Began the year with BTEC weekends and received the first distinction in the county! Then it was off on a WMP (Winter Mountain Proficiency) course in Scotland in knee high snow, detecting avalanches, using crampons, ice axes and building and sleeping in snow holes.

I marched with the ACF banner, in front of the Duke of Edinburgh at Sandhurst, who I met and spoke with. I felt really privileged and completed my Silver DofE Award.

Annual camp: Thetford. As a 4 Star cadet, I taught other cadets and I'd been promoted to Colour Sergeant a couple of weeks prior to camp. 10 cadets to teach over the two weeks - my section won overall. Then a three day expedition and three day exercise. At the end I got promoted to CSM (Company Sergeant Major). A (Albuhera) Company now belonged to me!

Next, a three week Australia exchange. We spent a week in Perth, sight-seeing and having fun, then on to Annual Camp: one week out in the 'bush'. Brilliant. We found their training very easy compared to ours and won absolutely everything from obstacle courses and drill to first aid! The third week was spent sightseeing in and around Sydney.

My Company Commander put me in for the Duke of Westminster's Award to select the best cadet in the country. I make it into the top 25!

Next year »