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ACF Annual Camp (August 2010)
![Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College (DSFC)](javascript:PopupPic("/trips/images/acf.jpg");)
This Summer I went away for two weeks on Annual Camp with the Humberside & South Yorkshire ACF. Even after having spent a year at Welbeck I was still a little apprehensive to be doing 21 Company. This was meant for the elite in terms of field craft and drill, and I left the Cadets as a 2* Lance Corporal. However, during the coach journey the excitement built, and as we pulled into 'sunny Wretham' I was eager to start training. It was particularly reassuring to find out that night that I actually knew some of the girls in my block from previous camps, and that we were all in 21 Company together. Even better, the next day I realised that I knew a lot more people than I had initially thought, mainly from last year's annual camp.
Training started immediately, commencing with weapon handling instruction plus testing, and continuing at a fast pace for the entire two weeks. After a few introductory days on the training area doing some basic field craft skills such as patrolling, obstacle crossing, section attacks and pairs fire and manoeuvre (to name but a few), we had a chance to relax with a day visit to the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.
The next day saw us participating in archery, clay pigeon shooting and then testing our fears in kayaking and abseiling. All expecting to have a night off before our 5-day exercise we were surprised to be 'bugged out' and deployed into the field that night. Pulling up to base location with the rest of our company the excitement rose as kit was issued and harbour areas constructed. Having occupied them for a night we were up at 0500hrs the next day and, after dismantling the harbour and a quick breakfast, training resumed. Section battle drills were rehearsed again and again as groups waited to do the infamous 'jungle lanes'. When it was my turn I was a bit nervous after hearing so much about it but it was brilliant. In fact our trio (we completed it in threes) were told we were 'the best so far', which of course gave us some bragging rights.
During the next few days we moved locations every night and completed more training starting with a series of reconnaissance patrols, orders briefings and detailed planning for the following day. The highlights were our 6-hour patrol, survival training, PT, the assault course, being ambushed and, finally, attacking a harbour position. We even did a bit of improvised building clearance. At one point a piece of misinformation put our section in the wrong place but we quickly moved and set up a new ambush position in time to hammer the enemy. Once we had converged with the rest of our platoon, and the defeated enemy and returned to home location it was clear that we had won.
On our return to camp the only task left to complete was drill cadre which we had spent our evenings the first week preparing for. For the most part it went extremely well, with everyone remembering the drill terminology and getting it spot on with their group. I passed with a respectable 'B', which I was very pleased with, ready to teach the LVI on my return to College.
The adult staff and instructors were amazing, and I met some good friends who made the toughest camps both enjoyable and totally worthwhile. Even after attending Military College for a year I found that I had learnt a lot and gained invaluable experience. Overall, it was a fantastic two weeks that I will never forget!
Heather Douglas, Stirling 09E
