Suffolk Army Cadet Force 
    

This Press Release was submitted to Mrs Helen Barrow, RFCA-EA PRO, in Aug 2005 for despatch to relevant newspapers
(with full words in place of the abbreviations used below)

FOUR SUFFOLK ARMY CADETS HEAD FOR PRESTIGIOUS WELBECK

Four Cadets from Suffolk Army Cadet Force are destined for the prestigious Defence Sixth Form College at Welbeck, commencing in Sep 2005. The College, at Woodhouse near Loughborough in Leicestershire, has become one of the UK’s top sixth form colleges and has an outstanding academic reputation. It plays a unique role in providing a first-class education for young men and women making a head start to careers in our Armed Services and the Ministry of Defence.

From Halesworth Royal Signals Det: LCpl David Wilby, 16, and Cdt Will Wingfield, 16, both cadets for 2 years. David, a Full Bore First Class Shot, has represented Suffolk ACF in the Regional Combat Cadet Competition. He will study A Level mathematics, physics, electronics and chemistry intending to join The Royal Signals. Will, Head Boy at his High School, will study A Level mathematics, physics, electronics and history. He intends to join The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

From Ipswich Grenadier Guards Det: LCpl Vicci Willis, 16. A cadet for 2 years, she is a First Class Shot and has represented Suffolk ACF at Netball, Volleyball and Swimming. Vicci will study A Level mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology, intending to join The Royal Engineers.

From Bury St Edmunds Royal Artillery Det: Bdr David McNeish, 16. A Cadet for 3 years, a Full Bore First Class Shot and Adult Lifesaver, David has represented Suffolk ACF at Cross-Country Running and attended the National Cadet Leadership Course. He will study A Level mathematics, physics, design & technology and biology, intending to join The Royal Engineers.

They passed a 2-day assessment at the Regular Commissions Board, designed to assess suitability for Welbeck and a career as an Army Officer. After Welbeck they will be commissioned into the Regular Army and go to university prior to commencing a Regular Army career.

In 2005 the College became a quad-service institution, admitting students with a career ambition to join The Royal Navy, The Army and The Royal Air Force, or to become Ministry of Defence Civil Service Engineers.

The Suffolk ACF CEO, Major Bob Potter MBE said: ‘The competition to enter Welbeck is fierce so we are enormously proud of these four Cadets.’ 
High School pupils and students, male or female, aged between 12 and 18, interested in joining Suffolk Army Cadets, or adults who wish to become Leaders
(no military experience is required), should telephone 01473 252562 and view the Suffolk ACF website at www.suffolkacf.fsnet.co.uk

This below did not form part of the Press Release
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Background motes on Welbeck - The Defence Sixth Form College
No other boarding school offers such a comprehensive and high-quality education at such low cost.
Candidates must also be capable of taking mathematics and preferably physics and two other subjects for the first year of their sixth form, as well as an ICT course.
Principal Tony Halliwell: 'I believe that when you join us as a student, you gain the experience of a lifetime. At Welbeck you will face a variety of intellectual and physical challenges that will test your abilities and stretch your mind. You will pursue sports, travel overseas and experience adventurous activities that build your self-confidence and develop your leadership potential.'
Based on its original site on the Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire, Welbeck has provided the Army with its future Technical Officers for over 50 years. The College has become one of the UK's top sixth form colleges and has an outstanding academic reputation. In 2005 the College became a quad-service institution, admitting students with a career ambition to join The Royal Navy, The Army and The Royal Air Force, or to become Ministry of Defence Civil Service Engineers.
Welbeck's continued success has enabled the Ministry of Defence to invest in a brand new purpose-built site for the College at Woodhouse near Loughborough in Leicestershire. Welbeck is a state-of-the-art college with the highest quality residential and teaching facilities, benefiting from the latest educational and technological advances.
The College offers a unique programme of personal, physical and intellectual development, which provides our students with a rounded education specifically designed to meet the needs of today's modern technical Armed Services. The programme does not end after a 2-year A-level programme: the four services continue to monitor and support students through University and on to Officer Training with their respective Armed Service or within the Ministry of Defence. Welbexians can be found serving in all of the technical branches of the Army and currently over 50% of officers of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers are former Welbexians. Among the College alumni are former students who are now serving at both Brigadier and Major General rank. For many of our students, joining Welbeck will be their first experience of full time boarding education. A carefully structured induction programme ensures that this transition is well managed and that our new students are assimilated very quickly into a caring and supportive College environment which aims to give our students every opportunity to succeed in their potential careers. You will be looked after not only by our excellent pastoral care staff but you will quickly find that the older students will ease you into the daily routine so effectively that in a very short period of time you will 'find your feet' and become an established member of the Welbeck Community. The friendships that you make at the College will not just last for a couple of years but are likely to be friendships that will last for most of your service career, such is the spirit of the boarding community you will be joining at this College.
See: http://www.army.mod.uk/careers/welbeck for details, prospectus and an application form.