A POPULAR figure in the army cadets continues to rise through the ranks.

Sean Ferguson, who lives in Prudhoe, has served as detachment commander at Hexham Army Cadets Force (ACF) for the past 10 years, and his significant service during that time has led to him being promoted to training officer for the area.

His new role within Northumbria ACF Y Company will still see him involved with Hexham, but he will also work with detachments in Prudhoe, Ponteland, Slatyford, Kingston Park, Gosforth, Fenham and Excelsior Academy, in Newcastle.

Mr Ferguson said: “Personally, I have taken the chance to move on at this point because I will be able to influence all within the company as much as the one detachment, which I have had the privilege of leading for the past 10 years.

“It’s an exciting opportunity and I would like to keep progressing in the cadets, and I am using this as a chance to do that.”

Mr Ferguson took over from Jacqui Marley as Hexham’s detachment commander in 2009 after joining the cadet force at Prudhoe the year before.

During that time, he has helped hundreds of young people develop their skills, with many going on to become company sergeant, squadron sergeant major and other high ranking positions.

Young people join the cadets at the age of 12 and leave aged 18, with many going on to enjoy successful careers in the armed forces.

Mr Ferguson said: “For me, the ethos of the army cadets is inspiring people to achieve and I just want to throw everything at them.

“I didn’t know the army cadets was there when I was young, but I wish I did.

“At Hexham, we have been very privileged to have had cadets selected for various adventures, with one going to Lithuania with the national army cadet force and others going on exchanges to South Africa and Canada.”

He continued: “I have loved every minute of my time as Hexham detachment commander and I feel so privileged to have been involved in so many community events, such as Remembrance services, collecting for the Royal British Legion and being at the Northumberland County Show.”

The voluntary role within ACF takes up a lot of Mr Ferguson’s free time as he fits it around his full-time job as a police officer.

But it continues to be a rewarding role.

He said: “As a police officer, I would tell children to move on from street corners and they told me they had nothing else to do. At the cadets, it’s a pleasure watching young people succeed.

“You do get some cadets who are high achievers academically, but you get a lot of people who can see and do rather than write things down on a piece of paper and these people succeed through the opportunities at the cadets.”

Hexham Army Cadets Force meet each Monday evening at 7pm at the town’s TA Centre, on Hencotes.