Cadets Brave the Weekend Weather
Cadets from across Dorset, Somerset and Hampshire braved awful weather conditions during the Glastonbury weekend camping in the New Forest.
The weekend was designed to test participant's knowledge of campcraft and expedition leadership with each of the 40 cadets attending under assessment for one of these qualifications. Bournemouth Sea Cadets sent a contingent of staff and cadets for assessment for all four levels: Basic Campcraft, the higher Proficiency Campcraft award, Expedition Leader (EL) Grade 6 and EL5.
Basic Campcraft proves the cadet's abiiity to pitch and strike a tent, cook and live under canvas, respect the environment and walk a short route.
Campcraft Proficiency tests the candidate's ability to map read in addition to the above.
EL qualifications begin at Grade 6 which enables a qualified cadet or staff member to lead a day walk having due regard for planning routes, checking team members' personal kit, menu planning and walking a longer route carrying all kit including tents, food and water.
EL5 assesses the candidates' ability to lead a group for a similar length of walk in addition to looking after the needs of his or her team overnight. The focus at these levels are very much focussed on leadership and knowledge of the environment.
Two cadets from Bournemouth were assessed for EL5, one for EL6, one for Proficiency and five for Basic. Those assessed at the weekend are likely to form the core of the teams put forward for the forthcoming District Expedition Training Competition in July.
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Competition Hat-trick for Bournemouth Sea Cadets
Cadets from Bournemouth will be representing Wessex District in several Area-level competitions in the forthcoming weeks.
In addition to winning the Pico class sailing regatta recently, cadets from the Springbourne-based unit took part in a District Canoe Regatta held at Salisbury at the weekend. The team walked away having won the Senior Boys and Junior Girls events.
Paul Budden, Commanding Officer of Bournemouth Sea Cadets said today, "Wessex District have a tradition of winning the Area competition and to a large extent that is due to those team members from Bournemouth. That the team has been so well prepared each year is a credit to our Kayak instructor Paul Claxton."
The Area competition will be held in early July.
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Busy Weekend for Bournemouth Cadets
Its been a busy few days for Bournemouth's Sea and Marines Cadets.
In addition to competing in the District Sailing Regatta (see above), two teams of pullers (rowers) fought hard on Sunday 10th June for the right to represent Wessex District at Area Regatta later in the year. The Junior Girls team exceeded their own expectations by coming second in their event, while the Open Boys team fought hard in theirs.
At the same time three cadets were taking part in a sailing, pulling and powerboating course held at the Royal Navy's training school, HMS EXCELLENT, in Portsmouth.
Meanwhile, six Marine Cadets were undergoing safety training prior to practicing their marksmanship skills in Aldershot during the same weekend. All six either achieved or requalified for their six-monthly weapons safety assessments and showed good potential for achieving good shooting badges in the future.
For more information about forthcoming courses, events and activities see the Courses News feature below.
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