Another top award for Mangawhai cadet

Stand-out Mangawhai cadet, Warrant Officer Class II Caprice Howard, has recently been awarded the prestigious WR Friar Memorial Medal.

Presented at a special ceremony by the Commandant of NZ Cadet Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Grant Morris, the medal is administered for Cadet Rifle Shooting in the UK, recognising excellence in shooting and character.

A member of the Mangawhai Cadet Unit for nearly five years, Caprice qualified for her First Class Shooting badge in 2012 and was also presented her Marksman badge in the same year.

She has won the Top Shot trophy three times at the northern region skill-at-arms competitions and in October 2016 achieved the best shooting score at the inaugural New Zealand Cadet Forces Cadet of the Year Competition.

She has also won the Top Cadet Trophy at regional skill-at-arms competitions and has twice won the top leader trophy for the northern area.

Her Cadet Unit Commander, Cadet Captain Rachel Elliott, describes her as an exceptional person and leader who has a wonderful ability to work with a wide variety of people.

Rodney College principal, Irene Symes, says Caprice has clear leadership potential – an efficient organiser, a responsive communicator and someone who can work under pressure to achieve tight time frames.

“It was a huge pleasure to present CDTWOII Caprice Howard of the Mangawhai Cadet Unit with the WR Friar Memorial Medal,” said Lieutenant Colonel Morris.

The highly esteemed award has not been presented in New Zealand since 2011.

EXCELLENCE: Commandant LTCOL Grant Morris with CDTWOII Caprice Howard.