Somerset Army Cadet Force

National First Aid Competitions 2011

Written by SMI Julie Halford

The Army Cadet Force South West First Aid Champions from Ilminster Platoon travelled to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Surrey on Saturday 15 October 2011 for the National First Aid Competitions. Cadet Serjeant Christopher Lusby, Cadet Corporal Samuel Durman, Cadet Corporal Sophie Fitchett and Cadet Aimee Price were one of the twelve United Kingdom Army Cadet Force teams taking part.

Cadets Rachel Butt and Kelly Kirkby from Bridgwater Platoon were also at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst to act as caulsties for the competitions. Captain Ian Fudge, Captain Klaus Galeitzke (Battalion First Aid Officer) and Lieutenant Amelia Whitcombe (Ilminster Platoon Commander) were on hand to help run the event.

The Army Cadet Force Championships were decided on a team test and individual tests for which the maximum score was 320 points. The practical team test lasted for eight minutes during which time the team members had to deal with several causalities and a bystander, obtain help and handle the situation as realistically as possible. Individual tests were approximately five minutes in duration and involved just one casualty.

Ilminster Platoon cadets performed extremely well in the tests but were unfortunately nudged out of first place by the Black Watch. Our Battalion team were only a mere seven points behind and had to settle for the second place position, the same as last year! Nonetheless it was an outstanding effort on their part.

As well as the Army Cadet Force Championships, the Sea Cadet Corps, Combined Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, and St John Ambulance Cadet Team Championships ran concurrently on the same day. Despite losing out on the Army Cadet Force Championship title, Cadet Serjeant Christopher Lusby, Cadet Corporal Samuel Durman, Cadet Corporal Sophie Fitchett and Cadet Aimee Price collectively scored enough points to be the third best team overall. Not bad considering there were 24 teams!

Brigadier Neil Baverstock, 145 Brigade Commander, presented the winning teams and runners up with their medals. National colours were also awarded to the competitors.

Image 1: Cadet Serjeant Christopher Lusby (Ilminster Platoon), First Aid Team Leader, tending to his casualty during the individual tests.

Image 2: Cadet Corporal Sophie Fitchett (Ilminster Platoon) questioning her casualty during the individual tests.

Image 3: Ilminster First Aid Team displaying their silver medals.
(Left to right)
Cadet Aimee Price, Cadet Corporal Sophie Fitchett, Cadet Corporal Samuel Durman and Cadet Serjeant Christopher Lusby (Team Leader).