COM B I N E D CA DE T FORC E
O
perating CCF two days a week with the Fourth Form cadets having their own session on Tuesdays significantly changed the flavour of our CCF offered to cadets this year. The model came with both challenges and opportunities. Operating in year group bubbles the Fifth Form, Lower Sixth, and Upper Sixth, without their normal instructional duties, were treated to an effective bespoke training programme on Wednesday afternoons brilliantly prepared by section officers. A gripping competitive element was introduced to a really concentrated training programme that included training in built up areas and multiple field craft exercises, along with work on orders and estimation which we were able to introduce to the programme for the first time. The Royal Marine/Advanced Infantry 18
“taster” event was a highlight of the Wednesday afternoon programme and Drumhead Remembrance Services held for all year groups “in the field” were even more poignant than usual. Training truly became “combined” with members of all four sections regularly working together in a variety of activities with planners never quite knowing what was around the next corner. On Tuesdays the Fourth Form followed programmes “inspired” by individual cadet syllabuses under the supervision of adult volunteers without the support of senior cadets. Cadet activities included radio procedure and communications, ship recognition, navigation, orienteering, glider construction, low and high ropes, first aid and flight simulator work. The opportunity for senior cadets to instruct their juniors is an essential component of CCF with adults unfortunately this year having to step
increasingly into that role. A cadet instructional techniques course did however form part of the Wednesday offer for senior cadets. The CCF adult team worked miracles on both days given the team was never available in its entirety with an academic programme also running on CCF afternoons. One has to feel some sympathy for our team of senior cadets who would usually work with the Fourth Form and as a result develop themselves in their roles. The Fourth Form also missed the opportunity of being instructed by their peers and sadly our equestrian offering this year was indeed a casualty of external COVID protocols. The Drum Corps also had its challenges in its first year without Mr Ray Smith. It did however manage to rehearse online and outcomes were impressive if not displayed as fully on the wider stage.
