Tough enough

Check out some of the best photos from this year's Gibraltar Cup Competition, which tests the resilience of our royal marines cadets, and hear from two who rose to the challenge

After months of training, some of our finest royal marines cadets gathered for another fantastic Gibraltar Cup competition at the Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon, in May. BZ to all the cadets and volunteers for representing their companies so well! 

Preparing for the competition by smearing on camo face paint
Preparing for the endurance course, which requires a high level of physical fitness as well as mental strength


BEST MEDIC: CADET LANCE CORPORAL ISABELLE, SIDCUP DETACHMENT

Gibraltar Cup 2024 had a new category. The Best Medic award was made possible thanks to support from Casualty Resources, a company that wanted to recognise the great work of cadets during the competition. The winner of the category was Cdt L/Cpl Isabelle, from Sidcup Detachment, who said “Being at Lympstone was such an amazing experience, and the opportunity to meet serving Royal Marines was incredibly interesting. The Gibraltar Cup is known for being challenging, and it was an invaluable experience – I learned that teamwork is essential in any troop setting. I enjoyed working together, and seeing everyone’s strengths was really rewarding. Being named the best individual medic was unexpected – I’m grateful that my hard work and determination paid off.” 

Cadet Lance Corporal Isabelle (far right) with Sidcup Detachment
Map reading and navigation skills are essential 
Cadets wade through water but are still smiling
Grit and determination on show in Devon
Jersey Detachment
From excelling in field craft and map reading to tactical situations, the cadets (including our winners from Jersey Detachment, above) all put in an effort to be proud of, with the support of our volunteers and instructors

Best Section Commander: Cadet Sergeant Gemma, Scarborough Detachment

“It was an amazing opportunity to be allowed onto CTCRM Lympstone. Interacting with senior personnel gave me an insight into life serving in the forces. During the weekend, I learned a lot about myself – by being pushed to my physical and mental limits, I learned that my determination far outweighs my lack of self-confidence. I also learned that my team is far more capable than we believed. We pushed each other and their motivation kept me going. I am immensely proud and couldn’t have asked for a better team!

“Being named best Section Commander was a relief, after the amount of work I put in. I am also immensely proud of myself. Thanks to my unit and my team for simply being excellent and allowing me the independence to show how I perform as a leader. My future ambition is to carry on leading the younger generation while I finish my last months as a cadet. Then I intend to either stay on as a volunteer, or join the armed forces in a medical role.”

Cadet Sergeant Gemma (second from right) with Scarborough Detachment

Sky’s the limit

Cadets had the opportunity to fly in a Merlin helicopter from Lympstone to Woodbury Common at this year’s competition, thanks to Andrew Gardner, WO1 (SCC) RMR. When he was a royal marines cadet 20 years ago, Andrew was friends with a fellow cadet who is now in a senior role in the Royal Marines, so he reached out to his old friend and asked if they could help give 48 cadets a potential once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

A Merlin helicopter took cadets for a ride

The winners

Gibraltar Cup: 

Jersey, Southern Area

Runners up:

Sutton Coldfield

Third place:

Scarborough

Best Section Commander:

Cadet Sergeant Gemma, Scarborough

Best Individual Medic: 

Cadet Lance Corporal Isabelle, Chislehurst and Sidcup

Photos: Nathaniel Rosa/Sea Cadets

More Features

2XAB408 The Torch of Commemoration carried by Cadet Corporal Madison Grace at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission's Great Vigil to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, at the Bayeux War Cemetery in Normandy, France. 4,600 graves of Second World War service personnel will be illuminated at the cemetery, before UK and international personnel hold a vigil at at the Stone of Remembrance as the names of the fallen are read out. Picture date: Wednesday June 5, 2024.

Corps showcase: A humbling voyage

Each issue we’re bringing you a story from around the Corps that showcases the spirit of Sea Cadets. Cadet Corporal Madison Grace, from Trafford Unit, tells us about her role in the D-Day commemorations

D-Day 2024

D-Day 80: paying respects

Cadets helped to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings this year, with important roles at events in the UK, France and at sea

National Band Competition 2024

Hitting the right note

In August, 200 cadets gathered with their musical instruments at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, for the first National Band Competition since 2019