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RFCA AGM
The RFCA NI held its AGM at Hillsborough
Castle on 26 March 2009. The membership
received the Chairman Colonel
NJP Walker OBE TD JP and then
they were addressed by Brigadier GPR Norton CBE.
Click
here to view the latest Annual Report, which contains all the news of the Reserve Forces and Cadets for Northern Ireland for 2008/2009.
Click here to view the latest Annual Report, which contains all the news of the Council of the Reserve Forces and Cadets for 2008/2009.
RFCA Annual Dinner
The RFCA NI Annual Dinner was held
at the Ulster Reform Club on the 23 October 2008. Air Vice Marshal PD Luker CB OBE AFC was the guest speaker and addressed the membership on the benefits membership of the Reserve Forces brings to individuals and employers.
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Click here to visit HMS HIBERNIA website
Current Operations
There are RN personnel currently deployed to provide protection teams for the RN/RFA support ships in the Northern Arabian Gulf, Dubai & Bahrain, and the Iraqi oil terminals in support of Operation TELIC and there are anti-piracy teams for RFA/chartered merchant ships currently deployed off Aden/Somalia.
There are currently 7 members of HIBERNIA Ship's Company mobilised on Operations.
Recruitment
For information on recruitment and the
date of the next open evening for potential
recruits. Call 02892 266105
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UNIT NEWS:
152 (U) Transport Regiment (V) RLC. For information on 152 (U) Transport Regiment (V) RLC click here.
All personnel are now safely returned from their recent deployment in Afghanistan on Op HERRICK.
For more information on opportunities within the regiment please call 02892 260043.
253 (North Irish) Medical Regiment (Volunteers). For more information click here.
For information on the 591 Independent Field Squadron Royal Engineers click
here.
Operation HERRICK (Afghanistan)
Operation HERRICK is the name
of our continuing peacekeeping operation
in Afghanistan. There are currently
over 40 Reservists serving in Afghanistan
in support of the peacekeeping force.
Recruitment
For information on recruitment and the
date of the next open evenings for TA
recruits, call 0800 730 730, for Regular
army recruits call 02890 420170 or
click here
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Cadet 150
Cadet150 will be marked at all levels of the Cadet Forces and in many different ways across the country.
Congratulations to Cadet RSM Toni Brown from 2nd (NI) Bn ACF, Cadet RSM Tory Armstrong from Royal School Armagh CCF, Cadet Petty Officer Aaron Boyce from Training Ship WARRIOR and Cadet Warrant Officer Alex Minter from NI Wing ATC on their selection to represent Northern Ireland as Cadet 150 Ambassadors. All four cadets travelled to London to participate in the Cadet 150 Launch and a full programme of events which included a visit to Downing Street, the House of Lords and the Ulysses Trust reception at Lancaster House organised by the Council of RFCAs. In addition RSM Brown and RSM Armstrong were selected for an audience with Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Some future dates:
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Feb 25-26 :Annual Inspection and Families Visit, Campbell College, Belfast
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April 10 :Families Day, Magilligan Weekend Training Centre
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April 16-17 :Annual Inspection and Families Visit, RBAI, Belfast
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April 17 :Families Day, Magilligan Weekend Training Centre
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April 21 :Royal Gun Salute, Hillsborough Castle
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April 24 :Families Day, Magilligan Weekend Training Centre
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April 24-25 :Rifle Competition, Ballykinler Weekend Training Centre
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April 23 :Annual Inspection and Families Visit, Bangor Grammar School
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May 9 :Athletics Day, Dame Mary Peters Athletic Grounds, Belfast
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May 9 :Families Day, Ballykinler Weekend Training Centre
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May 22:Families Day, Magilligan Weekend Training Centre
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May 23 :Families Day, Ballykinler Weekend Training Centre
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May 30 :Families Day, Ballykinler Weekend Training Centre
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June 25-27 :SCC Celebration, Bangor
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June/July :Garden Party, Hillsborough Castle
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August :Cadet150 Reception, Hillsborough Castle
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September 19 :BTEC Presentation, Belfast City Hall
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October 3 :ATC Wing Parade, Aldergrove
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October 8-9 :Military Skills Competition, Ballykinler Weekend Training Centre
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November 13 :Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert Hall
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November 14 :Remembrance Day Parade, Cenotaph
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December 2 :Annual Inspection and Families Visit, The Royal School Armagh
To find out more about what is happening, please visit
http://www.mod.uk/cadet150.
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Congratulations to the two Northern Ireland SCC cadets on their selection for places on the International Exchange Scheme and travelling to Ghana, Hong Kong, Cyprus and Germany.
Nationally the Sea Cadet Corps now boast 386 Training Ships and 102 Marine Detachments. Northern Ireland Sea Cadets are also flourishing with 11 Training Ships manned by 39 Adult Instructors and 232 cadets.
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Congratulations to the Six Northern Ireland ACF cadets on their selection for the Canada courses this year which include representing the UK cadet forces on The Athelings Rifle Team, the Large-bore Marksmanship Course and the Rocky Mountain Cadet Leadership and Challenge Course.
Congratulations to Dundonald ACF Detachment on their award by the South Eastern Education Board Youth Section in recognition of their outstanding contribution to Youth training in Dundonald.
Lord Lieutenants Cadets
On Saturday 25th April 2009, 7 Army Cadet Force cadets received their Lord Lieutenants' Certificates and insignia from the Lord Lieutenants of the six counties and two cities of Ulster (Belfast has two Lord Lieutenants' cadets). These cadets are considered to be amongst the best cadets in the Province.
Camps
In 2010 1st (NI) Battalion ACF will be in Beckingham, Kent and the 2nd (NI) Battalion ACF will be in St Martins’ Plain, Kent.
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Lord Lieutenants Cadets
Congratulations to the two Northern Ireland ATC cadets on their selection for places on the International Exchange Scheme and travelling to Ghana, Hong Kong, Cyprus and Germany.
On Saturday 25th April 2009, 1 Air Training Corps cadet received their Lord Lieutenants' Certificate and
insignia from the Lord Lieutenants of the
six counties and two cities of Ulster (Belfast has two Lord Lieutenants' cadets).
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The Value of employers' support for the
Reserve Forces
Since January 2003, more than
14,000 members of the Reserve Forces (Royal
Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve,
Territorial Army and Royal Auxiliary Air
Force) have been mobilised for full-time
service, mostly in Iraq.
Their achievements have been immense
and would have been impossible without
the support of their civilian employers.
The benefits for the civilian employer
may be less obvious, but with 80% if employers
agreeing that Reservists are an asset
to the UK workforce, they clearly see
the advantage.
Leadership and management are among the
areas it is most difficult for employers
to provide training for – and key
areas of weaknesses in many businesses
and organisations. With these being exactly
the sort of skills which the Reserve Forces
develop most, it is easy to see the benefit
employers reap from having a Reservist
in their workplace.
Perhaps the main reason so many employers
support their staff in the Reserve Forces
is not so self serving – with 83%
of employers saying that Reservists should
be supported as a matter of principle.
Whatever your motivation as an employer,
your support is gratefully received by
the men and women of the Reserve Forces
whether they are at work, home or on the
front-line. If you would like to become officially recognised as a Supportive Employer please visit www.sabre.mod.uk or call Athene Gordon on 02890 664902.
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Employers Abroad Scheme
Since January 2009, several
employers have had the opportunity to
visit Northern Ireland Reservists on
exercise and on deployment in Iraq, Afghanistan
and Norway. A programme of visits and
UK briefing days is continuing throughout
2010. If your organization would like
to participate please contact Athene
Gordon on 02890 664902.
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Exercise EXECUTIVE STRETCH, May 2009
The Exercise is an annual weekend of physical and mental 'stretching' for young managers.
Organised and run by the Reserve Forces, it aims to introduce employers to the positive aspects of Reserve Forces training.
This year more than 80 young executives and managers from a broad variety of backgrounds were put through their paces at Magilligan Training Centre.
Highlights this year included trips in Puma helicopters, rigid raiders and lots of live firing and driving tanks.
"It was obvious the amount of preparation involved in the weekend and there were always people close by to assist on all tasks. It gives you a much wider appreciation and understanding for what people in the Armed Forces face on a daily basis in preparing for, or partaking in operations."-
participant on Exercise EXECUTIVE STRETCH.
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Royal Gun Salute, June
2009
Pictured at Hillsborough Castle after the formalities of the Royal Salute, from left are Mrs Lynda Spratt, Mr Jimmy Spratt MLA, Ms Athene Gordon, Mrs Heather Morrice, Mr Deane Morrice, Northern Ireland Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee, who was awarded an MBE that morning in the Queens’ Birthday Honours list, Mrs Kathy Salmon and Mr Trevor Salmon OBE, Belfast City Council.
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Some Future Dates
| Mar |
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Army Presentation Team |
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Exercise MEDICAL CHALLENGE |
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Employers Abroad trip to Cyprus (tbc) |
| June |
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Royal Gun Salute |
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Exercise MEDICAL CHALLENGE
Exercise MEDICAL CHALLENGE
is a weekend event, administered by SaBRE
and organised by the Reserve Forces,
designed to give medical professionals
a taste
of what
the Reserve Forces is all about and an
insight into the leadership, team skills
and other aspects of personal development
they can offer.
This year the event will take place at Ballykinler Training Centre in March. If your organisation
would like to participate in 2010, contact Athene Gordon on 02890
664902 for more information.
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XChange Issue 4
The next issue of XChange,
the SaBRE newsletter for Northern Ireland
employers is available. The theme of
the newsletter is Reservists around the world and their experiences. If you would like to contribute to our next edition or receive a copy please call Athene Gordon on 02890 664902.
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