The briefing

This year's ACF National Sports Championships for Football and Rugby delivered two fantastic weekends of fun, friendship, action and adventure.

All ten regions attended the National ACF Football Championship (25-26 February) and nine regions from across the UK competed in the National ACF Rugby Championship in Altcar (1-2 April). 'It was great to see so many cadets taking part in team sports. The spirit of the competition was loud and energetic with brilliant game play!' said SO2 Sports & PD Terry Hayter.

National Football winners:

Junior boys South East

Senior boys South West

Junior girls West Midlands

Senior girls Northern Ireland

National X Rugby 7s winners:

Intermediate boys Eastern

Senior boys Scotland

Intermediate girls Wales

Senior girls North West

Ask at your detachment how you can get involved in regional events with Army Cadets sports. Senior cadets can apply for the Community Sports Award Level 3 through their regional sports adviser.

Congratulations to the following Cadets and CFAVs whose Gold DofE Awards have been approved:

Cdt CSM Max Tremaine Oxfordshire ACF

Staff Cct SSgt Dominic Smith Suffolk ACF

PI Max Aston Somerset ACF

Cdt SSgt Leah Russell Black Watch Bn ACF

Cdt CSM Joseph White Black Watch Bn ACF

Cdt Sgt Elizabeth West Suffolk ACF

An exciting project has been launched to create the first museum linked to the Army Cadet Force at Octavia Hill’s Birthplace House in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

The ACF Museum project is being led by Col (Retd) Mark Knight

MBE DL ACF, a former Cambridgeshire ACF Commandant, and Staff Sergeant Instructor Tim Scargill of Sussex ACF.

Stowe CCF underwent a successful biennial inspection which saw Army Section senior cadets taking part in a number of activities, including a blank firing task and diving and rescuing a downed pilot. Army Section junior cadets took part in a round robin of stands, including Cadet GP 5.56mm rifle lessons and firing their first 5 round ‘group and zero’ shoot.

A group of 20 cadets and nine CFAVs deployed to the Bavarian Alps for the epic Ex Ski Cadet 2 trip in February. The Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training (CCAT) ran Basic Ski Alpine and Intermediate Ski Alpine courses throughout the week, accredited by Snowsport Scotland, which resulted in the group skiing at a different venue every day.

The inspecting officer was Colonel Edward Spinelli, Commander of 422nd Air Base Group, headquartered at RAF Croughton, along with Countess Howe, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, hosted by Cadet F/Sgt Max James. Colonel Spinelli remarked on the positive attitude, confidence, energy and achievements of the 200 Stowe cadets. The Lord-Lieutenant also commented how 'wonderful it was to be part of such a hive of activity, seeing all the Sections going through their paces and clearly really enjoying themselves'.