Armed Forces Day: the West Midlands launches a new army cadet force
Sir Jorn Crabtree, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands was in attendance.
With Armed Forces Day today, the Summit Learning Trust in Birmingham has welcomed the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree, to an event at Ninestiles, an Academy to mark the official launch of the trust’s Army Cadet Force.
Sir John proceeded through a Guard of Honour provided by the students before joining they parade for inspection by Lieutenant Colonel Peter Bull 8 Rifles.
The Trust, which is already a Silver ranked signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant (and in the process of applying for Gold status), opened its Army Cadet detachment earlier in the year.
Part of the Warwickshire and West Midland (South Sector) Army Cadet Force (ACF), the detachment is cap badged as a Rifles unit and draws cadets from across the Summit Learning Trust secondary schools and sixth form college.
The ACF is an educational partnership between schools and the MoD. It aims to teach the ideals and activities of the forces, developing students’ personal responsibility, leadership and self-discipline through challenging and educational activities.
Summit’s ACF is run by Delroy Tucker, a former soldier who has volunteered with the army cadets from 30+ years. He believes in the wider skills and attributes in resilience, communication, and team work and to giving young people opportunities that can open their eyes and raise their ambitions.
He told us: "We offer them so much for later life - the skills. And that's what it's all about. It's something they can take or leave, teamwork leadership and comradeship.
"I think this is something Summit Learning Trust really wanted and I think it's fantastic."