(30.10.05)
Cadets recieve Expedition Training Awards....
Over last weekend 6 cadets put into practice their months of Expedition Training and recent competition entry at the Area ET competition. The cadets went off to Rochdale Unit to head into the hills to do their best and gain the highest ET qualification possible along with other cadets from other..

The chairman who assisted in the weekend said the cadets did very well. Especially Sallie Matley it was noted who gained the highest qualification of the weekend. To qualify cadets must be able to setup camp, cook and be able to plan routes and navigate through various countryside.

Well done to all the cadets who attended and came away with qualifications, nameley:

Able Cadet Sallie Matley (Expedition Leader Class 5)
Able Cadet Hannah Parker (Expedition Leader Class 5)
Ordinary Cadet Tom (Melon) Millington (Expedition Leader Class 5)
Able Cadets Joe Robinson & Cassie Matley (Camp craft Proficiency)
Ordinary Cadet Connor Lobb (Camp craft Proficiency)

Many thanks to Rochdale unit and staff for their hospitality and training and well done to the chairman who managed to improve his Expedition Leaders qualification during the weekend.

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(27.10.05)
Cadets recieve one years good conduct awards and New Entry Jack Stretton Advances....
This month sees Cadets Charlotte Latchford, Emily Austin and Thomas (Melon) Millington received their first years good conduct award from the Commanding Officer.

As well as gaining points towards advancement the award, a single stripe for the left arm shows to others that the cadet has been attending the unit on a regular basis for over 12 months, have been involved with the units activities and have a record of good behaviour over the period.

Good conduct awards are not issued just on length of service, there are issued because of good behaviour, regular attendnance and involvement in the unit. It should be noted that the reverse behaviour entitles the commanding officer to remove one or more good conduct for a period of time or equally divisional officers can recommend witholding the award for a period where a cadets behaviour has not been consistently positive.

If you have any questions about the issue of these or any other awards or have not yet had your badge pinned to your uniform then you must contact the training officer.


Congratulations also went to New Entry Jack Stretton this week who has successfully completed his New Entry training. Jack did well on the advancement test and has performed well recently so is herby promoted to the Rank of Cadet. Jack will join PO Lees Torquay Division and we look forward to seeing him at the rememberance parade on the 13th Nov.

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(25.10.05)
Cadets show the Royal Navy how its done....
Early Friday morning, 21 October - 200 years to the day that Nelson won the Battle of Trafalgar the window ladder display team and staff set out for Londons famous trafalgar square to take up centre stage in Sunday nights Spirit of Nelson feature.

It was to be a busy weekend, on arrival the staff put up the window ladder, slap bang right in front of the National Gallery and directly facing Nelsons Column. What better place could there be to show off the excellence that is our unique window ladder display, but in Trafalgar Square, so named in Honour of Admiral Lord Nelsons Famous Victory 200 years ago.

During the weekend the cadets did plenty of practice runs in front of the public, each time the display got better and better and both the production and display teams were very happy with the effort and professionalism shown by our 8 girls.

In between practice we had a whistle stop tour to a few famous land marks, Big Ben, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, the Queens household cavalry and even No 10 Downing Street. On Sunday morning, the staff and cadets dressed in their best and watched on from their VIP seas as the Duke of York arrived to watch the cadets and navy for the Trafalgar Parade. Then after the mornings trafalgar parade back to the hotel to rest and prepare for the evening.

The staff took up position in front of the stage, whilst I saved a spot to take pictures and video from right next to the main stage in front of the bbc crew. The whole show was spectacular, but from a personal point without the window ladder being centre stage the show would not have had the same effect, the girls performed supberbly and did the unit, the North West Area and the sea cadets as a whole proud.

As the staff who give up their time to teach at cadets it makes all the time and effort worthwhile to see such excellence in young people. I even heard that some of the audience thought that the window ladder was part of the Royal Navys PT display, which proves how good it is.

Bravo Zulu girls, you were certainly the stars of the night.

Also big thanks to all the staff for taking time off work and spending their own money to support the unit and cadets in this big event.

Pictures of the weekend can be found in the gallery, there are two galleries of pictures as we took so many and a report by Charlotte Saycell can be found by clicking here or on the reports pages.

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(08.10.05)
Cadets put in the time and raise £586 for the unit....
This Friday saw 16 cadets escorted by the Commanding Officer, Instructors Harrop, Paula and Andrew Saycell and PO Lee venture out into the land of Tameside to each of the local pubs to help raise funds towards the units upkeep.

"The local population have always been very supportive and we appreciate their donations which allow the unpaid volunteer staff to give the young people of Tameside a chance to become involved in many more activities than those on offer elsewhere" said the Training Officer John Mottram. The cadets did a great job and manged to come home with just under £590 so thank you to all the cadets and staff involved this weekend.

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(02.10.05)
Tameside Unit Expedition Leaders compete in Area ET Competition...
Late on Friday night, the chairman and his two ET teams were heading up the wet and dark roads to Dalesbridge in Yorkshire to compete in this years ET compeition.

The two teams have been preparing both at weekends and on Thursday nights for the last few months. On arrival the cadets were briefed on the competition. The following morning the Team leaders and staff met to find out which checkpoints they had to try and get to.

The teams had a 3 hour time limit and had to decide which route to take to pick up the most points. "Both teams did a great job" said the Chairman but the B team managed to come second, only losing out by 10 points adding "but next year will be a different matter".

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(02.10.05)
Tameside Units Hosts Area Physical Training Weekend...
The unit hosted another major event over this weekend, namely 35 cadets and staff from the North West Area all looking to either get qualified or pass the assessment on the road to be coming a Physical training Instructor.

Cadets and staff alike took part over the weekend with Tameside cadets taking time out of their fitness schedule for a pub crawl on the Satuday night. Thanks goes to all the staff who ensured the unit was ready and helped out over the weekend and also special mention to Mrs Lee who was on galley duties.

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(01.10.05)
Pub Crawl for September raises £270 for the unit....
With various other activities and events going on during September we were not in a position to do our monthly fund raising drive by doing a pub crawl.

Pub Crawls are an important fund raising activity for the unit, not only because it gets us seen in the local area and raises money but it teaches cadets that their involvement in the units fund raising is about team work and essential to keeping the unit running.

This weekend the staff and nine cadets managed to raise around £270, not our normal amount but it all helps. Thank you to all those who assisted and a special thanks to those people who donated to our unit.

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(30.09.05)
Class 2 Seamanship qualifications at Tameside....
Cadets Thomas Millington and Nathan Halton ventured out in the big wide world this week. Together they ventured all the way down to Plymouth on the train to meet the transport that would take them over to Torpoint and HMS Raleigh for a week learning 2nd class seamanship skills. Both guys had a good week and enjoyed their staff in Plymouth and Cadet Halton came back with his 2nd class seamanship award along with the 6 points for advancement that gives, plus millington came back with a provisional pass so is expected to complete his qualification very soon.

We hope to get a report telling us all about the trip from the cadets shortly!

National courses are excellent value for money. Between £25 and £50 for a week, this includes food, transport, travel and training/activities during the week there is no better way to experience independence as well as meeting up with cadets and staff from around the UK.

Courses are varied from sailing to drill, seamanship to electrical engineering - review the national training boards or contact the training officer for more details - if you dont experience you wont grow.