Dorset’s most outstanding cadets were invested as the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets for the coming year.

Every year some of the best young people from the Army and Sea Cadets and Air Training Corps are selected to assist Mrs Valerie Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers, the Lord Lieutenant for Dorset, with her public duties in the county.

It recognises the efforts they put in to supporting the community, helping develop the skills of younger cadets and their own achievements in the fields of sport, adventure and charity work.

Seven adult instructors also received the Lord Lieutenant’s Certificates.

Brigadier Tony Dalby-Welsh, Chief Executive of the Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, said: “These young people and adult instructors are a credit to the county of Dorset and have the honour of receiving these awards.

“The Lord Lieutenant’s Awards are invested in the most outstanding cadets and adult instructors in the county and the selection process is highly competitive. All the people commended are a splendid example of how we can all make a positive contribution to lives of others.”

The award recipients for this year’s certificates are: Jessica Benson, 15, from Weymouth, was a senior cadet at the Budmouth CCF unit and was quickly promoted to sergeant after the unit’s inception early in 2008.

Jessica plans to lead the unit in some fundraising events for the Help for Heroes charity and credits the cadets with giving her more self-confidence and better organisation and leadership skills. Her ambition is to become a travel journalist.

Heidi Silcox, 17, from Beaminster, recently attended the national Cadet Leadership Course where she was in the top five per cent of the group.

Recently, Heidi joined only 11 other cadets from the UK on a six-week leadership and challenge course with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets in the Rocky Mountains. She achieved a Distinction Plus in her BTEC in Public Services and has completed the 45-mile Ten Tors event.

Robbie Fletcher, 16, from Weymouth; is a very accomplished bell lyre player and joined the unit band as a junior.

Robbie has gained his Communications, First Aid and Seamanship qualifications. His citation calls him ‘very polite and extremely smart’.

Elliot Lineham-Cross, 17, from Weymouth, recently attended the Cadet Leadership Course where he was in the top five per cent.

According to his commanding officer ‘he is an excellent example of the very best type of Army Cadet’.

Megan Coombs, 17, from Dorchester, was commended for her community work. Her volunteer work with children as part of a dancing group, Stiletto, was highlighted as an example of her ‘great sense of responsibility’ and ‘sense of community’.

Megan also helps to teach ICT to ‘silver surfers’ in a voluntary adult learning group in Puddledown. She plans to study engineering at university.

Stephen Groves, 40, has served in the TA for more than 20 years. His commanding officer said ‘his general bearing and demeanour have made him an ideal first point of contact for those wishing to join the TA’.

David Bradford joined the Sea Cadets as a teenager and has driven the recent redevelopment of the Sea Cadet Training Centre in Weymouth.

The purpose-designed development ‘relied heavily on his exceptional management ability, determination and drive’ as he worked with the developers, defence estates and council to achieve planning consent and oversaw the building process.