Halkirk cadets reopen after eight month wait

More army cadets from Caithness have returned to train after over eight months in lockdown.

Following in the footsteps of their detachments in Thurso and Castletown, now of 1st Battalion, the Highlanders’ Halkirk detachment held their first training event last Thursday evening (November 19).

Since the end of March, army cadets up and down the country have moved their training online to ensure that the cadets were not falling behind in their progression and also trying to help improve people’s mental health by staying connected.

Throughout lockdown the cadets of the Caithness company detachment have been engaging with the battalion’s online programme, from weekly training lessons to online competitions and challenges.

The cadets were welcomed back to their detachment where they – keeping to Social Distancing guidelines – spent the night celebrating their achievements in lockdown. At the end of the evening a presentation was made to Cadet Lauren Young (14), who was promoted to Cadet Lance Corporal.

The army cadets are allowed to return to face-to-face training in Scotland as it falls under the youth sector and classified as a designated essential service that engages young people within their communities and also acknowledges the wider networks of peers, community and culture, as well as

supporting the young person to realise their potential and to address life’s challenges critically and creatively.

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