CADETS ON PARADE; CADETS FORM ZAMBIA, NIGERIA, KENYA, DUBAI, UGANDA, GUYANA; WINNER OF AWARD FOR BEST OVERSEAS CADET.




Initials GEP/V/CR/PF



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Background: OF THE 44 CADETS WHO WILL COMPLETE THEIR COURSE AT THE MONS OFFICER CADET SCHOOL AT ALDERSHOT TOMORROW (THURSDAY), 29 WILL COME FROM ARMIES OUTSIDE BRITAIN.

THE AWARD FOR THE BEST OVERSEAS CADET IN THIS INTAKE WILL GO TO UNDER OFFICER V. D. WILSON OF GUYANA.

THE CADETS HAVE COMPLETED A 20-WEEK COURSE AT THE CADET SCHOOL. FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS THEY DID BASIC MILITARY TRAINING - DRILL, WEAPON TRAINING, PHYSICAL TRAINING AND MAP READING. THE MAJOR PART OF THE COURSE IS OFFICER TRAINING. THIS INVOLVES TRAINING IN TACTICS, MILITARY ORGANISATION, AND THE ROLES OF SUPPORTING ARMIES AND SERVICES. ALL THE CADETS COME OUT AS POTENTIAL PLATOON COMMANDERS.

THE INSPECTING OFFICER AT TOMORROW'S PARADE WILL BE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR IAN FREELAND, DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF. THE RULER OF THE PERSIAN GULF STATE OF DUBAI, HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH RASHID AL MAKTOUM WILL ALSO BE THERE - HIS SON, SHEIKH MOH BIN RASHID IS ONE OF THE CADETS.

SINCE 1961, THE MONS OFFICER CADET SCHOOL HAS BEEN TRAINING CADETS FOR SHORT SERVICE COMMISSIONS IN THE BRITISH ARMY AND OFFICER CADETS FROM OVERSEAS FORCES.