LORD LIEUTENANT’S CADET FOR THE COUNTY OF TYRONE

Dungannon teenager Hollie Burton has been honoured at a formal ceremony at Hillsborough Castle.

The 16-year-old Cadet Sergeant with the Dungannon Open Detachment Army Cadet Force was appointed to the role of Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Tyrone.

Hollie is one of just eleven Lord Lieutenants’ Cadets from across Northern Ireland chosen for a year-long role which is largely ceremonial.  She can look forward to a busy year ahead as he attends Mr Robert Scott, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County Borough of Tyrone on major civic occasions and will wear a special insignia on her uniform throughout her year in office to denote her status.

Hollie joined the Army Cadet Force in May 2015 and rapidly became a popular stalwart of Dungannon Open Detachment. Determined and hard-working she progressed through Basic, One and Two Star of the Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) syllabus and is currently working towards the completion of Three Star status.

Last Summer, competing with Cadets across the UK, Hollie won a place on the prestigious Royal Canadian Army Cadet Exchange programme, and joined the thrilling Expedition Instructor’s Course, Argonaut, taking part in a 23-day expedition and achieved both her Junior Cadet Instructor’s Cadre certificate, and Cadet Leadership Course badge.  

Always up for a challenge, Hollie has enjoyed considerable success in a range of Cadet competitions.  In 2015 she took part in the National Orienteering Competition as one of the Junior Female team and individually came thirteenth overall.  In 2016 she and a fellow Cadet from Dungannon Open Detachment won Best Army Cadet Force team in the Local Heroes Competition (a research challenge to explore and honour memories of World War 1), following up a year later with Best ACF and Best Overall in 2017 at the same competition.  

Nominated as Best Cadet 2016-17 in Dungannon Open Detachment, the apparently tireless teenager this year represented her Company in the annual Calcutta Cup competition, took part in the Exercise Armistice 100 Battlefield tour, achieved her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and started on the road towards Gold!

In her spare time, Corporal Burton takes part in a range of activities; including shooting, boating and hiking with family and friends at the weekend.  She has attended her local rifle and pistol club for over one year, and won Top Shot at the end of the season.  As part of her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s award, she achieved a Power Boat Level 2 qualification through her skills section. During the spring and summer months, when not studying, attending events with the ACF, or taking part in any of her favorite activities, she also volunteers with Sailability, an organization which allows children with disabilities to wind sail.

The Citation which accompanies her appointment says of Hollie, “Cadet Sergeant Burton is a very hard-working, ambitious, well-mannered, and well-presented young person, with great confidence, and sound communication skills.  She is clearly a ‘high achiever’ in everything she does and provides a great source of inspiration to both new recruits and her peers.  She undoubtedly …. has exceptional potential for the future.”