IN an average term, recruits at the Maldon Army Cadets will tackle everything from DIY to working a fire arm.

The 23-strong cadet detachment is meeting at their base of operations in Tetherfield Road on a Thursday night, and the cadets are falling in for patrol before the evening’s activities.

There’s presentations of various Duke of Edinburgh certificates and badges, lots of applause, loud commands and a great deal of boot-stamping.

And with good reason, for this detachment has just been named the highest achieving of the 32 centres of army cadets in Essex.

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The cadets earn points for all of the different activities they carry out successfully, ranging from fire arms, voluntry experience, cooking, camping, high wires, DIY, navigations, music and sport.

It’s a near endless list, with the majority coming under the cadets’ Armed Proficiency certificate, with points being awarded to every cadet progressing through their star levels.

Cadets can gain a maximum of a four star ranking, with the Maldon detachment earning 316 points this year, beating the second place detachment by 26 points.

In September they were awarded the Lucas Tooth trophy for the highest achieving detachment in the Essex region of cadets.

As the cadets break down into groups for the night’s activities – wartime communications – I sit down with the Detachment Commander Ashleigh Dunmore, who has served at Maldon for six years, having been with the cadets for 15 years, serving as an instructor for nine.

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“It’s a feeling where you’re totally over the moon, and giddy with pride for these amazing people,” she says.

“In the last few years we’ve gone from down in the mix of all the other detachments, to getting achievement after achievement, our guys are so determined and have kept pushing themselves.

“There’s only four instructors officially on the role here including me, and I also juggle a full time job and a marriage alongside this, but it’s never a stress. The younger members integrate so well with the older more experienced cadets. Everyone gets along, there’s no one left out.”

The detachment meet every Thursday at the Old TA Centre on Tenterfield Road from 7pm to 9pm.

After assembling for a group photo with their impressively shiny Lucas Tooth shield, I meet cadets Fran Hay, Owen Griffiths, Connor Hill and Harry Turner, who have all been with the detachment for at least a couple of years.

All are incredibly enthusiastic about their detachment, the uniform they’re wearing and are keen to tell me absolutely everything they get up to week in week out.

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Harry said: “I’ve been pushed in many ways since I started here, but the things I’ve achieved have been incredible. It’s made me proud of myself and introduced me to many new things, and great people.

Owen said: “I was quite quiet and shy when I first came here, but the guys here really encourage you to do everything they put on. There’s no limits for anyone, and everyone is equal here. There’s so much respect.”

Fran said: “It’s like one massive family, it’s very inviting and as we’re not a massive group, we all know each other. It’s challenging, tough and exciting but also so friendly, and you’ll meet people from all over the country, not just Essex.”

Ashleigh added: “There’s no obligation for any of our guys to go into the armed forces, this is an youth organisation with the theme of the army.

“Everyone is welcome here, and we’re always looking for new people to join the family.”

Visit www.armycadets.com/county/essex-acf.