The future of the cadet movement on Orkney and Shetland has been kept alive with the amalgamation of the islands’ independent army cadet units with 1st Battalion the Highlanders ACF.
The amalgamation, which took place on 1 January, saw Orkney and Shetland incorporated into 1 Highlander as its sixth sub-unit, called Orkney & Shetland Battery and has created the ACF’s largest cadet county in the UK.
The battalion now covers the Highlands, Moray, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland. The Battery is commanded by Major Andrew Barton (55), the former Commandant of Orkney Independent Battery and, for the past 12 months, the acting commandant of Shetland Independent Battery.
The changes have been welcomed by all three cadet organisations.
Last weekend Adult Instructors of the new Battery held adult training on Orkney to get to know each other and also to discuss future cadet training. The weekend ended with two promotions by Battery Commander, Major Barton. Brae Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant Cheryl Haynes (50) was promoted to Second Lieutenant and Lieutenant Bruce Durrand (54) was promoted to Captain and also appointed as the Battery’s new Training Officer.
Orkney & Shetland Battery has four detachments: St Ola and Kirkwall Detachments on Orkney and Brae and Lerwick Detachments on Shetland.
