CCF - Term 1 Update

The final CCF session of the last school year saw us using the School's fire pit for the first time. Cadets made small fires in Kelly Kettles to heat water and then cooked pizza wraps and smores on the fire pit.

We started the term/year with the current cadets planning the recruitment evening for our new intake. They thought about the aspects of CCF that they enjoyed and what ought to be included. In small groups, the cadets planned practical leadership tasks and wrote out the full set of instructions. Some cadets who have been on camps and courses also prepared what to say about their experiences. During the taster event, the cadets ran their activities and talked to the potential new recruits about their experiences of CCF so far.

Our new recruits have now been attending CCF for a few weeks and have begun learning some of the theory content to enable them to gain promotion quickly and enhance their understanding of CCF and the Royal Navy. They have learnt about the ethos of the Royal Navy and how this links to school life and have practised tying a variety of knots (and teaching others how to tie them to deepen their knowledge and understanding). The new recruits have a range of reasons for signing up - ‘my mum made me as I spend too much time on my phone’; ‘I've previously tried Air Cadets so knew I enjoyed this type of activity’; ‘I've watched some of the activities previously and thought they looked good’; ‘a new opportunity’; ‘a family member was previously involved in CCF at their school and recommended it’; ‘already involved in Scouts so know I enjoy these types of activities’.

The more senior cadets have been revising their theory content and will be completing assessments to hopefully gain promotion at the start of next term. They have also been taking the lead in drill instructions, putting all cadets through their paces.