News

11th November 2012
All cadets from Luton Sea Cadets, Royal Marines Cadets and Junior Sea Cadets turned out in force today to remember those who have fallen and those who are serving their country this very day. Cadets and staff from Luton took part in the annual Remembrance Day Parade and Service of Remembrance to honour the armastice.

The parade took them from the Brewery Tap in Luton through the Town Centre to the Cenataph for the service. Able Cadet S. Evans and Leading Junior J. Loveland presented a wreath on behalf of the Sea Cadets, whilst MC2 M. Perry presented the wreath on behalf of the Royal Marines Cadets. Able Cadet H. Ayles carried the unit's standard during the parade. In a slight change from previous years, the four corners of the cenotaph were guarded by four sentinels from the four cadet forces. Leading Cadet R. Frost and Corporal K. Ayers represented Luton Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets respectively.

Despite the cold, the turn out and standards of dress and drill were impeccable and the Commanding Officer CPO (SCC) M. Brogan was especially proud all all cadets.

29th October 2012
We now have a Donate via Text facility, making it even easier for friends and supporters to donate to Luton Sea Cadets. Luton Sea Cadet unit is an independent charity, and unlike our colleagues in the ACF and ATC, we do not receive funding from the MOD. As a result, we are responsible for raising money for everything from training aids to keeping the lights on. This new facility makes supporting the young people in our area even easier, as you can donate £1, £2, £5 or £10 to Luton Sea Cadets. Every pound we earn goes to the benefit of our cadets, and you can help.

To use the system, simple text ”LUSC22” then a space, then the value in pounds of your donation (up to £10) to 70070. For example to donate £5 to Luton Sea Cadets, text “LUSC22 5” to 70070.

28th October 2012
A team of four Royal Marines Cadets from Luton were chosen to represent the whole of the Sea Cadet Corps at the Cadet Inter-Service Skill at Arms Meeting (CISSAM) this year. The team, comprising Cpl D. Loveland, L/Cpl E. Spraggon-Quinn, L/Cpl J. Salmon and L/Cpl J Matthews joined twelve other Sea Cadet teams from across the country in Pirbright Camp in Surrey to take on the teams from the Army Cadets Force (ACF) and Air Training Corps (ATC).

CISSAM is a more complex shoot than anything the cadets had done in the past. Matches included the Montgomery of Alamein, made up of a deliberate, rapid and snap, as well as the Earl Roberts (AMS) which included those three and an addition advance (make safe, stand up, sprint to the next point, ready, fire), the Rifle Pairs in which two of the team had to work together to complete the run downs and shoots in the time limit, and the Falling Plates, which was an elimination match in which teams have to shoot down all the falling plates in the quickest time. If this wasn’t hard enough, the weather conspired against the teams as they competed in a combination of rain, wind and even snow at one point.

Overall, the Luton team came Fourth out of all the SCC teams, a fantastic achievement considering that this was their first time and had had comparatively little practice compared to other teams. Furthermore Cpl Loveland, pictured above receiving his Corps Colours from the Captain Sea Cadets, Capt Mark Windsor RN, scored 262, by far the highest individual score within the Sea Cadets Corps, which put him in 51st place and unfortunately just one point short of Cadet 50 (the top 50 shots in the whole competition). Cpl Loveland was awarded a Gold Medal for being the best shot in the SCC by the Commandant Colonel of the Army Cadets. As top shot, Cpl Loveland went on to compete in the joint Sea Cadet team against the Army Cadets and Air Cadets, earning himself a CISSAM Bronze Medal. A huge well done to all cadets involved.

More photos can be found on the Gallery page. There are two other main shooting competitions in the calendar. The Area .22 is shot in February, the Target Rifle is shot around April and next years SAAM will be shot in June/July. Both Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets can apply – watch out for announcements in the new year.

28th October 2012
This Sunday, the Bedfordshire District 5-a-side Football competition was held at the Putterbridge Leisure Centre in Luton. The competition invited teams from the 5 units in the district (Biggleswade, Flitwick & Ampthill, Bedford, Luton and Dunstable) to compete for the trophies and to select the District team for the Area Competition in December. Luton unit entered a Senior Boys and a Junior Boys team, as well as a mixed Junior Sea Cadets team. All three teams finished in second place in their categories, earning the runners up certificates and two of Luton’s female cadets formed a joint team with Bedford, a team which ultimately won the Junior Girls competition, and will therefore proceed to the Area Competition. BZ to all cadets, and thank you to PCI J. Stevens and CPO (SCC) M. Brogan for managing the teams.

14th October 2012
This weekend, Luton Unit played host to the Bedfordshire District MACT (Multi Activity Cadet Training). This was an opportunity for those cadets who have achieved a 3rd Class Specialisation to progress to the Second Class. This builds on their past knowledge and moves on to more advanced skills, and prepares the cadets to progress to a national Sea Cadet Training Centre to complete the 1st Class Qualification. Two cadets from Luton took part in this: Able Cadet Williams achieved his 2nd Class First Aid, and Leading Cadet Newell completed the first part of her Meteorology.

This weekend also included the District Advancement Board for promotion to Leading Cadets. Congratulations to Leading Cadet Frost, who passed the board with flying colours this weekend. He is now one of only two Leading Cadets in the unit.