In describing such a volunteer, we examine the contributions of Warrant Officer 1 and Regimental Sergeant Major Derek Larner. In the recently concluded CICC camp held on Cayman Brac, Mr Larner was responsible for the training and execution of the camp which was rated a success by everyone. He managed to get the blend of locals with overseas cadets to work in a cohesive manner for the final staging of the camp at its parade ceremony.

Mr Larner joined CICC in 2006 and participated in the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps' 4th Annual Camp as the Regimental Sergeant Major Instructor and brought an edge to the camp that was well needed, as there was minimal support from other volunteers who were not able to get time off from their full-time employment. He joined after talking with a parent of one of the cadets and he was informed that the CICC was looking for volunteers with the right skills and background, i.e., military/cadetting with instructional ability.

He was a cadet from the age of 11 (firstly as a Sea Cadet for two years which is similar to Marine Detachment, then moved to the Army Cadet Force in the UK). He understands the benefits that teenagers can gain from such an organization and believes in the programme. In the few years in which he has been involved, he has already seen the development of many of the children, which gives him a lot of pride he says, as he has in some way contributed to their progress.

Mr Larner is an Operations Manager for two companies: Parking Management Services Limited (car park management) and Sat-Trak (GPS tracking devices), and is also pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Accounts at UCCI.

He continued after camp as the substantive Regimental Sergeant Major, a role he served in up to August 2008. Cadets and adults instructors alike have benefited greatly from Mr Larner's contribution in managing the 3-Star and cadet leadership training. He also managed the adult leadership training and acted as training officer for a number of the camps conducted by the Corps.

Mr Larner was also instrumental in reviving the Annual Spring camp which has been a huge morale booster for cadets. The highlight of the volunteerism of the adults is that many of them take their annual vacation leave to participate in the two weeks residential Annual Camp. Other noteworthy persons include - Major Andy White employed with Cable and Wireless; Lieutenant Robert Sutherland for the Navy Division and employed with Prestige Motors; Second Lieutenant Alphanso Gayle employed with Cayman Brac High School, Sergeant Mario Garraway employed with the Health Services Authority; Veron Brown employed with BPC Plumbing; Derick Johnson employed with Public Works Department and Sergeant Errol Wilson employed with The Security Centre Limited.

According to Mr Larner, there are a number of characteristics that define a good/outstanding volunteer such as how to supervise teenagers, knowing their own personal ability and how this can assist the CICC's total management process; knowledge of subjects taught, instructional ability, to name a few. However, he said the characteristic which makes the difference to the effectiveness of the CICC he believes, is the amount of commitment volunteers are able to give.

"In any similar organization, the management makes plans and schedules which are based on availability of adult instructors and supervising staff. The CICC is lucky to have a number of individuals who commit their time week after week and help in a number of ways and they must be commended," Mr Larner said.

Some of the challenges associated with being a volunteer in CICC are the amount of time committed away from full-time employment, using up one's annual vacation entitlement to volunteer, time away from families and also other social commitments. He has been fortunate in the past with time available for CICC, but has found it increasingly difficult as the companies he has worked with have evolved.

"Camps involve a lot of hard work, they are certainly not a vacation and many volunteers find it difficult to be able to commit their entire vacation and may opt for a few days rest to recover." He explains that many people have little understanding of how much effort is put into camps by volunteers, who all do it for zero reward, but without them, the camps would not be possible.

After the summer camp this year which was held on the Brac, he has decided to take a break from the weekly training programme for a while. The reasons are numerous as the additional responsibilities in his full-time employment, with the development of the new company (Sat-Trak), causes him to spend some of his annual vacation time with family in the UK. "I will be involved with the CICC occasionally in the background and I'm only a phone call away for any of those senior cadets who need assistance from time to time," he said.

Over the last few years, it has been his pleasure to watch many cadets develop in the senior programme where they now have some outstanding young Caymanian teenagers who have the wherewithal to move on to great things in their adult life. "The senior cadets are now able to teach the junior cadets to attain a higher level, they have good supervisory/leadership skills and they have been involved with the management of the last few camps."

The CICC now has three cadets who have achieved four-star level of training and there are three others who should achieve that level within the next 12 months. Additionally, there are over 20 more cadets who have achieved the three-star programme. The CICC now has a very good cadre of senior cadets who can ensure that the future of the CICC is in safe hands and will be the leaders in the years to come.

"I am very proud of the cadets who I have been involved with and believe that many of them have already benefitted from their experiences and training which have been given to them," said Mr Larner. I would not be surprised if in the next 10 years or so, many of them become leaders in companies and other organizations, by using the many skills which they have developed.

He mentioned that as full-time positions open up within the CICC, it would be nice to see some of the very senior cadets apply for those positions to ensure that there are more Caymanians on the team so that the development of the CICC for the future is safe in their hands.

Acting Deputy Commandant Captain Henry expressed his thoughts on CICC: "The Army Cadet Force Manual, upon which the practices of the Cadet Corps are based, calls for a 1:10 ratio between cadets and adults. Because our current staff totals only seven and because the numbers of different roles are many and varied, the volunteer cadre plays a most significant role.

"It should also be noted that the Cadet Corps in Cayman is very young with only six years of experience and therefore relies heavily on personnel with military experience from overseas.

"Persons like Mr Larner who served for over 12 years in the British Military at the Training Depot and Parachute Regiment bring a vast amount of pertinent experience that adds value, flavour and adventure to the cadetting experience in Grand Cayman. Pulled alongside the experience of others from multi-lateral forces, the Corps is able to achieve balance and build a practice of excellence."

What makes a good volunteer?

• Enthusiasm -- attitude is everything
• Common Sense -- Volunteers need to know good from bad and right from wrong.
• Personal Interest -- Volunteering should not be a chore; make it something you enjoy.
• Ingenuity - Problem solving is often a component of volunteer work.
• Compassion - The disadvantaged do not want to feel that they owe you a debt of gratitude.
• If you have required service hours - don't wait until you have a limited amount of time before your hours are due. Agencies may have to work you into their schedules.
• Make a good impression. Be polite and respectful. Your first phone call will set the tone for your experience.
• Be on time. Volunteering is a commitment, like a job. The agencies depend on the volunteers to work their shifts or work won't get done. If an emergency comes up, call and let the supervisor know you won't be in or you are running late. That way they can cover your shift or make other plans.
• Have a positive attitude. People will treat you the way you treat them. Having a good attitude makes even the work seem better.
• Follow agency guidelines and rules. They have rules for your protection and the protection of their staff and clients.
• Treat clients and staff with respect. The staff works very hard to have successful programmes for their clients and deserve your respect. The clients may be very different from the people you are used to being around, but they are people and should be treated the way you would like to be treated.
• Talk to the supervisor if you have any problems with staff, other volunteers or clients. It is their job to take care of problems. Remember, they are there to help you.
• Pay attention during orientation and training. You can't do a good job if you don't know what is expected.
• Ask questions if you don't understand or remember something. It's better to ask a lot of questions than to do something you weren't supposed to do.