Visit was out of this world

May 31, 2022
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Army Cadets in Elgin were recently introduced to the UK Armed Forces newest military command.

The cadets, from 1st Battalion The Highlanders’ Elgin Detachment, received a visit from a member of UK Space Command.

The visit, which took place during the Easter Holidays at the detachment’s hall in Edgar Road, saw the cadets receive a talk on the new command from the Command’s Safety Lead, Squadron Leader Mark Wareing, who started the evening with a lesson on the history of space and also on how space is used in the cadet’s everyday lives from using their Mobile Phones to watching TV – which was followed by a presentation on the command and it’s three main functions: space operations, space workforce generation, and space capability.

UK Space Command was officially formed in April 2021 and is a joint command staffed by the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, civil servants and commercial partners. Space plays a vital role in the modern Armed Force’s ability to undertake the majority of defence tasks, with any disruption to the space domain leading to significant consequences on civilian, commercial, economic and military activity. Once fully operational the command will control all of Defence’s space capabilities. The Command recently celebrated its first anniversary.

Following the talk, Elgin Detachment Commander Sergeant Major Instructor Graeme Wells (30): “It’s great to see the cadets take so much interest in a subject that is so important in their day-to-day lives, even if they are unaware of how much they actually relied on space. I’d like to thank Sqn Ldr Wareing for taking the time to speak to our cadets.”

Sqn Ldr Wareing is pictured (centre) with the cadets of Elgin Detachment.