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All Change In 2008
The Commanding Officer of Bournemouth Sea Cadets, Lt (SCC) P A Budden RMR, announced on Monday evening a number of changes to the Unit staffing structure.
PPO (SCC) A Redford will take over the role of Unit Training Officer from PO (SCC) D Gregory with effect from Friday 11th January 08.
The present incumbent, PO Gregory, lives in Bridgwater, Somerset and has found it increasingly difficult to attend the Unit regularly. As a result he has requested a transfer to Bridgwater Sea Cadets which Lt Budden has reluctantly approved.
TI (SCC) A Cox is also transferring to Bridgwater Sea Cadets.
In a personal statement, PO Gregory said, "I’ve been associated with Bournemouth Sea Cadets, on and off, for the past 20 years and I am very sad to be leaving. However, the Unit is in great shape and I’m glad to be leaving on a high. I have been asked to continue working with Wessex District and Southern Area Seamanship Training Teams, so staff and cadets will continue to see me around the area."
Further changes are expected to be announced shortly.
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Courses News - Updated 7th January 08
Points Charts
The Points Chart is now posted on the Training Noticeboard and includes awards achieved from the recent Full Bore shooting course at Longmoor. As usual, if you spot any further errors or think any qualifications are missing from your points total, see the Unit Training Officer.
Uniform
The First Lieutenant requires all cadets to be in uniform at all times. You are issued with a working rig and full blues. If your working rig is in the wash, you are expected to wear blues.
Qualifications and Good Conduct Badges
Cadets are reminded that they are responsible for asking for the issue of any badges they believe they are entitled to, especially Good Conduct Badges and Coxswain/Master Coxswain awards.
Unit Polo Shirts
There are a large number of Medium-sized blue unit polo shirts held in stock and available to buy now. If you would like one, see the Admin Officer. Cost is £10.
As a result of PO Gregory's transfer, there will be no further orders of unit-branded fleeces or hoodies (or other items) until further notice. Any staff member wishing to to take on the role of co-ordinator should see the Commanding Officer and request the handover details.
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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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Cadets Learn About the Natural Environment
Cadets learned about the natural environment during a Natural Resources weekend course held at a local military training area in late May.
The cadets were given demonstrations on building shelters using nothing except a handful of binbags, some rope and whatever they could find from the environment around them. The cadets were then shown how to cook a balanced meal, again using only materials provided. The food was provided as part of the exercise.
The test of whether their shelters were up to standard took place when the cadets spent the night in their shelters. The advent of some terrible weather on Sunday morning still failed to dampen the cadet's enthusiasm as most reported a warm and comfortable night's sleep in their improvised shelters. Only one of the four groups found the chilly evening too much and retired to the range hut. On inspection in the morning two of the shelters had developed leaks, neither of which were near where the cadets were sleeping.
Commanding Officer of Bournemouth Sea Cadets, Paul Budden, said today, "The cadets worked exceptionally well together over the weekend. We were blessed with good weather on Saturday for the build and cooking presentations."
Photos are now online in the Picture Gallery.
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Nailbiting Finish to District Competition
Cadets from Bournemouth took part in the annual Wessex District Boat Handling competitions hosted by HMS EXCELLENT in Portsmouth on Sunday 20th May. Competing in soaring temperatures in two of the three competition categories, the rivalry for the top spots was as fierce as ever.
First up: the Power Handling Team comprising of AB Geraghty, OC Ricketts and Cdt Baker who turned in a useful result despite a difficult period of preparation and training.
The Pulling (rowing) Handling Competition was fought between teams from Southampton, Bournemouth and the 2006 winners, Salisbury Sea Cadets. In the event the Bournemouth team significantly improved on their result from the previous year, ultimately losing out on first place to Salisbury by only eight points (out of 180).
The 2007 Pulling Handling Team were:
POCdt Bray (Cox)
Cdt Cpl Metcalfe (Bow)
AB Price (Stroke)
AB Geraghty (2) and OC Ricketts (3), fresh from their efforts in the Power Handling event.
On learning of the result, Lt P Budden, Commanding Officer of the Unit said, "These results are proof that our teams and trainers have learned from past competitions, those lessons have resulted in significantly improved performances on the day. I gather that the judges could only separate the teams by looking at the smallest detail. If this year's winners weren't scared of our teams today, they'd better keep a weather eye out for 2008."
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Area Training Course Proves Huge Success
Cadets from Bournemouth are celebrating today after achieving highly sought-after awards and qualifications.
PO Cadet Ellement and Able Cadet Speck were among the first cadets in the UK to achieve the second-class Navigation and Chartwork qualification, one that will stand them in good stead when they go to sea in one of the Sea Cadets' fleet of offshore sail or power vessels.
Able Cadet Geraghty is now the holder of a First Aid second-class award, the equivalent of the Appointed Person's qualifcation.
Meanwhile, Leading Cadet Bray achieved the newly accredited Sports Leader Award whilst preparing for a first-class Physical Training course later in the year. He was directly involved in helping the Area PT Training Team to qualify 30 younger cadets to class three standard. During the course, LC Bray achieved the best performance while taking part in the Royal Navy's infamous "Bleep Test", outstripping every other cadet and adult member of staff.
The Commanding Officer of Bournemouth Sea Cadets said today, "These cadets attending the 2007 multitraining event have really benefitted from the training available. Most of the awards gained have a civilian equivalent recognised outside of the Sea Cadet Corps which brings a real value to the training they undertake."
He continued, "I know there is huge demand for these courses amongst cadets from both Bournemouth Unit and across Southern Area. I am pleased that those who attend get the opportunity to gain so much from their time in the Corps."
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New First Lieutenant Appointed
Bournemouth Sea Cadets are pleased to announce the appointment of CPO (SCC) E Clews as First Lieutenant. Ernie takes over from PO (SCC) D Gregory in the role of second in command of the highly successful Bournemouth Unit.
PO Gregory relinquished the role after being appointed to a new job in his career that will take him further away from Bournemouth and reduce the amount of time he will be able to contribute. He will continue to give as much time as possible to the Bournemouth Unit in the role of Unit Training Officer, and member of the Wessex District and Southern Area Training Teams.
CPO Clews has been an instructor at the Unit for over 12 years and has filled many roles in that time. He was Unit Training Officer prior to accepting the post of First Lieutenant. He is a designated Boats Inspector working on behalf of Southern Area in Wessex and Central Districts, certifying that unit craft have been maintained correctly over the winter season. Chief Clews is also appointed as the Chief Instructor for Bournemouth Sea Cadets' RYA Training Centre.
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