Meet the 2022 First Sea Lord’s Cadets

Southern

POC Alexandra, Milton Keynes Unit

Petty Officer Cadet Alexandra (known as Sasha) joined as a junior and has demonstrated determination, self-awareness and communication skills on the way to becoming a POC. Now the senior cadet at her unit, Sasha performs her duties to a very high standard. Throughout lockdown she held forums with other senior cadets to help volunteers run engaging activities from home. 

Sasha has played a pivotal role in the Southern Area Cadet Forum, speaking up for her peers and younger cadets. She has helped the Mayor with a local cycle project, and raised awareness and support for a local charity helping refugees. She was selected as Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Buckinghamshire in 2021. 

Sasha has gained her Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and ILM Level 2 Award for Young Leaders. Her accomplishments afloat include the Master Coxswain Award and many RYA qualifications. She helps other cadets learn to sail and is planning to teach courses at Thrapston Boat Station. Sasha plays for her school’s netball team and enjoys horse riding. Currently studying for her A-levels, she aspires to become a marine biologist and wants to travel the world.  

South West

Cdt Cpl Megan, Redditch and Bromsgrove Sea Cadets

Cadet Corporal Megan joined her unit’s RMC detachment in 2017. Megan’s initiative, emotional intelligence and enthusiasm set her apart. Her confidence grew immensely when she was selected to be part of a team of royal marines cadets representing Alpha Company at the Gibraltar Cup competition.

Megan is always ready to pass on her knowledge to other cadets: even when she’s not expecting to teach she always has something prepared just in case it’s required. In 2021 she was selected as Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Worcestershire. Megan has gained qualifications in aviation, paddlesports, windsurfing and rowing. Her real passion is helping other cadets through the forums. She has established a highly effective unit forum and taken a lead role in her district, focusing on making sure that underrepresented cadets are involved. 

When Megan is not taking part in activities with Sea Cadets, she enjoys horse riding, scuba diving and walking her three cocker spaniels. Megan is currently studying for her A-levels and aspires to join the Royal Navy as a nursing officer in the future. 

Eastern

POC Alex, Lincoln Unit

Petty Officer Cadet Alex joined Sea Cadets as a junior at the age of 10. After settling in, he impressed his instructors and progressed quickly through the junior modules, winning his unit’s Junior Sea Cadet of the Year award in 2016. 

Quick-thinking, enthusiastic and hard-working, Alex is a role model for other cadets. He has gone on to earn an impressive number of exceptional passes on the assessments at both his promotions boards to Leading Cadet and Petty Officer Cadet. 

Alex’s list of accomplishments include qualifications in sailing, powerboating, rowing, canoeing, meteorology, first aid, marine engineering and seamanship. He is currently working towards becoming an Assistant Rowing Instructor and Paddlesport Instructor. 

Alex is eagerly waiting to take part in a Cadet Drill Instructors course and shows a particular skill for this. In his unit, Alex has taken on a number of leadership roles. He is an approachable senior cadet who the younger cadets look to for guidance. He sets himself an extremely high standard in everything he does and strives to ensure others also achieve their potential. His endless enthusiasm inspires other cadets to follow his example.

Outside of Sea Cadets, Alex is studying for his A-levels and enjoys playing the guitar. In the future he hopes to be an officer in the Royal Navy. 

Northern

POC Mirren, East Kilbride Unit

Petty Officer Cadet Mirren is a natural leader and an inspiration to others. She joined as a junior and has impressed her instructors at every stage with her determination, confidence and maturity. Mirren was also selected as the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Lanarkshire. 

On the water, Mirren has gained the prestigious Master Coxswain Award. She is a Paddlesports Instructor and Rowing Coxswain, and has qualifications in powerboating and sailing. She is currently working towards becoming Offshore Watch Leader.

On land, Mirren has qualifications in first aid, seamanship and navigation, as well as the BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Teamwork and Personal Development.  

Mirren has represented her district and area at a number of competitions, including kayak water polo, swimming, five-a-side football and piping. She leads the Clyde North District Cadet Forum, with a clear passion for giving cadets a voice. 

Apart from Sea Cadets, Mirren’s passion is acting. She appears on stage with her local theatre group and is studying drama at college, with ambitions of pursuing an acting career. 

London

LC Zunara, Enfield Unit

Leading Cadet Zunara joined Enfield Unit’s Junior Sea Cadets section in 2016 and it was obvious from the start that her enthusiasm would carry her on a path of distinction. It took her just three years to become one of the youngest Able Cadets in the unit’s history, gaining confidence along the way. Zunara is an outstanding cadet with an inspirational work ethic and aims to excel in everything she does. Her achievements include a Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Emergency First Aid at Work and BTEC Level 1 in Teamwork and Personal Development through CVQO, along with qualifications in aviation, seamanship, navigation and much more. 

Her enthusiasm for adventure on the water has inspired other cadets at her unit and in the wider district. Zunara has achieved qualifications in many disciplines including windsurfing, powerboating and paddlesports. She is patient and compassionate to her fellow cadets and can often be found helping them gain new skills. Through the lockdowns, she worked hard to help cadets who struggled with the sudden social changes and continues to check on their wellbeing. 

Zunara is always seeking out the next challenge and is fearless in trying new challenges. She is a keen reader with a love of fantasy novels and is currently undertaking her A-levels, with the aim of studying economics at the University of Cambridge.