On Tuesday 18th April 2017 the Mayor of Swanley Mr Laurence Ball attended an evening of activates with the Army Cadet Force Unit based at Swanley lane, Swanley, Kent.

During the evening the Mayor visited the cadets in their lessons and was shown how to apply bandages and slings to an injuried person, shown how to hold a Cadet Rifle using different firing positions and how to move tactically with a weapon, whilst working as part of a team.

The cadets then held a demonstration of a battle exercise of contact drills under fire and casualty evacuation.

The cadets were in two teams and Detachment Commander Colour Sergeant Tony Brown and Mr Laurence Ball the Mayor judge the best team.

At the end of the evening Mr Ball Presented Duke of Edinburgh Awards passes for the Bronze award to Cadet Ben McCullough (15) and Cadet Lance Bombardier Harry Archer (15) both from Swanley.

Colour Sergeant Tony Brown stated, “We are very pleased to have the mayor Mr Ball joined us for the evening and I do hope that he has enjoyed himself. I was very pleased that he got involved with the activities. At Swanley Army cadets we pride ourselves on being part of a family. I have proud of the cadets whose ages range from 12 years to 17 years old for their professionalism when being asked questions and their behaviour during the visit. I am also proud of the work that the cadets all do on projects such as the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme”.

The Mayor Mr Ball stated, “I am very proud of what the youth organisations do today. I have enjoined the evening very much and thank you for inviting me”

The army cadets teaches valuable life skills in a practical way from Youth first aid, Btec qualifications, ILM leadership qualification, Adventure training, D of E and lots of other Military based skills such as shooting and navigation.

If you wish to become apart of the Army cadet force at Swanley they are recruiting now so please if you are between 12 years (in year 8 at school) and 16 years old (staying with cadets till 18 years) then please come along to a parade night Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6.50pm to 9.10pm or contact Csgt Tony Brown on email at swanley.gunners@yahoo.co.uk, facebook@swanley.gunners (swanley detachment kent army cadet force public page) or visit www.armycadets.com/county/Kent-ACF/

Submitted by Tony Brown