National title icing on the cake for cadet unit

 

Winning the recent National Skills at Arms title for the third year in a row has capped off a memorable last few months for Mangawhai Cadet Unit.

September and October saw the local cadets take a trip to Hawaii, compete in the Regional and National Skills at Arms competitions, and their leader, WOII Caprice Howard, participate in the inaugural Cadet of the Year Competition.

Two years of fundraising paid off as 16 cadets and 5 adult helpers headed to Hawaii in mid-September. Highlights included a visit to Pearl Harbour, hiking up Diamond Head, swimming with sea turtles, and surfing at Waikiki.

Straight back into training after the trip, for the ninth consecutive year the cadet unit skills team won the Northern Area Regional Skills at Arms competition held at Ardmore military training area at the end of September.

CDTWOII Caprice Howard took out the Top Cadet Trophy, which means she scored the most individual points out of any cadet at the competition across all disciplines.

Howard then headed off to Trentham Military Camp for the inaugural Cadet of the Year competition, each cadet tested at shooting, first aid scenarios, improvised cooking, problem solving, fitness testing, and delivering a prepared speech.

Howard was one of eight competitors in total, achieving the top shooting score overall.

Then it was back to leading the skills team to Burnham Military Camp in Christchurch October 28-30 where, for the third consecutive year, Mangawhai took the top honour at the National Skills at Arms Competition.

Mangawhai has won six out of the nine years it has competed at the competition.

Competition categories included events like tug of war, navigation, cadet force knowledge, shooting and gun safety, flotation, and fitness.

Caprice Howard also took out top female RFL score and top shot overall, as well as being the only current cadet to have 4 skills stars (national titles) to their name.

The Mangawhai Cadet Unit’s 2016-2017 National Title Winning Skills at Arms team members are: CDTWOII Caprice Howard, CDTSSGT David Hames, CDTSSGT Devon Pride, CDTCPL James Neki-Saunders, CDTCPL Sean Keven, CDTCPL William Green, CDTLCPL Bryden Melia, CDTLCPL Ariel Hodgson, CDTLCPL Rachel Logue and Team Manager CDTLT Jason Kingi.

Mangawhai Cadet Unit want to thank the community and parents for their support n Want to know more about Cadet Forces or Mangawhai Cadet Unit? Visit cadetforces.org.nz or phone Unit Commander Rachel Elliott on 021 272 0112.


THREEPEAT: Mangawhai Cadet Unit are National Skills at Arms winners again.

HISTORY: Mangawhai Cadets finally make their trip to Hawaii, pictured at Pearl harbour.