W Company

Cadets from Alnwick, Amble and Broomhill Detachments have been taking part in the UK's first official Armed Forces Day.

In Amble cadets from Amble and Broomhill took part in a small parade and provided a range of different activities on the Town Square for members of the public to participate in. The cadets also provided an information stand and took the opportunity to recruit some of the more inquisitive local youngsters.

In Alnwick cadets from the local Detachment took part in a parade through the historic town with veterans and fellow cadets from the Air Training Corps. Unfortunately the Army and RAF were a bit too busy fighting wars to be there.

The Duke of Northumberland, whose family has a close affinity with the Fusiliers, took the salute.

Photographs of both events will be appearing shortly in Alnwick Detachment's photo gallery.

Ninety cadets from north-Northumberland have just returned from an action-packed field training weekend up at Otterburn.

The cadets, aged between 12 and 18, had their first chance to train with the Cadet Force's brand new weapon, the L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle.

The weapon, modeled in the image above by LCpl Jordan Harnett of Broomhill Detachment, has greater functionality and ease of use than its predecessor. The Safe Blank Firing System also makes the L98A2 usable in a wider range of situations.

After being familiarised and tested on the new weapon the cadets headed to Headshope plantation, where they practiced their harbour drills, patrol skills and ambushes.

It was a good weekend judging by the number of smiling (but tired) faces on the coaches home.

More photos of the weekend can be found here.

W Company will heading to Altcar Training Camp in the first week of August, to further practice their fieldcraft skills.

Cadets from Berwick recently paid a trip to the local fire station.

The action packed evening included demonstrations of the fire appliances and fire fighting equipment. The cadets were then let loose on the station's training tower, where they practiced their climbing skills.

LCpl Greg Hogarth is seen at the top of the ladder in the image above.

Congratulations to the following Alnwick Detachment cadets on their recent promotion to LCpl:

- LCpl Eleanor Tribe
- LCpl Edward Inkster
- LCpl Kevin Straughan
- LCpl Joe Pendrich

The new NCOs received their stripes from the 2IC W Company, Capt. Mark Ewart, on 1st June 09.