A BARROW army cadet has taken another step towards his career dream by beating his comrades to an award for the second year running.

Lance Corporal Bradlee Smillie was honoured during this year’s Cumbria Army Cadet Force summer camp, which this month brought together more than 140 young recruits aged 12 to 17. The two-week event in York saw them go head-to-head for a number of accolades.

Cadets were split into star level groups from basic to three-star, depending on their knowledge and experience, and 15-year-old Bradlee won Best Cadet in his level for the second time.

When asked what he enjoys about being a cadet, the teenager said: “I just love drill – especially when I’m the drill instructor. It looks great when all of the cadets are synchronised and they’ve followed your instructions.”

The 15-year-old, who starts Year 11 at Dalton’s Dowdales School in September, hopes to pursue a career in the army and join either the Royal Engineers or Military Police.

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During the camp, Bradlee and his fellow cadets enjoyed various experiences designed to give them a taste for a life in the forces including obstacle courses, field craft, shooting, adventure training and military tasks.

The camp was supported by regular soldiers from the 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, and the cadets also received a demonstration from working prison dogs. Parents and guardians of cadets were invited to attend the final parade, where awards and promotions were handed out by the commandant of Cumbria ACF, Colonel Anthony Steven.

He said: “I am extremely proud of how hard our cadets worked. The experiences we provide will make a quantifiable improvement to the life outcomes of these young people, whom I hope will go on to be leaders in whatever field of endeavour they choose.”

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