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Covering 1-30th June

With a complication in restrictions being lifted, Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets continued onwards to ensure that cadets remained engaged and safe whilst completing their activities.

Sea Cadets saw an increase of specialisations, with a total of 15 cadets obtaining their First Aid Intermediate and 7 cadets obtaining their First Aid at Work. Cadets also continued to gain tasters in Rowing, Sailing and Paddlesport as the staff of Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets worked to make the experience memerable.

Royal Marines Cadets got their first taste of going afloat, with Sailing and Rowing being offered and tried, as well as hosting a Troop Training Weekend in Sutton Park. The cadets thoroughly enjoyed each activity planned by Detachment staff as they gained the full Royal Marines Cadets experience.

Junior Sea Cadets got to work on their earth-shot projects and began earning their coloured modules as they returned to full Sunday parading alongside the Ships Company! This showed the final phase-out of virtual sessions.

The Command Team and Divisional Staff worked to create the Q3 Training Plan, where we aim to extend afloat training and offer full qualifications, as well as a focus on promotional skills and core skill development!

Covering 1-31st May 2021

May saw the return to face-to-face training, the phase-out of virtual parading and qualification presentations to last all of the lockdown.

The cadets were grateful to see their unit reopened, with all cadets attending our first parade back as we offered to engage afloat recap sessions, reinforced safeguarding and welcomed our new joiners who hadn't yet seen the site!

Across the month, the staff implemented an engaging afloat plan, with AT sessions planned for those ashore and specialization required for promotion as a priority. By the end of May, we saw 16 new Seamanship qualifications, as well as a range of tasters afloat!

Three of our Royal Marines Cadets also achieved their promotion to Cadet Lance Corporal after working tirelessly over lockdown to attend and pass a virtual promotion board. The cadets were promoted back at the unit, as we were able to celebrate their achievement.

Staff continued to engage with the planning of future training, as we looked forward to June where restrictions are set to lift even further, allowing different activities to take place!

Covering 1-30th April 2021

The month of April saw the Corps begin to allow outdoors training, the restart of day-run courses and the preparation for Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets' reopening.

Whilst Virtual Training continued throughout April, we had the cadets start attending the local Midlands Boat Centre and complete courses such as Powerboat Level 2 and Windsurf Stage 1! In addition to this, we had members of our DofE Cohorts achieve their 'Certificate of Achievement' from the awarding body for completing their DofE over lockdown!

Whilst the cadets were busy attending courses, instructional staff, unit management team members and unit assistants worked tirelessly to ensure that the unit building was ready for reopening. COVID Safe Procedures were checked by the Command Team, cleaning stations were recreated and a return-to-unit plan was implemented to keep our Ships Company safe! With a reopening date at the start of May, parents and guardians engaged with the unit and prepared their cadets for the return.

One final clean-down was conducted as we draw April to a close, with face-to-face training returning on the horizon. 

Covering 1-31st March 2021

With a roadmap out of lockdown laid down by the Corps, Sutton Coldfield Unit started the final stretch of Virtual Learning whilst getting excited about returning to face-to-face training.

Virtual Training continued with a visit from the Royal Navy Engagement team, who also brought along a serving Royal Marine Commando to have a talk to our Royal Marines Cadets about their training and future aspirations to the forces.

We also saw cadets engage with the Virtual Airmans Proficeicny, Virtual Seamanship, Meteorology and Piping! 

Staff at Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets begun to have discussions regarding training when we returned face-to-face, what it looks like and began to create a plan!

Covering 1-28th February 2021

Whilst still under lockdown restrictions, Sutton Coldfield Sea Cadets continued to deliver high-quality virtual training to its vast ship's company, including Virtual Regattas and guest speakers.

February saw our Ships Company engage in external Virtual events, such as spotlights from the Royal Navy Engagement Team and 'return to boating' sessions, as well as delivering presentations on Navy Battles and gaining promotions.