Connected - Autumn 2017 by Combined Cadet Force

THE MAGAZINE FOR INSTRUCTORS OF THE COMBINED CADET FORCE

CONNECTED AUTUMN 2017

COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK

ON PATROL

CADETS FIND OUT ABOUT LIFE ABOARD A P2000 WARSHIP PAGE 20

A TASTE FOR ADVENTURE HOW TO PLAN AN EXPEDITION

IN IT TOGETHER ANNUAL CAMP IS AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE FOR CADETS AND CFAVS INSIDE: NEWS

ANNUAL INSPECTION COMMAND & LEADERSHIP TASKS CEP FUNDING AND MORE

CONTENTS

WELCOME

I SS U E # 7: AU T U M N 2017 With just three months under my belt as General Officer Commanding of the Army’s Regional Command I am already struck by the commitment shown by all of the cadets and adult volunteers I met during my early visits to camps. I am also impressed with the breadth of opportunity which is provided for you by the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force. You will be picking up this edition of CCF Connected soon after you return to school after the holidays. The start of the new term marks the entry of another year’s worth of cadets and I wish them every success. I am grateful for the professionalism with which you lead and train your cadets and for the energy you put into giving them the best possible cadet experience. The services will continue to do their utmost to support you, especially in the CEP schools where much will be unfamiliar. Never forget that the services’ Cadet Training Teams are there to help you. I hope you enjoy this edition of Connected and I wish you the best of fortune for another cadet year. I am privileged to lead you and I look forward to meeting many more of you. MAJOR GENERAL DUNCAN CAPPS CBE GOC Regional Command

THIS ISSUE 06. ANNUAL CAMP Catching up with three CCFs after this year’s camp

ON THE COVER Making the climbing look easy during activities near Nescliffe camp (Photographer: Action Images/ Craig Brough)

10. A TASTE FOR ADVENTURE Expedition funding, support and guidance

14. ANNUAL INSPECTION Introducing the new Annual Assurance Inspection Regime

16. SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING Grants available for CEP units

18. REMEMBRANCE How cadets are marking the First World War centenary

EVERY ISSUE 04. NEWS New CCF in Newcastle, awards and photo competition

20. TRI SERVICE The Royal Navy’s P2000 warship welcomes cadet tours

22. COMMAND & LEADERSHIP Three challenges to try

24. HOW TO… Find new resources and inspiration

26. NOTICEBOARD CCF Regulations and the recent Canadian cadet exchange

30. FINAL BELL Dispelling myths about the CCF

Connected is produced by the Marketing and Communications team, based at the Combined Cadet Force Association, Holderness House, 51-61 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4DW Get in touch: Tel: 02074268372 Fax: 02074268378 Website: www.combinedcadetforce.org.uk Email: marketing@combinedcadetforce.org.uk Twitter: @CCFCadets Connected magazine is designed and edited by James Pembroke Publishing Editor: Sarah Campbell Head of design: Simon Goddard Senior project manager: Elizabeth Hufton This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or in part without prior written permission of the publishers. All contents and addresses correct at time of going to press. Every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, but neither James Pembroke Publishing nor CCFA can be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequences arising from it. Views expressed by contributors might not reflect the views of the CCFA or the Army.

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NEWS

CADET NEWS FROM AROUND THE UK Cdt Sgt Charles Bradbury with his award

AWA R D

Cdt Sgt wins ceremonial role A number of boys from the original Cadet Corps served in the First World War. Many did not return

HISTORY REPEATING FIRST CCF (RM) IN NEWCASTLE FOR A CENTURY HAS ITS INAUGURAL PARADE

new Royal Marines CCF opened on 2 May 2017, 104 years to the day that a similar cadet unit was launched in the same area. The new contingent brings together two Cadet Expansion Programme schools from the North East: Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle and St Thomas More Catholic School in Blaydon. Dr John Hind, principal of Dame Allan’s Schools, said: “The aim of the CCF is to develop personal

Brig Richard Spencer at the CCF’s inaugural parade in Newcastle

responsibility, leadership and selfdiscipline, all valuable tools for life and which are attractive to employers. This CCF contingent will have a hugely positive impact on those cadets who choose to be a part of it.” Diya Varghese, 15, a cadet from Dame Allan’s, said: “I feel very proud to be part of the cadets. There are so many opportunities as a cadet, I’m looking forward to making the most of them and developing my leadership skills.”

AN ADDITIONAL NEW Royal Marines CCF has opened in South London. Cadets from Ernest Bevin College in Tooting were inspected by Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock during their Grand Opening Ceremony. The new CCF (RM) contingent is part of the Cadet Expansion Programme. College principal Rukhsana Sheikh is looking forward to the opportunities it will bring to the cadets. Image: © Crown Copyright 2017

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NEW CCF

KIRKHAM GRAMMAR School’s Cdt Sgt Charles Bradbury has been appointed Deputy Lieutenant’s Cadet for Lancashire. Charles, 17, is also a Royal Marines Cadet with the Preston SCC unit. From September he will have the honour of assisting the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire during formal duties and attending royal visits in the region. Charles said: “I’m very proud to receive this appointment. It’s a huge honour, and I look forward to carrying out the role to the best of my abilities.”

AWA R D S

Lucton School are Everyday Heroes LUCTON SCHOOL CCF, Herefordshire, has been shortlisted for the St John Ambulance Everyday Heroes Awards, in the small organisation category. The school has an extensive first aid programme and this nomination recognises the major role the CCF plays in the training and testing of first aid resources, with Contingent Commander Maj Craig Derrigan, Lt Emma Coates and 2Lt Frankie Jefferies leading the way.

GET IN TOUCH E: marketing@combinedcadetforce.org.uk @CCFcadets

FIRST SEA LORD’S CADETS

HONOUR ON THE HIGH SEAS

EXPEDITIONS

Advice from the Ulysses Trust, plus an insight into dog sledding in Lapland A taste for adventure, page 10

CADETS CHOSEN AS CCF REPRESENTATIVES TO ROYAL NAVY

SCHOLARSHIP

FLYING SUCCESS

CF cadet Flt Sgt William Proctor from The King’s School in Grantham is one of the recipients of the inaugural Sir Michael Knight Private Pilot Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded by the RAF Charitable Trust and William was the only CCF cadet in the country to be successful after he was nominated for the award by his OC and Contingent Commander. He is one of the top-performing cadets in the contingent.

Flt Sgt William Proctor receiving his award

William said: “I was elated and excited when I got the news. It’s a fantastic opportunity.” He will now have the opportunity to attend a six-week residential course at Tayside to gain his European (EASA) private pilot’s licence. He hopes to become a pilot in the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force or as a civilian. This award should go some way to helping him achieve his goals.

PHOTO COMPETITION

We had some brilliant photography in the first CCF national photo competition last year. This year’s deadline – 31 October 2017 – is looming, so get your entries in soon. Whatever you’ve been up to over the past year, be it annual camp or adventure training, be creative with your entries and highlight the spirit of the CCF. The competition is open to cadets and adult instructors, with a £300 Wilkinson Cameras

Send us your photos of CCF activities

voucher up for grabs for the winners in the two categories, and a £100 voucher for runners-up. To enter, email your image, name, school, whether you’re an adult or cadet entrant, plus the time and date your photo was taken and a short caption to marketing@combinedcadetforce. org.uk using ‘Photo competition’ in the subject line. For full T&Cs, visit combinedcadetforce.org.uk/ news-media-centre

Get those entries in

THREE NAVAL CCF CADETS became the First Sea Lord’s Cadets at a ceremony on board HMS Victory in Portsmouth, hosted by the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB ADC. Petty Officer Cadet Connor Hare from Trinity School, Teignmouth in Devon, Petty Officer Cadet Annabel Flook from Taunton School in First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones Somerset and Sergeant RM Cadet George Gray from Harrow School in Middlesex will serve throughout 2018 as 1SL Cadets. Their duties will include attending parades, ship visits, royal occasions, formal ceremonies, receptions and presentations Petty Officer Cadet Connor Hare as well as providing feedback to the Navy Board, trustees of their parent cadet organisations and headquarters. First Sea Lord Admiral Jones told the cadets: “Our success as we go forward is resting on people like you, Petty Officer Cadet Annabel Flook your ambition, your achievement and your sense of commitment. I look forward to working with you through the year, seeing you at many events and with the Navy Board to bind you in to the family of what the Royal Navy is as well as representing Sergeant RM Cadet George Gray ourselves to the nation.”

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A N N UA L C A M P

FE ATURE

ANNUAL CAMP Three CCFs tell us what annual camp means to them and their cadets

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A N N UA L C A M P

or most CCFs, annual camp is the culmination of a year of hard work: a chance for cadets to put their skills to use and to learn new applications for those skills. And of course, to have fun. We caught up with three very different CCFs on their return from camp to find out what their cadets got out of this year’s summer activities.

javelin anti-tank mortars and snipers. And we managed some tourism too. “Annual camp wasn’t the only summer activity this year for our CCF. A group of cadets spent a week at sea on HMS Ocean (with which we’re affiliated) on a cruise from Sunderland to Plymouth. We also had an adventure training camp in August in Devon. But annual camp is the most popular by miles. The kids love it – as long as it’s well run, which it certainly was this year.”

WHITGIFT CCF, SOUTH CROYDON

BROMPTON ACADEMY CCF, KENT

Whitgift is an independent school with boarding facilities and a well-established CCF. All three services are represented, with 250 cadets in the Army section, 100 in the RAF section and 50 in the Royal Navy section. Commanding Officer Lt Col Keith Smith describes this year’s summer camp: “This year we took 50 cadets to Germany to visit the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment in Paderborn. It was a great experience. We were in the hands of a regular unit who ran all the training. They could show the cadets pieces of kit that we just couldn’t have done. We were the only cadets there, so I think the students gained from that because they saw the regulars at work and how the soldiers learn from their training. “It was great for the kids to meet the real thing. But I think it’s a two-way process, too: the Army is keen to show the range of activities it does and what opportunities are available. From the minute we arrived, they ran our entire programme – it was brilliant. We did a mixture of weapon training, fieldcraft, platoon attacks, demonstrations from the support company – things like

Brompton Academy is a large state school. Its 50-strong Army section was formed under the CEP in September 2014. SSI Capt Matt Loughrey and Lt Paula Knight, Contingent Commander, together talk about the preparation that goes into camp: “This year was our third camp and we’re getting more and more confident and experienced. The staff have done all the training packages now, and where they may have felt out of their comfort zone initially, they are now leading on events. “It’s the same for the cadets: they are a lot more confident and proud of taking part in camp activities and competitions. They want to compete against other schools. “Our aim with camp is to give cadets the best value. That doesn’t mean we aren’t ambitious, but it does mean it has to be affordable. So for the past three years we’ve gone to Crowborough Training Camp, which is quite nearby. We do lots of fundraising so the cadets feel that they’ve contributed. And the instruction at Crowborough is amazing, the value we get is fantastic. “For the cadets, preparation for summer

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A N N UA L C A M P

DID YOU KNOW?

Planning for camp starts as early as September every year

camp starts in September. For new cadets, we do an induction weekend, where they stay overnight at school. This can be really helpful for students who haven’t spent much time away from home. Throughout the year we have fieldcraft weekends and in May we take them away for four days to sleep outside, so when they get to camp they’re quite hardy. “It makes a huge difference for our students, because a lot of them can struggle with confidence, communication and working as a team. But we see a big change between September and camp in the summer. We had one cadet who couldn’t ride a bike in September; at camp she was mountain biking. “Our cadets more than hold their own at summer camp. They love the competition day at the end and in fact one of our cadets won top cadet in camp this year. It’s great to see them so full of confidence and proud to wear their uniform.”

ARNOLD HILL ACADEMY CCF, NOTTINGHAM Arnold Hill, a state school, didn’t have its own CCF when Connected spoke to 2Lt Andrew Craze in August. It was due to set one up in September under the CEP with a cohort of 23

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Teamwork and cooperation are key elements for many activities

“YOU COULD SEE THE CADETS GROWING UP BEFORE YOUR EYES” 2Lt Andrew Craze enthusiastic cadets, already smashing its year one target of 15. However, the school’s CCF staff designate (three officers and one SSI) had spent a year training with Nottingham High School CCF in a partnership so successful that Arnold Hill managed to recruit 13 new cadets into the partner school’s CCF. These cadets went on their first annual camp – at Penally in South Wales – this summer, and will form the core of the new Arnold Hill CCF in September. It was Andrew’s first camp too, and he tells us about the experience: “It was an awesome camp. It exceeded my expectations in terms of the experience of the cadets. You could see them growing up before your eyes: everything from watching one kid learning to take responsibility for the table at dinner, to another cadet who

had a complete fear of heights overcoming that fear to do an abseil. He was given a special recommendation by the instructors for showing the core value of courage. “A lot of the experiences were new for the cadets. The overnight exercise was much colder than they expected, and for some of them it was their first time camping and cooking out. Our cadets had never shot a blank or live round – they’d only shot on a laser range – so the bangs were a shock for some of them. “But they were kept so busy that they didn’t feel uncomfortable at any point. Credit has to go to 160 Brigade for that: they were good about tailoring what they did on an exercise where it was obvious our cadets hadn’t yet had the time to develop the training. They adapted to us and the needs of our cadets. Nobody was left behind.”

A N N UA L C A M P

Cadets get to challenge themselves and try new sports

Camp is an opportunity to form strong bonds

e asked representatives of the three main services to tell us why annual camp is so central to the CCF experience. Sqn Ldr Graeme Johnson, HQ Air Cadets, SO2 Delivery CCF: “RAF Air Cadet camps offer cadets a chance to experience life on an RAF station, and HQ Air Cadets organise camps every year around the UK. While on camp cadets experience everything from parachute simulators to drill competitions, engineering their own gliders to time sat in the cockpit of frontline aircraft. Cadets are also given the opportunity to take part in adventurous training activities, helping them to build confidence and expand on their leadership skills, all while having fun. They also get a chance to look behind the scenes at all the different roles in the RAF. “Camps are also held in Cyprus, Germany and Gibraltar where cadets get to experience

how the different services operate in challenging environments.” Lt Col Alistair Mack, HQ Regional Command, SO1 CCF: “This summer, 7,000 CCF Army cadets across nine locations in England, Scotland and Wales took part in demanding activities, expertly planned and delivered by a dedicated expert Cadet Training Team staff, supported by regular and reserve soldiers, UOTC cadets and CFAVs from across the cadet force. “The ingredients that make up an exciting and rewarding camp range from A to Z: archery to zzzz (sleep) via fieldcraft, shooting, competitions, vehicle check points, platoon level attacks, adventurous training and senior cadet leadership, to name just a few activities. “Camp is an excellent opportunity to learn from and alongside cadets from other contingents, to make new friends and to develop skills in an environment unlike that offered at school. CCF(A) annual camp is a package designed to be enjoyable and is the

Fieldcraft is an important part of camp

culminating activity at the end of an exciting school year for contingents.” Liz Worman, HMNB Portsmouth, SO2 Training: “The Royal Navy and Royal Marines offer 67 camps and courses throughout summer for RN and RM cadets, as well as opening places to RAF and Army CCFs and naval community cadets. The camps and courses offer a vast range of opportunities including offshore sailing, adventurous training and Royal Marine specific training, as well as the chance to gain qualifications. Not only do cadets get a real flavour of the Navy or Marines, they get plenty of opportunity to work on their leadership skills.”

FIND OUT MORE The spring 2018 issue of Connected will look in depth at planning for annual camp.

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FE ATURE

A TASTE FOR ADVENTURE The organisation and logistics of an adventurous expedition – be it at home or abroad – can at first feel far tougher than the challenge itself, but there are sources of help and guidance you can tap into

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E XPE D ITI O N PL A N NIN G

f you’ve ever organised a cadet expedition or been on one yourself, you’ve probably come across the Ulysses Trust. Its vision is “to ensure that every member of the UK’s volunteer reserve and cadet forces has the opportunity to undertake challenging adventurous and community-related activities”. To do this it offers encouragement, advice and financial support for organising challenging expeditions. Vice-chairman Lt Col Philip Neame MBE is one of the Ulysses Trust’s founders. “We started the charity in 1992 on the back of a TA expedition that I put together to try and climb Everest in the winter,” he says. (He jokingly admits his plan “was perhaps over-ambitious”.) Philip and his colleagues struggled to get sponsorship from commercial organisations as the project was deemed too risky. “But they did say they would make a charitable donation. So we formed the charity, always with the intent that if we ended up with a surplus we’d try to keep it going as a fund for reserve forces. As it turned out, there was enough left over to keep it going for the first two or three years.”

THE ULYSSES TRUST It didn’t take long for Philip and his cofounders to bring cadets under the Ulysses remit. “Nowadays, we have reliable funds in place to support reservist expeditions, so where we can make the biggest impact now is with cadets, raising money for their expeditions and supporting them,” he says. In 2016 the charity supported 102

“WE STARTED THE CHARITY IN 1992 ON THE BACK OF A TA EXPEDITION THAT I PUT TOGETHER TO CLIMB EVEREST” Lt Col Philip Neame MBE

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E XPE D ITI O N PL A N NIN G

Getting acquainted with the dogs

Oldham Hulme Grammar School team at the Arctic Circle

“OUR ACTIVITIES ARE THE PERFECT VEHICLE FOR TRANSITION FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD”

Heading onto the forest tracks

Maj Kevin Edwards expeditions, 15 of which were CCFs, through grants totalling £200,000. While some expeditions are tremendously ambitious and exotic (further attempts on Everest; a trek in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia), Philip and the grants team look at each challenge with the circumstances of the unit planning the trip in mind. “Right from the start we decided we would support expeditions across the spectrum, whatever their level of ambition,” he says. “Provided there’s challenge, we’re interested. So if it’s a cadet unit embarking on an activity for the very first time with their own instructors for several days in Snowdonia, we’ll support that as readily as we’ll support someone trying to cross the Antarctic.”

INITIAL FUNDING Philip also points out that units can apply for funding to help their expedition get off the ground. “If it’s a large-budget expedition we’re often happy to put a ‘pump priming’ grant in. This can add momentum to their subsequent fundraising,” he says.

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Dogs ready for some rest

The Ulysses Trust helps individual contingents and detachments fund their own trips, but it is also an important supporter of the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training (CCAT). The centre provides training courses for cadets and CFAVs, opening up opportunities for adventure for units that aren’t able to organise their own expeditions. Maj Kevin Edwards, OC of CCAT, makes a point of arranging challenging expeditions abroad. “For the cadets and the adults alike, once they’ve done their foundation-level courses it becomes a natural progression to do a big expedition like this. I always try and come up with something innovative to give them something to aim for,” he says. When Connected spoke to Kevin, he was about to lead a multi-pitch climbing expedition in Yosemite in the United States.

FURTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION RAF Sqn Ldr Mike Blakey, Corps Expeditions Advisor at Headquarters Air Cadets, has a team of subject matter experts who can help groups to plan an expedition from idea to execution. cea@aircadets.org Royal Navy Liz Worman, SO2 Training at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, can offer help and advice to contingents looking to embark upon expeditions. Email NavyTrgCore-CCFSO2TRG@mod.uk Army CCF Army contingents considering an expedition can seek help and advice from Regional Headquarters’ Physical and Adventurous Training Officer Staff – contact details available from your CTT.

E XPE D ITI O N PL A N NIN G

DOG SLEDDING IN LAPLAND

Trail running in action

Warming up by the fire

DID YOU KNOW?

The Ulysses Trust has helped to fund over 2,000 expeditions in its 25-year history

Past trips have included skiing, Alpine mountaineering and paddleboarding. “We make it as cheap as possible,” he says. “The Yosemite trip is only £500 per person. We cover the rest of the cost with subsidies from the cadet forces, by careful planning and movement of money and with money from the Ulysses Trust.”

LIFE-CHANGING TRIPS The low cost is important to make the expeditions as accessible as possible so that the maximum number of people can benefit. Kevin is adamant that for some people these trips can be life-changing. He says: “We move them from dependence to independence after we’ve taught them the skills. In Yosemite they’ll have to use initiative. If their rope gets

A spot of ice fishing

tangled, they’ll have to deal with it themselves. It teaches them self-reliance and confidence. I think of our activities as the perfect vehicle for transition from childhood to adulthood for personal growth. “What we do out there can be hugely powerful. We’re not social workers but we put cadets in circumstances where they need to look inward at their behaviour. Sometimes it makes them wonder what they want out of life. I always tell my instructors never to underestimate the shadow they cast.”

Oldham Hulme Grammar School CCF, Oldham, took a group of 11 cadets and two CCF officers to Lapland in Arctic Sweden for a week of dog sledding. Maj Ian Blackwood tells us about the experience… After a two-hour drive towards the Arctic Circle, we arrived at the kennels and the cadets were briefed about the week’s training. Following an introductory ride on a sled, the cadets were paired up and took turns driving a four-dog team into the wilderness. As the days passed, the cadets learnt animal husbandry, sled preparation, and how to drive varioussized dog sled teams (up to 10 dogs) in conditions ranging from undulating forest tracks to open tundra and frozen rivers and lakes. They also had to learn the skills associated with living in the Arctic wilderness: snow shoeing, wilderness fire lighting, ice fishing, snow shelters and dog safety, which is paramount. After all the training, we were ready for our overnight expedition. After several hours’ sledding, we arrived at our camp site and set about sorting out our dog teams, securing the sleds and putting down straw for the dogs to sleep on. We collected firewood for a fire that we set in a pit in the snow, which was over a metre deep. As the temperature plummeted to -13.5°C, we settled down to sleep on furs. On our final day, the cadets took part in a friendly dog sled race, which showed how much had been learnt. The adventure was challenging and rewarding, exciting and stimulating – and made us all eager for more.

FIND OUT MORE Ulysses Trust: www.ulyssestrust.co.uk CCAT: www.armycadetadventure.co.uk To read reports of recent expeditions by units funded by the Ulysses Trust, go to www.ulyssestrust.co.uk/2017

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FE ATURE

ANNUAL INSPECTION A new approach to CCF inspections – the Annual Inspection and Assurance Regime (AAIR)

n the education sector and in the military alike, periodic external inspections and the related assurance that they are supposed to achieve are part and parcel of the job. It should therefore come as no surprise to any headteacher or CCF officer that their contingents will be looked at from time to time by the services’ chains of command to make sure that the cadet experience is being delivered in schools as safely, effectively and as efficiently as possible.

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Since its inception in 1948, the CCF has relied upon a biennial process which has sought to marry up evidence of contingent strengths and training activity over the preceding 24 months with a ceremonial visit programme arranged for a senior officer from one of the services. All this was designed to demonstrate achievement, to showcase the contingent, and to underpin future grants from MOD funds to support contingent activities. In reality these objectives were only partially achieved. From MOD’s perspective very little evidence was produced to show

“THE SERVICE CCF HQs WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER TOOL WITH WHICH TO MANAGE AND FOCUS THEIR SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS” that training aims were being met and therefore justifying the grant. As for the school’s senior volunteers and the training team staff, a good deal of effort went into generating pre-inspection documentation

A N N UA L INSPE C TI O N

TAKE-HOME POINTS In summary, here are the four things you need to know about the new AAIR:

It replaces the preinspection process for the Biennial Review

Parades will still be held, but will be separate from the performance management process

It should not require any additional admin for CCFs provided they already keep their data complete and up-to-date.

3 4

It’s all done in Westminster It should be fully up and running by September 2019

The AAIR will ensure cadets across the three services are properly managed and supported

which was rarely acted upon. All this changes from September 2018 with the activation of the CCF Annual Assurance and Inspection Regime (AAIR), which will replace the current Biennial Inspection Pre-Inspection Report – the AFB153. Schools will continue to conduct biennial ‘reviews’ or parades, but this activity will be decoupled from the performance management aspects of the current process. Once the AAIR goes live the sService CCF HQs will have a much better tool with which to manage and focus their support to schools. The AAIR will also provide the MOD with evidence on an annual basis with which to justify the CCF budget in the face of ever-increasing scrutiny of efficiency across public expenditure.

The AAIR is embedded in Westminster and principally comprises a series of reports based on the data which contingents and their service sections have entered during the preceding academic year. There are fields which allow contingent commanders and their service section commandersto provide amplification to the Westminster data. Each contingent’s AAIR will be populated with information drawn directly from Westminster, saving time for contingent officers and SSIs, while ensuring that an accurate and consistent picture of the school is available. However, this does require contingents to keep all of their Westminster records up to date. No new data fields are being added to support the AAIR and schools are being asked to do

no more than they should be doing now – not all schools presently input accurate, complete and timely data and this will need to change. The three sService CCF HQs intend to make sure that everyone involved in the new AAIR is properly briefed on the new process and the AAIR team, under Paul Crossman and Keith Deakin, will be running a series of regional workshops, details of which will be on Westminster by the end of November. AAIR will also be briefed at the Army’s regional CCF contingent commanders’ conferences.

FIND OUT MORE

For more information contact: Regional Command Modernisation: paul.crossman313@mod.gov.uk

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FE ATURE

The fund has meant that more students at Albion Academy are able to enjoy the benefits of being a cadet

SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING Grants are now available to assist newly opened CEP units in state schools. Here’s how the fund has helped four schools across the country…

or CEP schools, it can be tough at the beginning. “In those early years of operations the units are particularly at risk because they’ve not yet been woven into the fabric of the school,” says Faye Meakin, Cadet Bursary Fund Manager at the CCFA. So the CCFA has created a sustainability fund, with the generous support of the Garfield Weston Foundation, in response to evidence of an increasing need for money to secure the long-term sustainability of newly opened CEP units. “Grants have so far been requested for a number of different uses, with some units focusing on extra equipment and specialist kit, and others helping cadets in need of additional financial support. They all have the same focus though, giving units permanent homes in schools’ grounds,” Faye says. “We’ve

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made the fund open to all CEP units, not just those in areas of high deprivation, because there are young people from disadvantaged backgrounds all over the UK.” When they apply, schools are required to demonstrate a number of things: How the funding will enhance the ongoing sustainability of the cadet unit. The composition of the cadet cohort: for example, how many are eligible for free school meals or are known to come from disadvantaged backgrounds. How much the school is already paying for its cadet unit from its own budget; why it needs additional funding; what will happen without such funding; and what opportunities it will open up for cadets from disadvantaged backgrounds. How specifically the funding will be used. This funding is already having a positive impact on contingents around the country.

Here are a few examples of how the money is being put to good use. ALBION ACADEMY CCF (RAF) CEP 100, SALFORD, USED THE FUNDS TO BUY ADDITIONAL KIT Andrew Kyle, Contingent Commander, says:

“The school has a free school meal figure of 75 per cent – many of the cadets come from low-income backgrounds. Enforcing all cadets to pay for additional kit would exclude them from participating in some of the activities of the CCF. The grant has meant the students are able to take part and enjoy the many positives of being a cadet. “We have used the money to provide additional uniforms for all cadets, in particular MTP uniform. Students did bag-packs at a local supermarket, which has helped to support the match funding. We take on

FIN A N CE

ELIGIBILITY WHAT DO YOU NEED TO QUALIFY FOR A GRANT?

The fund enabled Beccles Free School to appoint its own CCF officer

average 15-20 new cadets a year and the uniforms will be returned to the unit when they leave school, so the unit will be able to reuse uniforms for future cadets for years to come.” BEDLINGTONSHIRE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL CCF CEP 500, NORTHUMBERLAND, USED THE FUND TO BUY EXTRA EQUIPMENT 2Lt Dave Waddle, Contingent Commander, says:

“Our bid for the sustainability grant was to allow us to purchase equipment to supplement our initial MOD issue. We also wanted to buy clothing and equipment to allow all pupils to access the overnight elements of the cadet syllabus. “Thanks to the funding, all the cadets deployed with assault vests, Bergens, sleeping bags (with bivvy bag and liners), thermal hat and gloves, KFS kit, head torches and additional thermals. We were also able to do navigation exercises with new compasses. The cadets have had their first Bronze DofE practice and assessment expeditions and their first annual camp, all with the equipment the funding has allowed us to purchase. “Without the funding we would not have been able to take as many fully equipped

Bedlingtonshire Community High School used its grant to buy camping equipment so all its cadets can participate in overnight exercises

cadets away. It has enabled us to plan wholeunit exercises rather than limiting numbers because of a lack of specialised equipment. In the next academic year we have already planned an exercise in October and a range day before Christmas – again the grant has bought vital equipment which will enable the cadets to operate virtually all year round. The funding is allowing us to grow and offer a diverse range of activities, which is keeping our current cadets excited and attracting new cadets.” BECCLES FREE SCHOOL CCF CEP 100, SUFFOLK Nigel Youngman, Headteacher, says:

“We have used the funding to support three elements of the CCF: staffing, transport and opportunities. The overriding benefit is that it has enabled us to appoint our own CCF officer. Previously the school has been entirely dependent on leadership from another school. “The new officer is playing a pivotal role in exploring development opportunities for the unit. She has built on links with local cadet units, set up further funding opportunity meetings and promoted the unit in the school. She has also started activities in the school that were impossible before: shooting, fieldwork and first aid. “The CCF consists of students from various backgrounds, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The training has helped give vulnerable students the opportunity to build confidence, leadership, promote fitness, visit new places and encourage teamwork. The grant has given us the momentum and opportunity we sorely needed.”

SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING is available to CCF units in UK state schools set up as part of the cadet expansion programme. Those applying must hold a current membership with the CCFA (or MSSC for sea cadet units). Schools do not yet need to be parading to apply, but must have been approved to open a unit. The schools are required to match fund the grant by raising at least 20 per cent of the money themselves. All eligible schools will be invited to apply when the fund reopens for the new academic year.

THE VOYAGER ACADEMY CCF CEP 100, PETERBORUGH 2Lt Dean Eardley, Contingent Commander, says:

“With the grant we’ve bought equipment including air rifles, compasses, cookers and tents. This will allow the unit to become more sustainable by offering more to cadets in the way of expeditions and training. This will in turn keep the interest of those involved and hopefully also inspire others to join the CCF. “For many of the cadets in our contingent these opportunities are not available in everyday life. Many are from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds, which means they would not be able to purchase the equipment themselves to participate. “We recently did a bag-packing session at a supermarket, which raised over £1,000 to help with matchfunding. Some of this money has purchased a GoPro camera to take pictures and videos of cadet activities, which can then be used to create a video for recruitment. We also purchased map cases and other teaching aids. Without the CCFA’s support none of this would have been possible.”

FIND OUT MORE Contact Faye Meakin, the CCFA’s Cadet Bursary Fund Manager, about sustainability grants at fayemeakin@combinedcadetforce.org.uk

COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 17

FE ATURE

100 YEARS OF GRATITUDE There are many ways to involve our young people in the centenary commemorations of the First World War

emembrance has always been an important activity for schools and cadet force units alike, but we are currently in the middle of a particularly poignant time. The centenary commemorations of the First World War will continue until the victory commemorations on 11 November 2018 and cadets and regular forces across the UK have already participated in many events

18 CONNECTED AUTUMN 2017

since 2014. The Army even has a name for its campaign of centenary commemoration activity: Op Reflect. Many CCFs will have their own way of remembering the sacrifices of the past, but there are some national schemes that are also worth exploring. Major Pat Walsh, SO2 Commemorations at Army HQ Home Command, supports schools to take part in commemorative activities. A priority for him at the moment is to raise awareness of the government-

RE M E M B R A N CE

Major Pat Walsh funded First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme. Under the programme, led by UCL Institute of Education, one teacher and two students from every state-funded secondary school in England can book on to a free four-day tour of the Western Front. It’s a fantastic opportunity for state-school CCFs in particular, Pat says. “Some schools have competitions to find students to go on the tours, some simply forward nominations,” he says. “The tour provider sends a guide and it’s our responsibility to send a serving soldier to give context to the tour. The soldier goes on the bus with the children so they get a bit of interaction. It’s worked out very well. It’s selfselecting in a way: the kind of soldier who’s interested in battlefield tours is generally going to contribute well to the tour.” Anyone who has been to the battlefields of northern France will understand the impact that such a visit can have, especially on young minds. “There are a number of worthwhile outcomes: a better appreciation of history, an understanding of the sacrifice,” Pat says. “On the trip I went on, the students seemed quite moved. Some had very little understanding and this brought it to life for them: actually being there, seeing where the soldiers died and seeing the scale of the cemeteries. The teachers were also moved by it. They thought they’d benefit in terms of their future teaching.” SOLDIERS IN SCHOOLS Pat also supports schools in participating in the Soldiers to Schools scheme. This is a part of the Army’s First World War commemorations: all secondary schools in the UK can request a soldier to come and support learning activities. They’re not

Photo: William Oliver

“THE POINT IS TO FIND SOMETHING POSITIVE IN THE CENTENARY COMMEMORATIONS” Seeing the scale of the war cemeteries in northern France can have a huge impact on cadets when they visit

There are several national commemoration schemes that CCFs can get involved in

experts in First World War history, but they have received some training in speaking about their own experiences and comparing them to those of the soldiers of 100 years ago. “Again, this works well for CCF contingents,” Pat says. “It’s the head’s decision to invite a soldier in, and it’s in no way a recruiting tool. The soldier can simply talk about his or her experiences in the context of what the school is already teaching about the First World War.” Finally, Pat highlights Never Such Innocence, an annual arts competition open to all school students throughout 2014-18. The project is a charity in its own right, and Pat’s department has not had any official dealings with it yet, but he is still keen to promote it. “It’s a broad competition of singing, music and poetry,” Pat says. “The standard is quite unbelievable. The point is to try and find something positive in the centenary commemorations – and to see that some good can eventually come out of it.”

FURTHER RESOURCES Find out more about the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme: www.centenary battlefieldtours.org More information on Soldiers to Schools: www.army.mod.uk/training_ education/25813.aspx Enter a competition as part of the Never Such Innocence project: www. neversuchinnocence.com The Royal British Legion has remembrance learning packs, lesson plans and other resources available to download free: www. britishlegion.org.uk/ remembrance/schoolslearning/learning-resources

COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 19

TRI SERVICE

The Royal Navy likes to put on tours for cadets to give them a feel of how a vessel like a P2000 operates

ON PATROL

The Royal Navy is making it easier for contingents to organise tours of ships by having a central point of contact to coordinate them. We talk to a member of 1st Patrol Boat Squadron about what cadets can expect from a tour of the P2000 vessel

he P2000 Archer-class patrol vessel is considered a warship like any other in the Royal Navy – “except a lot smaller,” says Chief Petty Officer Neil Johnson. He should know: he served on HMS Smiter 2013-15 and since then has been in 1st Patrol Boat Squadron (1PBS) in a support role. He regularly visits all 16 vessels in the fleet.

20 CONNECTED AUTUMN 2017

Serving on a warship as small as the P2000 presents unique opportunities and challenges. The crew of five or six are led generally by a Lieutenant, often in their fi rst experience of command of a warship. The crew are generally on postings of between two and three years. The small crew means working as a team is extremely important. “You wouldn’t just have one duty on board, you’d have several duties,” Neil says. “For example, on Smiter I looked

after catering, medical, I was also second in command so was looking after executive functions. In the summer the ship goes away for six to eight weeks so you’ve got to get on in a small team. You might not all like each other but you’ve certainly got to get on and do the job (although it does help if you do like each other).” The main role of the 14 P2000s of 1PBS is to support Royal Navy training. However, a significant part of their role is flying the flag for the Royal Navy

“AT THE VERY LEAST WE LIKE TO GIVE CADETS A SHIP’S TOUR AND LET THEM MEET THE CREW, BUT IDEALLY WE TRY TO GET THEM OUT ON THE SEA” Chief Petty Officer Neil Johnson

The P2000 is a small warship so only has a crew of five or six

N AVA L T O U RS

P2000 in numbers Number in service: 14 1PBS in eight locations around the UK; two more used as submarine escorts First commissioned: mid-1980s Length: 20m Weight: 50 tonnes

around the UK. Neil says: “They’ve got a lot of outreach because they can get into ports and little marinas where you’d never be able to send another warship. So that enables us to assist with civilian ceremonies, do some recruitment work and to conduct a bit of regional influence.” Part of this ‘Royal Navy in the public eye’ engagement is putting on tours for cadets. “At the very least we like to get cadets on board, give them a ship’s tour, let them meet and talk to the crew,” says Neil. “But ideally what we try to do is get them out on the sea, port to port or back to the

same location. It gives them an experience of being at sea in the Royal Navy, a snapshot of how a ship operates.” Neil adds that the cadets get to drive the ship from the helm, go on a tour of the ship, meet and greet the ship’s company and observe entering and leaving harbour. “Where we can we try to make it as interactive as possible,” he says. “The cadets all seem to go off with smiling faces – even the ones who get a bit seasick.” Not that there’s any shame in that, he adds. “We tell everyone to bring seasickness tablets with them because the ship moves

Crew: five or six Berths: 11 Range: 240 nautical miles Top speed: 21 knots

around a lot. It’s 50 tonnes and 20m long: I can stand on the jetty and rock it. So it’s affected by wind and swell quite a lot. I’m pretty much immune to seasickness because I’ve spent so long on P2000s, but some of my colleagues have to take tablets regularly. There’s no point being uncomfortable at sea.” The Royal Navy is trying to make it easier for cadet units to access opportunities such as tours of ships. “Historically, visits like these have been organised through COs networking,” Neil says. “Ships are generally more than happy to have cadets aboard, but in the past it’s depended on a cadet CO knowing someone in command. Now all the P2000s submit their availability to the Royal Navy Youth Team, who then coordinate visits. It’s a new concept for us, but we’re hoping it’ll make the opportunities easier and fairer.”

WANT TO TAKE YOUR CADETS ON A P2000 TOUR? An important part of the P2000’s role is flying the flag for the Royal Navy around the UK

To organise a trip, contact Master at Arms Rob Grenfell, Cadet Liaison Officer at the Royal Navy Youth Team: 02392 724641; NAVYTRGCORE-CCFCLOP@mod.gov.uk

COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 21

T E A M B UIL D IN G

COMMAND AND LEADERSHIP THREE ABSORBING TASKS GUARANTEED TO BUILD INTEREST, ENTHUSIASM AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR CADETS TASK 1

TASK 2

TASK 3

BUCKET CHALLENGE

DANGER CIRCLE

LOST IN SPACE

Equipment: Two buckets, three lengths of drainpipe and markers to measure a length of 15ft. Time: Race against the clock. Where: Outdoors. Aim: To fill the empty bucket to the top with water as quickly as possible. Benefits: Promotes teamwork, leadership, cooperation and communication skills. Instructions: Cadets must work silently to fill a bucket at the end of a 15ft stretch, using only three lengths of drainpipe. One cadet is identified as the leader and only they are allowed to give instructions. A second cadet should be responsible for tipping the water at the beginning of the course. This works best in small groups of around eight.

Equipment: Three long ropes, two cones, a mat and a small weighted ball. Time: 10 minutes. Where: Indoors or outdoors. Aim: To lift both cones, one with a ball balanced on top, out of an encircled ‘danger area’ onto the mat without touching the ground. Benefits: Promotes teamwork, planning, communication skills, logic. Instructions: Place both cones within a circle of rope. The other two ropes must be tightly twisted and, with a cadet at each end, looped over each cone. Tension needs to be applied to lift each cone out of the circle and placed on the mat. The cone with the ball on top will require cadets to work closer together. MAKE IT EASIER: Shorten the length of twisted rope.

Equipment: Rope (75ft), blindfolds for whole team, four to six small, heavy items and four cones. Time: 30-45 minutes. Where: Indoors or outdoors. Aim: To collect all the items within the coned-off area, while only moving as a group inside the circle of rope. Benefits: Develops planning and organisational skills, communication, flexibility, leadership and teamwork. Instructions: Set the scene that the cadets’ space craft has crashed on a faraway planet. To protect their eyes, blindfold all team members. A safe zone has been established inside the rope circle. The cadets must pick up the rope, keeping it taut, and collect the items (the craft’s fuel cells). A facilitator will call out boundary as the team reaches the edge of the coned-off area.

MAKE IT EASIER: Reduce the distance

MAKE IT HARDER: Enlarge the ‘danger

the cadets have to transport the water.

circle’ so the cadets need longer ropes. You

MAKE IT EASIER: Reduce the number

MAKE IT HARDER: Create holes in the

could also try blindfolding both cadets

of items to locate.

drainpipes to make this a more diffi cult,

lifting the cone and have just one cadet

MAKE IT HARDER: Don’t allow talking;

and inevitably wetter, challenge.

issuing verbal instructions.

allocate just one cadet to pick up items.

Thanks to: Maj Dan Higgins, Contingent Commander at Hurstpierpoint College CCF, along with his cadets and 11 Bge CTT for providing details of the Bucket Challenge; CCF (RN) cadets at HMS Raleigh for assisting with the Danger Circle task; St Mary’s College CCF (RAF) and Sgt Stu Spark from the Air Cadets for sharing the task completed during annual camp at RAF Boulmer

22 CONNECTED AUTUMN 2017

DID YOU KNOW?

Our updated website includes a command task resource bank

3 COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 23

HOW TO

FIND NEW RESOURCES AND INSPIRATION A guide on the best ways to spread the word about our work

ooking for new ways of recruiting new cadets, promoting new and existing CCFs and sharing best practice with other

contingents? Here are some of our top tips on where to fi nd resources, how to make best use of them and news of a new forum where you will be able to share ideas with each other.

CCF WEBSITE BR AND CENTRE

Custom made and ready to print: The brand centre contains materials including recruitment posters, bunting and banners. You can customise and download these materials by clicking ‘Create your own’, choosing photos from our library and adding your own text. Colours can be changed to reflect the relevant service. These resources can then be printed to help promote your CCF in classrooms, on noticeboards and at events.

Easy downloads: CCF-branded Powerpoint templates and ready made posters are available to download in the ‘Download and edit’ section, perfect to aid presentations to prospective cadets or to help revamp your current training slides.

Images and logos: In the brand centre you will also find our brand guidelines, logos and newly established image gallery to allow you to create your own materials, or add information and images from the CCF to your existing publications.

24 CONNECTED AUTUMN 2017

Using the right resources, you can help recruit cadets

HOW TO

VIDEO CHANNEL

ideo: A host of CCF-branded videos are available for you to use on your own websites or during presentations to give a flavour of the opportunities cadets will have with your contingent. Find them under ‘Videos’ on the website or search for the Combined Cadet Force channel on YouTube.

LINKEDIN FORUM

ollowing requests from schools to create a knowledge exchange forum, we are exploring the use of a LinkedIn closed group. The group will be a space for you to exchange ideas, start discussion points, share areas of best practice and to talk about all things CCFrelated with other like-minded people. Once established, details of how to join will be shared with all contingents.

RESOURCE CENTRE

ere you will find a bank of command and leadership tasks that have been shared by contingents across the country. If you are running a taster day or looking for a different task for your cadets, then there are plenty of options to choose from. Some useful tri-service guides and exercises are also easily accessible here. The online brand and resource centres can be found under the ‘Schools’ area’ tab on the CCF website.

GOT M AT E R I A L S TO SHARE? If your school has images which you think would be suitable for our image library or as options for the ‘Create your own’ materials, please get in touch with the Marketing and Communications team by emailing marketing@ combinedcadetforce.org.uk Similarly, if you have ideas for additional items for the online resource centre, then we would welcome your suggestions.

COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 25

NOTICEBOARD UPDATES FROM HQ REGIONAL COMMAND

CADETS EXCHANGE

CANADIAN ADVENTURE CADETS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CANADA TRADED PLACES THIS SUMMER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL CANADIAN CADET EXCHANGE

hirty-six CCF and ACF cadets and two adult volunteers travelled to camps across Canada, changing places with 60 Canadian cadets and six adults who took part in a programme of activities in the UK. The British cadets visited Argonaut, Whitehorse and Rocky Mountain camps for leadership and adventurous training courses. They learned skills in camping expeditions, wilderness first aid, hiking, biking, abseiling, rock climbing, marksmanship and canoeing. The courses also included drill,

THE EXCHANGE PRODUCED UNIQUE CHALLENGES, NEW SKILLS AND MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME

26 CONNECTED AUTUMN 2017

community and fitness activities. The cadets were back on British soil on 20 August. Another team also travelled to Connaught for a leadership and instructor marksmanship course. They returned on 28 August. The Canadian cadets’ UK visit included a two-week field and leadership course – Exercise Tiger Leader – at Holcombe Moor near Manchester. They also visited Capel Curig and Halton, where they did sailing, rock climbing and canoeing. Culture Week included three days in Southampton and Portsmouth, and four days in London. The week included activities such as museum visits, watching tank displays and visiting the D-Day War Room. They also visited a theme park and saw a West End show.

A four-day tour took the cadets to First and Second World War battlefields, cemeteries and memorials in Belgium and France. The trip concluded with a visit to Canada House. The exchange produced unique challenges, new skills, friendships and memories to last a lifetime. Looking to sign up for 2018? Look on Westminster for further details.

The exchange was a great learning experience

N O TI CE B OA RD

HOW TO

Find new resources and inspiration page 24

IN BRIEF

AWA R D S

CELEBRATING MEDAL WINNERS RANK

INITIALS

SURNAME

SCHOOL

THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE CADET FORCES MEDAL INITIALS RANK SURNAME SCHOOL SSI FLT LT CAPT LT SSI LT

BS AP LJ C PM AJ

ARKLESS ASTIN CAPPER JACKSON PATERNOTTE ROBSON

Sherbourne School CCF Sedbergh School CCF Kings Rochester CCF Thomas Hardye School CCF Old Swinford Hospital School CCF Kings Rochester CCF

THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE 1ST CLASP TO CADET FORCES MEDAL CAPT

BURT

Longhill School CCF

THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE 2ND CLASP TO CADET FORCES MEDAL LT

PRICE

Charterhouse CCF

THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE 3RD CLASP TO CADET FORCES MEDAL MAJ LT

P JL

LONSDALE PRICE

Longhill School CCF Charterhouse CCF

CVQO COURSE

CVQO Leadership Course 2017 CALLING ALL SCHOOLS: it’s your last chance to nominate a cadet for the week-long residential leadership course, which will take place from 23-27 October at Outposts activity centre in Somerset. There are 64 places up for grabs and there’s no cost to the cadet, apart from travel to and from Taunton. Head to www.cvqo.org to apply before the end of September.

Lt Col Gavin Jones (right) with Lt Col Al Lackey (left)

NEW TRAINING CENTRE COMMANDANT Lt Col Gavin Jones PWRR handed over as Commandant, National Cadet Training Centre (NCTC), Frimley Park, to Lt Col Al Lackey RA on 5 September. Gavin served for 31 years in the Army and has contributed a great deal to the modernisation of the training methods and infrastructure at NCTC in a very short space of time. Look out for an interview with Al in the next issue of Connected. SANDHURST PARADES CCF cadets and CFAVs can apply to attend the Sovereign’s Parade or the final ‘dress rehearsal’ known as the Commandant’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. This marks the passing out of Officer Cadets who have completed the Academy Officer Commissioning Course and is one of the highlights in the Sandhurst calendar. To apply, look out for instructions in calling notices circulated to all contingents by Army Regional Command. The next parade is due to take place in mid-December.

COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 27

N O TI CE B OA RD

R E G U L AT I O N S

ALL PLAYING THE SAME TUNE DR RICHARD CRAWFORD, SO1 CADETS POLICY AND PLANS AT REGIONAL COMMAND, EXPLAINS HOW WORK IS PROGRESSING ON THE NEW CCF REGULATIONS.

ITH 42,000 CADETS and 3,300 volunteers, the CCF is a complex organisation. Delivering the cadet experience means bringing together the three services, each with their own ethos, to deliver a varied programme in more than 300 locations. This is like an orchestra: many instruments coming together in harmony. If the CCF is the orchestra, then the Joint Service Publication 313 the Combined Cadet Force Manual is the conductor, bringing this activity together. The manual was last published in 2011, and since then the CCF has moved forward, most notably through the expansion of the cadet force over the past four years. As a result, the CCF manual needs to change. But with such a complex organisation, this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a simple job. Work has been going on for nearly two years to lay the foundations on which the new document can be built. Much of this work has been behind the scenes, trying to better understand the changes since the current manual was published.

28 CONNECTED AUTUMN 2017

The CCF brings together the three services in harmony

This autumn, this work will start to come to a close through workshops that will bring together stakeholders from across the CCF, and from these workshops will come the Combined Cadet Force Regulations. But why is this of interest to CFAVs? The key features of the regulations will be to make them easier to use and to understand. For the first time, the regulations will be fully digital. This will allow easier cross-referencing and access to forms, as well as linking to external resources. Gone will be the days of having to search separately for the document referenced in the text. Now a single click will take you there. The layout of the regulations will change too by bringing specific single service requirements into the main text, rather than squirrelling them away in single service supplements. For CFAVs running multiple-section contingents, this will cut down on flipping between the main chapters and the supplements. It will also help to identify better those areas where the three single service HQs can work

together to make the rules more coherent across the CCF. How we maintain the regulations will change too. The new regulations will be a live document, hosted on the Defence Gateway Cadet Forces Resource Centre. When policy or procedures change, we will be able to update the relevant sections of the CCF regulations directly, so CFAVs know they are always accessing the most up to date rules. And to keep everyone informed, we will be using a standard format publication, a Regulation Amendment Note (RAN), to remove the different methods currently in use. Again, this is designed to make life easier for CFAVs, giving more time back to delivering the cadet experience. The four workshops to be held over the autumn will focus on the areas of organisation, personnel and administration, logistics, and training. After these will start the final process of making sure the new CCF regulations are clearly written and easy to understand, ready for publication by the summer of 2018.

N O TI CE B OA RD

CONFERENCE

Headteachers’ Conference 2018

MEDAL

The medal recognises CFAVs’ dedication to the cadets

THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE THE CADET FORCES MEDAL IS A UNIQUE ACCOLADE FOR CFAVS

eward and recognition is integral to many organisations. The CCF is no exception. The Cadet Forces Medal and Clasps are one of the ways that CCF officers and adult instructors are acknowledged for their dedication to the cadets. The medal and clasps recognise long and effective service. To be eligible for the award the individual must have served as a commissioned or appointed officer, or as an appointed adult instructor. The medal is awarded to acknowledge 12 years’ continuous qualifying service and clasps are awarded for each six years’ additional qualifying service. The medal itself is circular, made from cupronickel. It bears on the front the crowned effigy of the Sovereign and on the reverse the inscription ‘The Cadet Forces Medal’ and a representation of a

Long-serving CFAVs can qualify for an award

flaming torch. The name of the recipient is inscribed around the rim. Any subsequent clasps are then sewn on to the ribbon by which the medal is suspended, and if the ribbon is worn alone rose emblems denoting each clasp are attached. Application forms to make a recommendation for an award can be found on Westminster and Bader. Applications are subject to verification and approval.

HE NEXT CCF Headteachers’ Conference will take place on 1 March 2018 and will once again be held at the RAF Museum in Cosford, Shropshire. The annual conference aims to update headteachers, school governors and bursars on issues that affect their CCFs. This year, the focus will be on how headteachers can support the successful development of their contingents. Senior representatives from the MOD and the Department for Education will address delegates and the event will be an excellent opportunity for sharing experiences and discussing CCF matters. The 2017 event attracted around 180 delegates, with representatives from over 80 CCF schools, and it is hoped that even more will attend in 2018. It is an informative day and an opportunity to connect with other schools during the breaks. Individual electronic invitations will be issued to headteachers in the autumn. To find out more about the conference please contact Veronica Staunton Lambert on 01252 7876 8402 or at veronica.stauntonlambert247@mod.gov.uk

The event is for headteachers, school governors and bursars

COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 29

FINAL BELL

MYTHBUSTER

Dealing with student misconceptions Young people can have a fixed idea of the CCF and it can be way off the mark. Here, experienced CFAVs address some common myths and queries

“My family can’t afford it”

queries about shooting – but can be reassured

Initially the only expense to the cadets will

that safety is always paramount. .

be the purchase of boots. However, when

schools bulk-buy additional kit they are given a discount, which can reduce costs. Additional cost will only come when the cadets start to attend camps, but there are a range of things

CCF camp has changed hugely in recent years. Far from being a boot camp,

it is a sought after opportunity for cadets to experience activities not available in their

such as bag packing in supermarkets.

schools, and to have lots of fun.

to be flying every week” Unfortunately not. That might come

“Boys and girls will have to sleep in the same place on camp” There is always more than enough

as a disappointment so it’s worth managing

accommodation to ensure that male and

expectations when first giving out information.

female cadets stay in separate living quarters.

There are lots of fantastic reasons to join

When sleeping in the field they are paired

the RAF section – aviation training, sports,

with someone of the same gender – so there

competitions, and occasionally the chance to

is no reason for not attending camps.

fly – so make sure you highlight all of these.

“It will be really militaristic – I’ll be marching all the time” Drill is part of what the CCF does and

it helps to encourage and support teamwork. But it is not the main part of the cadet experience. Work out what percentage of a cadet’s time will actually will be spent on drill compared to the whole range of other activities they will take part in.

“I’ll get a gun and will be able to shoot at anything” Well, obviously not. Shooting activities

are strictly regulated and controlled, and cadets only get to shoot at targets once they are properly trained. Parents also often have

30 CONNECTED AUTUMN 2017

WAYS OF PROMOTING YOUR CCF TO POTENTIAL CADETS

“Annual camp will be like boot camp”

they can do to raise money to reduce the cost,

“If I join the RAF section I’m going

RESOURCES

“I only eat Halal meat so I won’t have any food on camp” Every camp will cater for every

dietary need – and that includes the military rations they’re given during field training.

“There’ll be no wifi on camp” Actually, this one’s not a myth.

se the brand centre on the U CCF website to make posters, banners and bunting. See www. combinedcadetforce.org.uk/ schools-area. sk your cadets to create their A own resources, such as a leaflet about annual camp (with a checklist that includes what to take and what will be provided). ncourage potential cadets to E follow the school CCF social media channels to see what the cadets have been up to. rganise a talk and/or Q&A O session with an older cadet who can speak about their experiences in the CCF. how potential cadets the cadet S videos on the CCF website. Connected would like to thank Keith Smith of Whitgift CCF and Gary Newbrook of Rockwood Academy CCF for their contributions to this article

They just have to live with it.

A DDRESSING PA RENTA L CONCERNS It’s not just the potential cadets who might have concerns or questions. Have a look at the Summer 2017 edition of Connected for advice on engaging with parents or find it online at combinedcadetforce.org.uk/news-media-centre

THE MAGAZINE FOR INSTRUCTORS OF THE COMBINED CADET FORCE

CONNECTED

N EX T ISSUE NEXT ISSUE: FIRST AID OPPORTUNITIES CEP SCHOOLS UPDATE SCIENCE IN ACTION CAMP HIGHLIGHTS AND MORE