Voice Over 0:14

You're listening to the Cadet to Career Podcast brought to you by Cadet Vocational College, improving lives through vocational education.

Laura Cook 0:22

So what a glorious day standing here in the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. I mean, you couldn't wish for a better day and a better backdrop, could you, Steve?

Steve Taylor 0:31

Laura, I I can't tell you how excited I get about this event every year. I mean, we're stood on the steps of the old college, the historic old college, the famous Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. The sun is shining, which is fabulous. The sky is blue, we're in the middle of 600 acres of one of the most famous and highly respected training colleges for the military in the world. Graduates are arriving, we've got these big porticos in front of us. You just get a sense of the fact that everybody's coming here to celebrate today. And you can't, I know you for the first time this morning when we drove up the main driveway, as you approach the old college. It's one of those moments where you hold your breath, isn't it? Because you see this historic building and you just it just makes you smile.

Laura Cook 1:14

It is known as the spiritual home of the British Army. You can absolutely jaw-droppingly glorious. Tell me a little bit more about exactly where we're standing and where the graduates are going to be walking in. They're going to be coming in here, getting robed, they're going to be going into a wonderful room to have some teas and coffees. Tell me a little bit more about that.

Steve Taylor 1:33

Okay, so from the guard house they come in, there's about a half mile or so um driveway up to the main square. It's called the Marchant Square, which is the main parade square in front of the old college. Um as they come up the steps, these are very famous steps because uh I do believe if you look closely, you might be able to see hoof marks because there is an old-fashioned tradition where somebody's allowed to ride a horse up into the main entrance room. And as you come into the reception area, on your right hand side is the most fantastic painting of uh Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which catches everybody's eye, which is where our reception is. Ahead of you is, as you've already mentioned, um, an incredible room called the Indian Army Memorial Room, which was created to commemorate and and remember all of the links between the uh Indian Army and the British Army. Um and there's some amazing uh pictures in there. There's the glass windows, all of the stuff which gives people something to look at while they're having tea and coffee. While the graduates come in, they then go off to the left into one of the um uh the study rooms, which is where uh they get their gown uh and their mortar board or whatever the correct title is. Always used as a mortar board.

Speaker 17 2:39

I've heard it crossed, yeah, yeah.

Steve Taylor 2:40

Um and then they have the photographs done and then they they then join their guests. So we're at the early stage uh of the day. We will have about 180 people here today, including our VIP guests, with graduates coming to uh be awarded anything from level three education and training right up to level seven, which is um sort of a master's equivalent. So it's a major day uh for these people who have used their cadet and volunteering experience uh to gain a qualification uh for any number of reasons, and I know you'll find out later what those those reasons are, but there is something rather special just about standing here with the sunshine. It's almost it's almost ethereal in a way, isn't it?

Laura Cook 3:19

Yeah, it absolutely is. I can't tell you how it wouldn't do it justice if unless you were standing here, and these these graduates, whoever's coming here, and also you've got a load of EIPs, you've got the family as well. It is a massively special day, a huge feather in their cap, and and well done to them. I mean, it is it's their moment, isn't it?

Steve Taylor 3:37

Absolutely, and huge congratulations to them all. I mean, they give so many hours to volunteering in the uh youth organizations that they work with, and as part of that, they put more work on their shoulders by doing this qualification. And they do it for uh a raft of reasons, you know, it could be because they never got the opportunity to achieve at this level uh in their in their education, um, they do it for career progression, uh, they do it for just their own peace of mind because they enjoy the process of uh of learning, which is good. But the important bit, as you say, is the great thing about this day is the focus is on the graduates, um, but the families as well. And you know, we're just watching people walk across the square now in the sunshine, it's glorious, isn't it? And everybody gets dressed up. All of the graduates are in their number one uniforms, which is which is quite something off um officer and a gentleman, isn't it? If you could run that music through your head, you'd be right. And of course, everybody gets dressed up for the day because it's possibly for them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come and be recognised for what they've done here at Sandhurst.

Laura Cook 4:37

Amazing. Well, congratulations, like we said, to everybody. We'll be hearing a lot of the stories, a lot of the inspirational stories, um, and for future generations as well, because it's a chance it's a chance for um you, the the uh the college, to really shine, really show exactly what's on offer, what can be achieved. It's very special for everyone involved.

Steve Taylor 4:56

Absolutely, have a good day.

Lord Lingfield 5:12

Ladies and gentlemen, a very warm welcome to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst this morning on behalf of the Cadet Vocational College. We are delighted to be here, delighted that you can be here, and this is for this ceremony, which are now formally open, which is of course to make awards, some at postgraduate level, some at graduate level, to officers and other adult volunteers from the armed service cadets and of course other service cadets as well. It's my present duty now to hand over to the principal and chief executive officer of the Cadet Vocational College.

Guy Horidge 6:07

Well, I would like to reiterate my thanks to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for being so flexible with us, so welcoming to us, and what a great team they have. They could easily cancel this with all that's going on. So I would just like to thank Major General Nick Cowley and Brigadier Nick uh Wright Boycott for making it possible and recognising what you do. And I do say that quite importantly, is because they recognise you as volunteers and the importance that you are to the family, and they use those words, not just me, but um can I also just welcome another great friend, perhaps a slightly newer friend in some ways, but the master educator David Wilson, great to see you. David will be presenting some prizes uh later, and um Christian Jensen, who's supports him, who's I won't say the power behind the throne, but is is the influence and the long-standing friends, both of them huge, huge friends, and of course everyone who's here today. It's wonderful to see you all. We also are very lucky today, we have an ex-Westminster winner here, Harry Ridd Marbourne. He's from the West Boromidge Boys Brigade, but he also was from Phoenix Academy CTF, one of the new Academy CTFs that came about. He won the Westminster Award last year. And I'm about to ask Harry to come forward and just say a few words, if you could please. And I think Tracy's coming as well, just to say why being a cadet and what the importance of an adult volunteer is to him. So, Harry, come on up.

Harry 7:47

It's a pleasure to be here again. Uh, I was here last year getting, well, sort of doing this again, but it really is a pleasure to be back. It's an amazing building, and it's lovely to see so many faces here today. I remember last year specifically, I was talking a lot about people like yourselves, and I was talking about how your impact really affects the cadet and the cadet specifically. But uh, what I'd like to do this year is have a little bit of a twist on it and sort of talk about your wider impact. Because it's not just the cadets that you impact. You impact yourselves, you impact the people who are sitting here around you and other adult volunteers, you impact the local community and other parents and carers. These are just a subset of people that are actually impacted, but um, in the interest of time, because I've been told we can't have all day, um, I will talk about these. By mentoring, guiding and teaching, you're able to pass on your knowledge, your experience, and everything that you've gained from your life onto others. You therefore have these incentives to shape and help mould the next generation, which I'm sure, speaking from my personal experience, really helps and motivates me when I'm volunteering with my cadets, but I'm I'm sure a lot of you feel the same way. It impacts your peers by sort of being a proxy for them, by you standing out and being that individual, but that leader, by going that extra mile. It helps encourage others to do the same. Um, I would talk about parenting carers, but I think I'm a bit young to be a parent and carer. So I have got an expert in the field. Uh, she's got many years of accolades and lots of experience. Please welcome my mum.

Harry's Mum 9:37

Wow, um thank you, Harry, an impressive speech. And how do I follow that? Um, from my perspective, it's an absolute privilege and honour to be here today. When Harry started in the CCF for the Royal Navy, I was naturally very excited and proud. I was looking forward to seeing the journey and what that would look like. Never in a million years did I ever think that he would have all of these wonderful opportunities that were available to him. And I suppose in many ways I was quite naive. However, as being part of the CCF cadets force, it led us to the Cadet Vocational College. And my word, has that been a joy? The opportunities, the learning qualifications that are available are just unbelievable. I personally still don't think that it's widely known by as many parents as it should be and families. And I think that there are so many people that are benefiting from these opportunities to develop skills and vocational qualifications. None of this would be possible without the support of the volunteers and the staff who go more than above and beyond to deliver these opportunities. Life-changing and memorable moments that can be so instrumental into young people's lives. I have been so impressed by how these opportunities have been run, the dedication, the commitment, and the selflessness of you all as staff in whatever capacity that is, whether it's voluntary or whether it's paid, you are providing life-changing moments for these young people and the launch pad for young people to be able to, you know, do better for themselves, uh, to think about a career in the military services. And genuinely such an honour to know that my son and my sons, I've got another son, have been part of these processes and organisations. Harry already volunteers at the local boys' brigade and still volunteers in the CCF at school when his university allows him. Furthermore, he's gone on to be uh an officer for our local boys brigade and continues to encourage and mentor young people to pay it forward, the all the investment that he's received, uh, and that's just been through being part of the CCF and part of the Cadet Vocational College. As a parent, this is what we want for our children uh embracing these opportunities and then helping shape these for other people. So finally, from me, it's just to say a huge congratulations to all of you on your achievements today. Well done on all that hard work. I know it's already been mentioned a couple of times, but well done on all that hard work on top of everything else that you do in your personal lives. It's a day of celebration, making you realise how worthwhile it all was. To the staff, to the volunteers that make it happen, thank you. I cannot emphasise the difference that you make and that you have made. It's truly incredible, and a personal thank you for everything that you have done for Harry, as this has been a fantastic opportunity and experience for him that will obviously be with us for the rest of our lives. Thank you.

Flight Sergeant Bo Williams 12:44

So I'm Flight Sergeant Bo Williams. I am from 2476 Hutton Squadron, uh, the RFA cadets, and I am graduating my level three in educational training today.

Laura Cook 12:54

Amazing, congratulations, well done. Tell me a little bit about why you started, what what what made you do this qualification, what brought you here?

Flight Sergeant Bo Williams 13:02

Just to have some credibility really in the cadet world, so uh further education in in our cadets um and also um develop myself and as a leader and as an educator, so I want to do the further qualifications down the line um up to hopefully level seven one day. So there's a lot of studying between then and now. So our wing training officer uh told us that the level three was uh available via the Cadet Focation College and uh we were happy to apply for it. I was like, okay, it might actually be helpful. Um and we got enrolled, got the birth to via our wing, which was good and helpful, and we also um got some support via our tutor, so it was really helpful. We met once a week um to do the training sessions and then all through the sort of study periods and also doing the um micro teachers as well, which is really helpful and interesting. I do more assignment cadets than I do in my own job. So balancing a full-time nine to five job along with my cadet um uh commitments and also studying as well. It's quite time queuing, but also I found time so we do it once or twice a week to study, do the PowerPoints, do the um essays, and help it was really helpful.

Laura Cook 14:08

Dad, he's he's walking off, he's not gonna get you're you know, you're not you're trying to hide, you're not getting away from me that quickly. You're standing here, you must be very proud.

Speaker 14:18

I am very proud. I mean, he's worked very hard for this achievement. He's worked at the cadets very hard since he was a toddler, and I've been supporting him since the day you joined, even if just ferrying him that was a falls to cadets. But now he's a big boy now, and he's making a life on his own, but I'll still support him no matter what he does.

Maham Khalichun 14:35

I'm uh Maham Khalichun from uh Moistus, working as principal technical officer for the Central Electricity Board, uh national level electricity uh company. And uh after uh after 36 plus experience, I thought that I can uh go for the proud. But I had the knowledge and I had the experiences. I just wanted to put it on the bench first and express myself uh what what is inside me. So proud is the best means to express my leadership, my management skills and more support, your daughter standing here, very, very big smile on your face.

Laura Cook 15:20

How proud of you? How proud are you?

Speaker 3 15:21

I am very proud of him. I mean, at this age to go and do something that even I don't think about sometimes. He just makes me proud. I actually came from Canada to support him.

Speaker 17 15:31

Wow.

Speaker 3 15:32

Yeah, and then my out of office said, sorry, can't answer. Um I'm at my dad's graduations. It's so special, isn't it? Does this make you want to do something like this? Uh I would love to, actually. He's inspiring to me. So um I know he's shy right now, but trust me, he's a big nerd down there. He is the big nerd. Yes.

Laura Cook 15:53

That's the quote of the day. My dad, the big nerd. Well, he's standing here, look at the mortarboard and the the gown. I mean, he's looking the smile on his face says it all, doesn't it? He must be so proud. Have a wonderful day, enjoy every second.

Major Liz Curtis. 16:05

My name's Liz Curtis, Major Liz Curtis. I'm with the Army Cadet Force. Um, I undertook the level seven in leadership and management. Uh started it three years ago. It took me longer than I was expecting, but you know, work and everything in between. Um and I'm now here graduating, which is amazing. Um I'm a teacher by trade anyway, so I sort of have quite a high value for any qualification that anybody can gain, especially if they're doing something that they're already doing as a hobby and that they can make that work for them in gaining a professional qualification. But I think the the actual when I got the initial paperwork, I thought, oh this doesn't look you know too bad. This is sort of I can manage this. I think what I underestimated is how much evidence I needed to produce of to meet the standards to basically to prove that what I'm saying is accurate, it's true, that I'm not just you know using AI to generate my answers. Um I've been with the Cadet Force now for over 30 years, so I started as a cadet, uh worked my way up, I became an instructor. My career to join the army didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to, so I stayed with the Army Cadet Force and I've just worked my way through the different ranks, through the different roles, moved to Guernsey six years ago and joined Cadets in Guernsey. I'd been in Norfolk prior to that, and I'm now working, or volunteering I should say, as a CFAV with Guernsey and the Channel Islands and Bristol. Um but this is amazing coming here. I've been here before, but a long time ago. So for me to come back, and my husband is ex-military and ex-army cadet, so he's been here numerous times. So for both of us it's quite a yeah, it's very special. I think because so many people here are obviously within the military organisation in one way or another, that's the part that I'm really enjoying. And it's every stories and yeah, absolutely, and everyone so far has been so friendly, and you can just chat to people. There's no, you know, there's no kind of animosity between anyone that's done different courses, it's just a lovely, lovely experience. Amazing. Well, enjoy every second, congratulations. Lovely, thank you very much.

Paul Booth 18:09

I'm Paul Booth, I've come from uh 1406 Folding Air Cadets um in Lincolnshire. I completed the PRA level seven in management and leadership. It was a natural step for me. I'm in senior leadership position, um, so um I just decided that I might as well formalise it. It's a reflective learning account, so it doesn't really take much time at all to actually get the the general ideas in. Um it's it's basically written from your past experience and what you've learnt, how you've then applied that in the future. Um so it's just a a really sort of natural thing to write.

Laura Cook 18:48

Yeah, yeah. Is this your wife standing here very, very proud? How are you feeling about seeing him in his in his gown and his mortarboard standing here? You must be very proud.

Speaker 16 18:56

I am, he's put a lot of hard work into doing this, and yeah, it's you get slightly older, it's not something you many people get the opportunity to do, so very proud of him. It's a good example for our children to be able to see that just because he didn't we didn't do these things when we were younger, you doesn't mean you can't do them when you get a little bit older. Well done, congratulations, enjoy every second of your day.

Wing Duke of Edinburgh officer 19:21

Thank you. Thanks very much. I'm Flight Lieutenant Ellie Shipley, I'm from Colchester and Essex.

Squadron leader Barnes 19:27

I'm Squadron Eader Barnes and I'm from Essex as well. So I'm the Wing Astro officer, but also um the OC of 1476 Squadron, and I've known Ellie forever. Ellie used to be the OC of Colchester, so I think there's there's probably the connection there as well.

Wing Duke of Edinburgh officer 19:49

I am currently the Wing Duke of Edinburgh officer, so Chris is one of our mounted leaders, so he comes along and supports the expeditions that we do um at gold level um when we need high-level qualifications.

Squadron leader Barnes 20:02

When Ellie saw me in the car park, she said, Oh now I knew that you've come today, um my day. So that's wonderful. Yeah, I didn't know he was coming. It was a nice surprise out of the husband. He's a he's a good friend of mine as well, so it's nice to have all three of us here together.

Laura Cook 20:16

And your baby, you is that your baby as well?

Wing Duke of Edinburgh officer 20:19

Yes, my little baby. Um it was quite nice because I started doing this qualification when I was pregnant, so um it's nice to be out the other side and to be able to celebrate it here with him as well. So I've done the level seven in leadership and management. Yes, uh yeah.

Laura Cook 20:38

What made you do it? What made you take that to take that step?

Wing Duke of Edinburgh officer 20:41

I think it was just a fantastic way to consolidate everything that I've learned through my different positions of responsibility within the academics and actually have some kind of formal qualification to show for it. And I think it's really fantastic that it's useful in my work as well, um, so I can put that on my CD and hopefully it will allow me to show my capabilities as well to go forward because I'm a primary school teacher, so then I can look for sort of leadership positions as well. My husband is also in the uh cadets, so he's very aware of um the effort that has to go into these qualifications, and he um helps support some of the uh qualifications for the cadets as well. So he um helps run the um level two V tech for the for the cadets. Um and my my parents were also in the cadets, so I think everyone in my family's aware they get it, so and mum was there to sort of help look after the baby to give me days where I can do it right and things like that. So um yeah, they're they were very pleased.

Squadron leader Barnes 21:40

It really just is down to just planning your time and allocating some time to to do each module, it's not really I wouldn't say it's a really difficult qualification to get, but it's just a nice thing to have and and beneficial as well, which I think.

Laura Cook 21:53

Enjoy your day, congratulations. Thank you very much. Murdo workers, you're from ACT UK, a long time ago. Supporter of everything we're celebrating here today. Tell me a little bit more about the support you've given and how you became involved.

Speaker 10 22:08

ACTUK, well, Cadet Vocational College grew out of Act UK, and so we've always known the importance and the value of the courses that Act UK provides for adult volunteers. It's something our trustees really believe in. They want to help adult volunteers become better youth leaders. And so what we do is when adult volunteers from the Army Cadet Force attend CBC courses, we give grants that effectively cover their enrollment fee. And for this particular, as we speak now, we've probably given four and a half fourteen and a half thousand pounds in grants to help ACF adult volunteers do CBC courses.

Laura Cook 23:02

You said the importance, you recognise the importance. Summarize for me, in your own words, what that importance is.

Speaker 10 23:09

The importance is that we end up with adult volunteers who are even better at it inspiring young people to go out and succeed in life, and the skills they learn from CBC courses is what does it.

Laura Cook 23:26

Yeah, absolutely. Well, that support that you you give, it must be incredibly rewarding to then stand here on days like today. You've just introduced somebody here to another another colleague of yours. It must be really nice to see those that growth, see those people come through and see their journeys.

Speaker 10 23:42

It is, and the other the nice thing is as well, when because we've been around a long time, you see the grant applications come through, and you remember the applications and the names to then see see it uh reach the you know the fulfilment.

Laura Cook 24:00

How important is it then that the the the C V College um operating in this way and seeing all these these stories, very different backgrounds, very different reasons for going into all these qualifications. How important is it is it to have something like this um on offer, going from strength to strength, that that you guys can then support, other people can support? It's a very special thing.

Speaker 10 24:21

I think it's important because there isn't any other provider that I can think of who offers this opportunity for adult volunteers to learn and develop themselves in leadership and management. Um hugely important when you're responsible for the training of young people and you're helping them out into their lives. And a and what I find really rewarding about it is that many of the people who go on CVC courses come from really quite humble backgrounds and probably once upon a time never thought they'd be able to do it. But CVC gives the opportunity, and Act UK wants to help them seize those opportunities. The commitment of adult volunteers has always staggered me.

Laura Cook 25:13

And you are helping open that door as well by offering your grants. Long may that continue. Thank you very much.

Speaker 10 25:19

It will do.

Laura Cook 25:25

Blue skies have come out for an incredibly special day here. How are you feeling today?

Guy Horidge 25:30

I'm very excited. I just think it's such a special day where people have worked hard, and the thing is that everybody here today, everybody who's graduating, has chosen to do so. They've not been forced to, and they've then decided they want to come and celebrate with their family and with the others to really an incredible place. And you've already said it. I mean, the sun is shining, the sky is really blue, and nothing can beat Sandhurst. It's just the grounds, the buildings, the welcome we get, the chapel, which they'll see in a moment. I mean, it's it's a privilege for us to be here, but it's so special because these people really are what make the cadet forces what they are today.

Laura Cook 26:11

And just how special. We'll be hearing some of those stories, some of the inspirational stories, the reasons why they've done what they've done, um, and a real feather in their cap, a real day of congratulations for all of these people and their families, I think, to see that moment of um of a real sort of special achievement, isn't it? How special is it to you for you to see um this is exactly this is what you do, this is why you do this, isn't it? It's days like this. Tell me, put it put it into words and just uh the reasons behind why the uh the college offers what it offers and why it's so special to be able to be in that position.

Guy Horidge 26:46

I think when I looked at how we could develop as an organization, I realised that the most important people, although the cadets are fantastic, are the adult volunteers. Without them, that's a cliche, but without them, there is no cadet force. And yet these people give up so much time, so much energy, and their families get left at home as it were, and all the rest because they believe in what they're doing. So a chance to offer them just rewards for what they're doing to get a qualification which looks good on a CV, which helps them get employment, which helps them progress in life, or just says, look, I can do. It's an amazing privilege that I I really value. And I think that the other thing that people forget, and I mentioned it just then, were the families that are here today rightly, and it's great that we can thank them for the support that they give, not just doing the qualification, because I'm delighted they'd like to do our qualification, but also it really is a thank you on behalf of the cadet forces for allowing their partner, their friend, or whatever the person relationship is to come and give up their evenings and weekends.

Laura Cook 27:55

How special the I've I've heard about the um the horse that comes up onto where we're standing. This wonderful, I mean, you can see the the the grass spreads for however however many it's not miles, but obviously it's it's it's all around us, isn't it? Then you've got these wonderful steps that come up to this absolutely glorious uh entrance hall into the room where they're going to be having um their teas and coffees and everything and having a look around. But uh it's the the pomp and ceremony of today is is also part of what makes it very special.

Guy Horidge 28:28

It is. And what people don't know is when a young officer, potential officer, comes to Santos to start, they will park here and with their family, they'll come up the steps and they won't get past the front door where they'll be ticked off and told what to do. The first time in their whole lives that they'll be allowed up these steps is on their commissioning day, led by the horse and the adjutants on his horse. I mean crikey, that's so British, isn't it? For the horse to ride up the steps with the adjutants on board, go through the gates, followed by all the commissioning officers. I mean, wow, we're part of that. It's really special.

Laura Cook 29:06

It really makes it, it really makes it. It sends tingles, it sends shivers up your spine, doesn't it? Have a wonderful day, guy. Enjoy it. You're behind all this. It's very much a day for uh the graduates, for everybody like the families, but it's also a day for you guys as well, because you you put this on and it's a it's a day to really showcase what the college can do.

Guy Horidge 29:24

Thank you, yes, it does. And I have such a fabulous team. I mean, they always say the lucky person is the one who does nothing, and I think that must be me, because the team is so brilliant, and uh today is so special, and thank you so much.

Lord Lingfield 29:41

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to add my own thanks um to those who prepared today's journey, to Guy and to Michelle, and to all the staff who work so hard uh in order to get this done. Thank you so much. My own thanks to my fellow trustees here in the front row who give so much of their time and particularly their expertise uh for the Cadet Vocational College and enable us to go on steadily and well doing the work that we do, and we owe them a great debt. And I thank also Thomas Dyer Dyer, my ADC, uh, for carrying the banner today, and thank again everyone who has worked so hard for one of the qualifications which have been awarded today. As I I repeat, I we know that you do this on behalf of all the young people that you serve in the various cadet forces. Thank you all so much for coming, and I now bring this ceremony formally to an end.