Heathfield Army cadet takes part in international cadet exchange programme
18th February
A group shot of the cadets on day one of the trip
An Army Cadet from Heathfield Detachment has recently returned from the International Cadet Exchange Programme that runs every year in Singapore.
Cadet Lance Corporal Tom Rendell, 16, was given one of ten places available to cadets from Sussex to take part in an exchange programme with Cadets from across the world. They flew from Gatwick along with two adult instructors and were met at the airport in Singapore by local cadets and instructors.
The cadets stayed at the National Cadet Corps Camp which is inside the larger Amoy Quee Camp. They shared the accommodation with cadets from India, Brunei, Australia and the USA. Once they had settled into the different accommodation blocks, one for the males and one for the females, they all went to the cookhouse and got their first experience of the local cuisine. The cadets from all six countries sat at tables together and introduced themselves.
Every day started with a physical training session before the weather became too hot. This was followed by different activities including: laying a wreath at the Kranji War Memorial; a visit to Sentosa Island to see the remains of World War II bunkers; a trip to the British High Commission and a look around the Singapore Navy’s new warship.
The group before boarding at Gatwick. Tom is second from the left in the back row
On the last night the cadets had one final meal together while videos and photographs of the trip played on a screen in the background before saying their farewells and getting ready for the early morning trips to the airport.
“The best part of the trip was meeting people from across the world and experiencing a different culture that I wouldn’t have been able to do if I hadn’t been in the Army Cadets,” Tom said when asked about the experience.
Tom joined the Army Cadets aged 12 after a visit and talk to Heathfield Community College by the adult instructor who runs Heathfield Detachment. Tom has enjoyed his time so far in cadets having been on several weekend trips away, taking part in two annual camps and completing his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award.
The Army Cadets is a youth organisation for 12 to 18 year olds that provides challenging and fun activities across a wide range of subjects. Find out more at https://armycadets.com/
The group at the war memorial
