Over the Easter break eight cadets from 1st Battalion the Highlanders attended Cadet Leadership Courses, conducted by the Cadet Training Team Scotland at Barry Buddon Training Camp near Dundee.
Cadet Colour Sergeant Kathryn Kelly (17), from Inverness Company, Cadet Corporal Andy Tait (16) and Cadet Corporal Harry Dawson (16), from Ross Company, Cadet Corporal Jakub Bialkowski (15), Cadet Corporal Mia Bremner (16), Cadet Corporal Louise Curtis (16), Cadet Corporal Kyle Duncan (17) and Cadet Corporal Rachel Ogilvie (17), from Moray Company, completed the course which builds upon their personal leadership skills.
Over the two weeks almost 120 cadets from across the UK and from across the Army Cadets, Air Training Corps and Sea Cadets attended the two courses to build on their leadership abilities. Kathryn, Louise, Jakub, Mia and Rachel took part in first course running from 30 March to 6 April, while Kyle, Harry and Andy completed the second course the following week running from 6–13 April.
CSgt Kelly (front left) Cpl Bialkowski (rear, third left) and Cpl Curtis (front right) at the 45 Commando Memorial.
The Cadet Leadership Course is open to cadets aged 15-17 from all three cadet services and is designed to develop initiative and self-reliance by using the challenging and demanding problems of practical leadership. The course itself is orientated around the leadership abilities within the cadet’s Fieldcraft syllabus. Leadership can be learnt and developed, but the aim of the Cadet Leadership Course is to focus the cadets’ attention on the personal characteristics they should be trying to develop, giving them leadership qualities to serve them well wherever they go and whatever they do.
Throughout both weeks the cadets took part in Command Tasks, individual and group presentations and Leadership in the Field. The culmination of the course was a three-day exercise at the Barry Buddon Training Area, which saw the cadets take on various command and leadership positions either in their respective platoons or within their sections.
Following the course, Cpl Bremner said: “The CLC helped me to develop my personal leadership qualities and skills and meet many cadets from all over the UK.”
Cpl Bremner (left) and Cpl Ogilvie (right) cleaning their rifles after a busy three days on the training area.
Cpl Duncan (left) having a chat with his section while enjoying his soup and sandwiches, kindly provided by the Training Team.
Cpl Dawson (2nd left) helping his section complete a Command Task.
