Two South Tyneside army cadets win places on once in a lifetime expeditions

Cadet Corporal Amy McCartney, 16 from South Tyneside and Cadet Corporal Jake Gregory, 16 from Hebburn are one of a number of cadets have been recognised for their hard work and dedication to the uniformed service.

Amy will head to Latvia in August for a 10 day training and cultural exercise alongside the Baltic Guard Cadet Forces - the first exchange visit of its kind. Amy will be joined by fellow North East cadets Cadet Colour Sergeant Adam Curry, 16 from Chester le Street, Cadet Sergeant Callum Anderson, 16 from Chester le Street.

Meanwhile, Jake will take his place on the Lord Dannatt’s Round Britain Challenge this summer which is being staged to mark the close of the First World War. He will be joined by Cadet Sergeant Marc Hague, 16 from Stanley.

The cadets are all part of Durham Army Cadet Force. Colonel Brian Kitching, Commandant Durham ACF said “This is a truly remarkable record and achievement for any ACF county, to have nine youngsters who have won places on four separate expeditions all over the world is outstanding. I am sure that you will all have an amazing adventure. This is testament to the hard work and dedication of the cadets and our adult volunteers. “Our Durham ACF training year will culminate in an annual camp in Northern Ireland this summer with over 500 cadets attending from Durham County”.

Other Durham Army Cadets who will be taking part in once in a lifetime trips are: Sergeant Instructor (SI) Nancy McKenna, 18 from Stanley County Durham who will jet off to South Africa for two weeks with the 2018 CVQO Westminster Award finalists; Cadet Corporal Benjamin Harbottle, 16 from Birtley, Cadet Corporal James Godfrey, 16 from Chester le Street and Cadet Lance Corporal Katie Handyside, 16 from Washington will join 43 other youngsters from across the UK when they travel to Canada this summer.