Army cadet marches on after 50 years of service
A MAN approaching retirement has become the longest-serving army cadet volunteer in Scotland after spending 50 years in the force.
Danny Rainey, 64, joined the Army Cadet Force (ACF) in 1966 aged just 14 and, since then, the administration assistant has been awarded three service medals – including one for long service and two Jubilee awards.
Mr Rainey, from Dumbarton, was awarded the Cadet Forces Medal, for long service and good conduct after 12 years in the force.
For every additional six years, a bar is added to the medal, giving Mr Rainey an additional five bars.
He also has medals for both of the Queen’s Jubilees, having been a member through both Diamond and Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Mr Rainey joined the Helensburgh branch of the ACF as a young boy, encouraged to sign up by friends.
Mr Rainey is now trying to remain a member as long as possible.
He said: “It was a good organisation to join. I enjoyed the indoor shooting with rifles we did every week and every weekend we went away camping. It was great at that age.”
In the half-century since Mr Rainey joined, the organisation has changed considerably.
Youngsters can now join the cadets aged 12, and girls have been able to join for more than 20 years and now make up half the cadets of Mr Rainey’s branch. He says his best memories from his time in the organisation were his trips abroad to in the 1970s. He visited regiments in Germany three times.
But now, having passed the aged of retirement, he is tasked with administration duties and, since the age of 55, has had to undergo an annual medical.
However, Mr Rainey he has no plans to retire.
He said: “I hope to stay in as long as I can. But first I’ve got to pass.”
Mr Rainey said he was thrilled to find out he was the longest-serving army cadet in Scotland, but said: “It makes me feel old.”
He said the best part about being a cadet for so long are the friendships he’s made.
He said: “You see someone join and then two or three years later they become a cadet sergeant.
“I’ve met thousands of people I would never have never met otherwise.”