Three Senior Cadets from 1st Battalion the Highlanders recently took part in the brigade’s first ever Senior Cadet Weekend.
Cadet Company Sergeant Major Andy Tait (17), from Dingwall Detachment, Cadet Colour Sergeant Hunter Ross (17), from Tain Detachment and Cadet Sergeant Mia Bremner (17), from Forres Detachment, took part in the event between 29 November and 1 December at the Barry Buddon Training Area near Dundee.
Mia, Andy and Hunter joined 46 other senior cadets from Scottish Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force units. The weekend, organised by Cadet Training Team Scotland, was created to allow Senior Cadets to participate in challenging activities that are not normally available within their respective Battalions.
The weekend started in sub-zero temperatures on Saturday morning with blank firing exercises but, after some Platoon and Section Attacks, no one was feeling the cold.
One of the big highlights was getting to fire the current British Army Service Rifle the L85A3 SA80 and the L129A1 sharpshooter. After their return from the field the cadets visited a series of stands run by a variety of Army units highlighting opportunities available to both Regular and Reserve personnel.
On Saturday evening the cadets sat down for a formal dinner to allow them to relax after a busy day and get to know each other better. On Sunday the cadets took part in more shooting, this time on the Cadet Force’s own service weapon the L98A2 in a Falling Plates competition.
A special highlight of the weekend was Colonel Pat O’Meara, Colonel Cadets Scotland, reading out a letter, during Saturday’s dinner night, from the Army Cadet Force’s Colonel-in-Chief HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who sent his very best wishes to all at the dinner.