Army Cadets a way of life for the Kenny family
CHILDREN in one Kintyre family dedicated to the Army Cadet Force (ACF) may learn to march before they toddle.
And at the recent Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders battalion (ACF) annual camp in Staffordshire they were instrumental in ensuring Argyll company returned as champions.
Four members of the Kenny family belong to the ACF: Dad, Alistair, is detachment commander in Campbeltown.
Eldest son Adam, 22, is a sergeant instructor, working at Campbeltown during the holidays and at the Clydebank detachment, during term time, when he is studying mechanical engineering at Glasgow Caledonian University.
Cameron is a cadet staff sergeant at Campbeltown and younger brother Lewis was attending his first camp.
The family joined cadets from across Argyllshire and Dumbartonshire, North Lanark, Falkirk, Stirling, and Clackmannan for the camp.
During the two week trip they experienced adventure canoeing, raft building, mountain biking and paintballing.
Leapt over the inflatable obstacle course, fired shotguns and rifles and stayed out overnight on fieldcraft exercises. They learned first aid and navigation skills and took part in teambuilding tasks and parades.
Visits to the RAF museum, the high ropes at aerial extreme and a moving trip to the National Memorial Arboretum have also been on the programme.
Adam Kenny said: ‘Being in cadets gave me a massive boost in confidence and a lot of life skills such as leadership, confidence and organisational skills.
‘Becoming an adult volunteer gives you a completely different perspective. As a cadet you don’t see what’s happening in the background – all of the organising and dealing with all the things going on. ‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being an adult volunteer. It’s so good to be giving back something to the young cadets and seeing them develop, being happy and really enjoying themselves. It’s great having so many members of the family in cadets. ‘We’re a bit competitive and it’s been great seeing Cammy doing things I didn’t do and now it’s Lewis’s turn.
‘It’s been great for all of us leading Argyll Company into being this year’s champion company.’
The Army Cadet Force is a national youth organisation open to boys and girls aged between 12 and 18 who are keen to have fun and enjoy adventure.
It is sponsored by the army but is not part of it and there is absolutely no commitment for members to join the armed forces.
The organisation provides many opportunities including weekend camps, fieldcraft, adventurous training, community events, competitive shooting and a range of sports. It also has an active pipe band.
The ACF also provides opportunities for adults as instructors and helpers aged from 18 to 65.
To find out more about the ACF go to: http://armycadets.com/argyllsutherlandacf