Sergeant Jeff Welsby MBE (ATC)
In 1984 at the tender age of 19, I applied for and attended a PRC (Potential Royal Marine recruit course). The course was difficult but I was fortunate enough to pass.
I then joined the Royal Marines as a recruit in 198 troop and embarked on my commando training. It would have been a good move if only I knew what the Marines did, it wasn’t until I was 10 miles into my 30 miler that I realised I was not going to get my triangle and drum. I just kept quiet and continued taking the ibrufen.
After passing out of the commando training centre at Lympstone, I joined my unit at 40 Cdo RM were I became a RM signaller, another not so good move. Carrying a 100kg Bergen with headphones screeching sqiggly amps through your ears isn’t the best way to yomp up hillsides and mountains as a career.
During my time with 40 Cdo I travelled to Arctic Norway, Germany, Gibralter, Egypt, Djbuti (east Africa), Ethiopia during the famine of the late eighties, and the birth of band aid, Oman oh! and Scotland, I understood the lingo in all countries visited but I did struggle with Scotland.
I left four years later to join the Prison service. Although not a job everyone can enjoy, I have. I have come across quite a few infamous villains in my career including Jimmy Hussey, one of Ronnie Biggs team of train robbers, it’s quite surreal being a young man putting one of the countries most notorious gangsters to bed.
After seven years I specialised in physical education and gained numerous PE qualifications after joining the HM Prison Service PE branch.
I joined the Air Cadet Organisation almost four years ago when my children joined. A dashing Mr Linton Dudgeon asked me to become involved. (I had never heard such a posh name before, he even makes swearing sound posh).
I enjoy my time with the cadets as a Civilian Instructor and look forward to a good few more years with the team. A team I might add that is as dedicated to giving our young cadets quality ATC training, and are as dedicated to each other as my team in the Marines was.