Cadets win awards

Colonel Donal Keegan, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant’s for the City of Londonderry presented Sergeant Richard Watson with a Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate for Outstanding Meritorious Service Above and Beyond The Call of Duty.

The award is second only to one awarded by Her Majesty The Queen.

Sergeant Watson from Londonderry balances his own civilian job with a part-time career as a Territorial Army Combat Medical Technican serving with 253 (Northern Ireland) Medical Regiment (Volunteers).

The Citation which accompanies his Award describes him as ‘ the archetypal volunteer: reliable, enthusiastic, committed – yet remaining an active member of several local community associations.’

He is congratulated for having given more than twenty years of unselfish service to the TA and for his success in his current role as an invaluable member of the Squadron Recruiting Team.

Sergeant Watson has shown particular skill and enthusiasm for personally mentoring new recruits, ensuring that each feels both welcome and wanted. His attitude has done much to support what his Commanding Officer describes as ‘the happiest and most cohesive Squadron in the Regiment.’

Staff Sergeant Instructor Linda Rutherford from Eglinton is pictured receiving her Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate from Colonel Denis Desmond, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Londonderry.

Staff Sergeant Instructor Rutherford has been at the helm of Eglinton Cadet detachment since the day it opened more than a decade ago. Under her leadership Eglinton has produced - and continues to produce – an extraordinary number of highly Qualified 4 Star Cadets.

Indeed the current United Kingdom Champion Cadet began his Cadet service with Linda at Eglinton.

The Citation which accompanies her Award describes SSI Rutherford as a woman who ‘inspires and motivates Cadets to achieve.’

The Eglinton detachment has won the Calcutta Cup Cadet competition for three years in succession and recently came third in the hotly contested National First Aid competition.

She works hard for all ‘her’ Cadets and manages to find time to gain experience and qualifications outside the ACF with the Western Education & Library Board I the all important field of Child Protection, so that she can train and assist new Adult Instructors at Battalion level.

The Citation concludes, ‘Staff Sergeant Instructor Rutherford is an exceptionally dedicated member of the Army Cadet Force with loyalty, selfless commitment and unstinting devotion to duty.’

Seventeen-year-old Londonderry Cadet, Nicola Robb from Londonderry was appointed to serve in the role of her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant Cadet for the City of Londonderry for the coming year attending Colonel Donal Keegan on major civic occasions.

Nicola is pictured receiving the certificate which marks her award from Colonel Donal Keegan, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant’s for the City of Londonderry. She will be entitled to wear the official Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet insignia on her uniform throughout her year in office.

In her five years’ membership of the Newbuildings Detachment of the Army Cadet Force Nicola has already enjoyed considerable success, proving herself, according to the Citation which accompanies her Award, ‘an enthusiastic, hard-working, trustworthy and capable Cadet.’

She has represented her Company and Battalion in First Aid, Corps of Drums and has gained her ACF colours in First Aid.

Nicola who is currently studying at Lisneal College, is a keen and gifted musician who will complete her BTEC in Music with the ACF later this year, having already gained a BTEC in Public Services last year.

And it isn’t just her capacity to learn that has brought her to favourable attention. Nicola’s Detachment Commander has commended her teaching ability and she is often asked to instruct and train junior Cadets, demonstrating a natural ability to lead and mentor. She is also entrusted with the responsibility for collecting and administering Cadet finances in her Detachment.

The Citation which accompanies her Award says, ‘Her turnout and bearing are of the highest standard and she is always respectful and well-mannered. She is a great Ambassador for the Army Cadet Force.’