‘Best Student’ Award in the crucible of Master Cadet

For many years, Caterham’s Army cadets have thrived on the Master Cadet Course, with glowing reports and commendations from the Commanding Officer at Frimley, the national HQ of cadet training. This summer, Sgt Mulcaire (Fifth Year) went one better.

Sgt Mulcaire became the first Caterhamian to win on the highest glories an Army cadet can: on the most demanding course in the movement, open only to the best and most senior cadets nationwide, she was awarded ‘Best Student’. And this despite being one of the youngest on the course!

Merely passing the gruelling six-day long Master Cadet course and achieving the coveted award is the pinnacle an Army cadet’s career which very few reach. Cadets from all over the UK come to test themselves – few make it as far as this course, and many who do attend do not pass. To be chosen by Frimley’s permanent staff as the best cadet on the course is a truly remarkable achievement.

Sgt Mulcaire, who intends to join the Army after university, was tested physically, mentally and emotionally over a gruelling week which included lessons, lectures, log runs, obstacles courses and, crucially, a four-day battle exercise, assessed at every moment. In all of this she shone as a leader, a teammate and a character others rallied behind.

Remarkably, this was just one of four cadet training packages Sgt Mulcaire threw herself into during her summer ‘holidays’: it was joined by Army Section Summer Camp in Yorkshire, a week’s mountaineering in Lancashire and another week crewing a tall ship from Portsmouth to the Channel Islands and France. And later this month she is off with Cpl Amsel and other UK cadets for a week-long mountain biking expedition in Snowdonia.

Bravissima, Sgt Mulcaire – we are truly proud of all you have achieved.

Maj Mathew Owen

OC Army Section