Derbyshire Army Cadet Force (Mercian Regiment)

14/06/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀

Our cadets delivered an outstanding performance at the Regional First Aid Competition, competing against teams from City of Derby Academy CCF, Leicestershire, Northumberland & Rutland ACF, Lincolnshire ACF, and Nottinghamshire ACF.

𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁
🏅 Gold Medal Winners
Cdt Sgt Ashie Kotey
Cdt Sgt Steadman
Cdt Cpl Thomas
Cdt Cpl Watkinson

🥈 Silver Medal Winners
Cdt Cpl Uff
Cdt Cpl Winfield
Cdt LCpl Johnson
Cdt LCpl Vitalis

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁
🥇 Joint 1st Place (three-way tie)
Cdt Sgt Ashie Kotey
Cdt Sgt Steadman
Cdt Cpl Thomas

🥈 2nd Place
Cdt Sgt Winfield

The competition showcased exceptional first aid knowledge, teamwork, leadership, and composure under pressure. We are incredibly proud of all our cadets for their hard work, dedication, and professionalism throughout the event.

Special thanks to Sergeant Ana Seglina, who led several weeknight training sessions to prepare the cadets for the competition.

Congratulations to everyone involved in these fantastic achievements! 👏

Army Cadets UK
East Midlands Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

10/06/2026

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘀

Interested in joining as a cadet / volunteer instructor / non-uniformed volunteer but not sure what we're all about?

This publication is packed with information:

>>> What it's like being a volunteer
>>> How veterans have found their place in the ACF
>>> What cadets' parents say
>>> How cadets are building skills for life
>>> Cadets are boosting their academic achievement and employability

For further information and how to join, visit our website: www.armycadets.com

Cadets are aged 12 - 18
Volunteers are aged 18 - no upper limit!

Join the Derbyshire Army Cadets family to make lifelong friends, take on exciting challenges, gain valuable qualifications, and develop confidence, leadership, and teamwork skills that will benefit you throughout life.

https://issuu.com/salt-media/docs/we_are_the_army_cadets?fr=sYjRkYzg1NDcyNTQ

Discover the Army Cadets — youth development through adventure, leadership training, volunteering, first aid and career-ready skills. Every year thousands of young people and adult volunteers join to

08/06/2026

𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 🏆

Cadets and adult volunteers proudly represented our county at the annual Rivalry Cup competition, taking on tough and exciting military-style and sporting challenges.

Held across a large military training area featuring dedicated event zones and sports facilities, the competition tested cadets' fitness, resilience, teamwork, navigation skills and determination throughout the packed programme.

🎯 Archery
🏃 Obstacle Course Racing
🔫 Rifle Run
🥏 Discus
🚜 Tyre Flip
🧭 Orienteering
🏃‍♂️ Cross Country
🚑 Stretcher Race
🥽 Virtual Reality Sports
💪 Heavy Weight Throwing

Each event required a different combination of physical ability, problem-solving and teamwork, giving every cadet the opportunity to demonstrate the skills they have developed through their ACF training. Team Derbyshire showed exceptional determination and team spirit.

The Rivalry Cup is about far more than winning medals. It is an opportunity for cadets to challenge themselves, build confidence, develop leadership skills and create lasting friendships with cadets from across the UK - the post-event BBQ and disco enabled lots of socialising!

A huge thank you to Lt S Macpherson and WO1 A Macpherson, and congratulations to every cadet who took part.

Check out the video on Army Cadet UK's page:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/966912229442638

Army Cadets UK
East Midlands Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

06/06/2026

On Friday, we said our final farewell to a well-loved instructor, leader, mentor, and friend, Company Sergeant Major Peter “Zapo” Zapoticznyj.

Zapo's unwavering support, dedication, and selfless commitment to the cadets has left a lasting impact on countless young people and fellow adult volunteers. His leadership, guidance, and sense of camaraderie helped shape not only our organisation but the lives of those fortunate enough to know him.

Though he has fallen out for the last time, his legacy will continue through the lessons he taught, the standards he upheld, and the memories he leaves behind.

Rest easy, Zapo. Thank you for your service, your friendship, and everything you gave to our cadet family.

See you at the final re-org.

06/06/2026

𝟴𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗗 𝗗𝗮𝘆

6th June 1944 was the day of the Normandy landings (D Day) to liberate Europe from N**i Germany. The Worcestershire Regt and Sherwood Foresters Regt took part and fought hard throughout Normandy. We are part of that history. The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters amalgamated in 1970 and then amalgamated again into the Mercian Regt, the cap badge we now wear.

Lest We Forget.

04/06/2026

03/06/2026

𝗕 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱

Check out what B Company got up to during their weekend at Chillwell Training Centre!

East Midlands Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

01/06/2026

✨𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲✨ - 𝗔 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘀

Dear Volunteers,

Volunteers' Week is a moment to stop, reflect, and say something we want you to hear clearly: thank you.

Every week, across more than 2,000 locations in the UK, you show up. You give your time, your energy, and your expertise - not because you have to, but because you believe in what the Army Cadets stands for. That commitment makes an extraordinary difference to the young people in your care, and to the communities around them.

Because of you, cadets are climbing mountains, navigating by map and compass in the field, performing music at some of the most prestigious venues in the country, and representing the Army Cadets on international expeditions across the world. Because of you, young people who might never have believed in themselves are discovering courage, resilience, and the ability to lead. They're gaining qualifications, building friendships that last a lifetime, and going further than they ever thought possible.

The impact of what you do is real and it is proven. Research shows that people who started their journey in the cadet forces produce an indicative annual return on investment of around £95 million. Behind every one of those numbers is a young person, or perhaps now an adult, whose life has been shaped by someone like you.

But we also know that this is not a one-way relationship. You bring your skills and your dedication, and in return you grow too - as leaders, as mentors, and as part of a community that has your back. That's what "shoulder to shoulder" means in the Army Cadets, and you live it every single day.

So, during Volunteers' Week - and every week - please know how valued you are. What you do matters. The cadets you inspire will carry the lessons you teach them for the rest of their lives.

Thank you for everything.

Colonel Ashley Fulford OBE
National Colonel Cadets