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Find out how 800 NAS Kettering Sea and Royal Marine Cadets spend their time, including boating, competitions, camps, community volunteering, marine engineering, rifle and clay shooting, Duke of Endinburgh's Awards and more.

police visit kettering sea and marine cadets

Visiting Leicestershire Police

800 NAS Kettering Sea and Marine Cadets find out about 24 hour policing

Arranged by the XO of Kettering, he pulled a few strings as a serving police officer, which meant 28 cadets and staff were able to get involved in training exercises put on by the Tactical Support Team on 21 May 2022.

During the visit, Sea and Marine Cadets got to meet the following teams: Armed Response Unit who explained to cadets about how the team prevent crime and remove the use of harmful weapons from the streets. Their role is to keep themselves, other officers and the public safe. They showed us their equipment which is carried on their person and in theIr Armed Response Vehicles.

They also engaged the cadets talking about the types of incidents they attend, and allowed cadets to handle the equipment and ask lots of questions. This included search and infra-red cameras, blast and riot shields, tasers, firearms, entry equipment and first aid. All equipment was handled safely and not loaded. The team told us that Leicestershire Police has never attended an incident where they’ve had to fire live rounds to prevent harm.

The Dog Unit allowed cadets to meet the specialist dog handlers and kennel staff who make up the operational dog team. They explained to cadets how they work with, train and keep the dogs both in the kennels and at home. All dogs and trainers are experienced and licensed to work as police officers. The dogs have various roles such as searching for missing people, chasing suspects, and sniffing out drugs or weapons or and digital media, like phones and SIM cards.

The dogs are rewarded with toys and the trainers use protective equipment during training sessions to prevent themselves from being injured. The types of breeds include Germans and Belgium Shepherds, Labradors, Cocker Spaniels and Border Collie’s. The cadets had a demonstration by Police Dog (PD) Steem, who searched for a mobile phone in the long grass and when he found it stood still to point to the handler where it was located.

The Tactical Support Team told cadets they’re specialist and skilled officers who are trained in search. They gather evidence, find missing people, carry out pre VIP safety visits and gain entry into properties. They are licensed search officers who get deployed to potentially dangerous incidents, such as control at public order events (football) and protester removals. They also get deployed to find missing people who could potentially need recovering from heights, fire, water or other disasters.

All cadets had a chance to use a method of entry (MOE) equipment, using a battering ram to open a front door which is placed in the teams demonstration rig. Cadets were also excited to be shown other battering rams, hydraulic rams, electric cutters, and door forcing tools.

Roads Policing Unit officers then set up police vehicles as though they had been sent to a traffic incident. This was to show cadets how they deploy equipment at the scene. The team attend serious road incidents, prevent crime on the roads and promote road safety through patrolling. The officers allowed cadets to deploy a ‘stinger’, which deflates the tyres on moving vehicles, and encouraged them sit in the police cars and on a motorbike, plus play with the sirens and buttons. Cadets were also invited to be hand cuffed and shown how officers use their powers of arrest.

Finally, the Drone Team flew their large £30k drone overhead and took photos of the cadets while they were onsite. Two officers demonstrated it in flight. One flying and one monitoring. They flew it 500m away and took photo of the cadets. They showed cadets how patrols take place from the sky and can be viewed on the monitors from their unmarked vehicle. They showed cadets how the drone could read number plates and lock onto and track individual people.

Cadets and staff were surprised about how clear and close the streamed images were and how they didn’t know the drone was in the sky tracking them! The demonstration was cut short as the team were needed to respond to a 999 call. It was a once in a lifetime emergency services experience.

Cadets described the day as great fun and they most enjoyed smashing in front doors!

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Tesco bags of help

Attention shoppers!

Until 31st August, only at the Kettering Tesco store, you can help our unit just by shopping with the 'bags of help' scheme. Each time you shop in store, you will be handed a blue token by the cashier. All you need to do is pop that token in the middle box labeled kettering sea cadets to support our unit.

Thanks in advance & remember every little helps 

Burgee Presentation 2016

At the end of September, Kettering sea cadets showed of their exceptional drill and did the unit proud when they received the burgee from Rear Admiral Blount. As well as the burgee, medals were also awarded to Colour Sergeant Bell. 

 

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Kettering Sea Cadets strengthened their affiliations with the Fleet Air Arm by hosting Rear Admiral Keith Blount OBE, ACNS (Aviation, Amphibious Capability & Carriers) & Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm.

The Unit carried out Ceremonial Divisions with Admiral Blount taking the salute from the Guard of Honour, with other guests including The Mayor of Kettering Scott Edwards, Commodore Jock Alexander CEO of the Fly Navy Heritage Trust, Captain Andy Barnwell Chairman of 800 NAS Kettering Sea Cadets and Lt Colonel Robert Blomfield Chairman of RFCA in Northamptonshire.

‘Training Ship 800 NAS’ (TS 800 NAS) proudly have the name of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm fixed wing fighter squadron who were decommissioned in 2011. Previously they were known as TS Pytchley; a Hunt class destroyer that the people of Kettering paid for during the Second World War. 

We are unique among Sea Cadet Units”“It’s a great honour to be able to keep the squadron name alive. We aim to ensure that every cadet not only enjoys attending Sea Cadets and take part in all the various activities, but that they acquire lifelong practical skills to take them forward in life and a sense of self-discipline and pride in what they can achieve.” 

 The Kettering Sea Cadets are distinctive as the only Unit with a Fleet Air Arm cap tally and in addition to strong traditional ties with Naval Bases in Portsmouth and Plymouth can boast links to Royal Naval Air Stations at Yeovilton and Culdrose. They currently have an affiliation with 736 Naval Air Squadron is the Royal Navy’s Maritime Aggressor Squadron and it is equipped with 14 Hawk T Mk1 twin seat fast jet aircraft.  The unit is based at RNAS Culdrose (with a small detachment operating from RNAS Yeovilton) and provides simulated ship attack and airborne intercept training for the Royal Navy's Task Fleet undergoing pre-deployment operational work-ups. Amongst the usual Sea Cadet activities of Sailing and Seamanship, they also take on airborne pursuits and even look at air engineering aspects as well, on visits to the Naval Air Stations. 

 “The Cadets get the opportunity to not only get afloat in one of our many sailing or power boats but also with our strong links to the Fleet Air Arm they also have the opportunity to see first-hand what it’s like in this key part of the Naval Service,” said Lt (SSC) Chris Jablonski RNR, Executive Officer of 800 NAS SCC. “It was pleasing today to be able to demonstrate our afloat activities to Rear Admiral Blount and  for the Cadets to take him onboard out Trinity  500 rowing boat, It’s all about engaging the kids in different activities and we offer more than most Units here.,

 Presenting the Unit with a prestigious ‘Sea Cadet Burgee’ for the year in recognition of continued success of the cadets, Rear Admiral Blount also presented Colour Sargent Bell with his Cadet Forces Long Service Medal for 12 years’ service 

 

 

High Sheriff's Cadet Invested

High Sheriff's Cadet Invested

On Thursday 30th April the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire invested Leading Cadet Freddie as his official Cadet for 2015.

Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Mukhtar DL has been a long time supporter of Kettering Sea Cadets and was pleased to be able to present Freddie with his Badge of Office.

 

 

New Captain Sea Cadets

New Captain Sea Cadets

A massive welcome to
Captain Phillip Russell RN, who shall take over the post of Captain Sea Cadets from
Captain Jonathan Holloway RN today at the National drill and piping competition!

We wish you the very best during your time with us, and hope you enjoy every minute of it!...

Captain Philip Russell grew up in South London and after graduating from Loughborough University joined the Royal Navy in 1988. Following training at Britannia Royal Naval College, the Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon and at sea in HM Ships EURYALUS, CAMPBELTOWN and JUNO he joined the Type 42 destroyer HMS GLOUCESTER as Deputy Marine Engineer Officer. During his appointment he saw the ship through operational service in the Adriatic and into its first deep refit. In 1993 he joined Superintendent Ships Devonport, firstly as Project Leader for the special refit of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and then for the Type 22 frigate refit programme.

From Devonport he attended University College London as one of the first Royal Navy officers to undertake an MSc in Naval Architecture. Consolidating his new found knowledge by working within the Directorate of Naval Architecture in Bristol as the Trimaran Demonstrator Trials Coordinator, with responsibility for the development of the trials and associated safety case for Research Vessel TRITON part of the Navy’s foray into multi-hulled vessels. Whilst in post Captain Russell became the first Naval Officer to be accepted as an associate member of the Royal Corps of Naval Constructors.

Returning to Sea in 1999, Captain Russell joined HMS CAMPBELTOWN as Marine Engineer Officer enjoying an operationally intense and eventful two years which culminated in overseeing the successful repairs to the ship after a ‘close encounter’ with the edge of a Norwegian Fiord! A further appointment in Bristol followed where he was responsible for the delivery of in-service support for Devonport based Type 22 and Type 23 Frigates.

On completion of Advanced Command and Staff Course, achieving an MA in Defence Studies and promotion to Commander in 2005 he took a break from engineering to join Directorate Reserve Forces and Cadets. Here he was responsible for MOD cadet policy during a period of intense government interest in expanding the Cadet Force presence within state schools. He also secured provision of the replacement cadet rifle.

In 2008 Captain Russell became the lead for Minor War Vessel engineering policy within Navy Command Headquarters. Over the course of his tenure he established a sustainable support solution for the Mine Countermeasures Vessels permanently based in the Arabian Gulf, dealt with the aftermath of HMS ENDURANCE’s significant flood and oversaw the introduction to full operational service of the Seafox mine disposal system. Moving from policy to operational delivery he joined the Fleet Operational Headquarters Northwood in June 2010 as engineering adviser to the Commander in Chief. This appointment saw Captain Russell supporting the Fleet during the busiest operational tempo in recent years including Operation ELLAMY the UK mission to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 to protect Libyan civilians and civilian populated areas from attack.

Returning to Bristol in June 2012, Captain Russell joined the Commercially Supported Shipping team as Chief Engineer for Hydrographic and Patrol vessels. He managed a small highly focused team overseeing both routine engineering support and some novel engineering repairs to maintain the highest levels of operational availability within the Royal Navy. In addition, he lead the renegotiation of several key support contracts to realise significant savings whilst maintaining consistent operational output.

In January 2015 Captain Russell was delighted and extremely proud to have been selected to become Captain Sea Cadets.

Captain Russell lives in the West Country with his partner and has two grown up sons. He is a lapsed archer and rugby second row preferring these days to keep fit through extended walks in the countryside. He has an avid interest in nineteenth century history and is particularly passionate about Victorian engineering and when able enjoys combining his love of travel with his enthusiasm for the naval history and industrial archaeology of the period

 

 

 

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