CCF

Army Despite Covid-19, we have enjoyed a very busy year in the Army Section of the CCF. Our healthy crop of 62 new Third Year cadets was introduced to fieldcraft and field admin on Exercise Chameleon on 1 October. Focusing on not being seen, cadets constructed two-man shelters in a woodland harbour, cammed-up and practised concealment and tactical movement in response to field signals. A week later, our Fifth Year cadets enjoyed a day’s shooting at the Ash Electronic Target Range, firing at pop-up targets at 100m, 200m and 300m, from prone, sitting and kneeling positions. During November’s Biennial Inspection, our Sixth Form NCOs demonstrated a snap ambush, using the stand of oaks on the eastern boundary of Headmaster’s Field to suppress an enemy patrol detected on their footsteps. The action was led by CSM Josh Banks, with a comprehensive commentary provided to the assembled guests and pupils by RSM Sam Rose.

Four of our senior NCOs (Jacob Tutt, George McCurragh, Seb Kelson and Ben Taylor) also completed the competitive and demanding SCIC (Senior Cadet Instructors Cadre) course at autumn half term; all passed and earned their sergeant’s stripes. Three NCOs were also able to attend taster days at Sandhurst Military College.

The main focus of the Fourth Year programme is the Skill at Arms course, where cadets are trained on the L98A2 cadet rifle. This culminates in a Weapons Handling Test, which all cadets must pass every six months to be allowed to use the weapon system. In March, these cadets took part in Exercise Striking Tiger on the Hankley Common training area. Using blank ammunition, the cadets were able to practise battle drills and demonstrate their proficiency fighting through a Close Quarter Battle Lane and prosecuting a planned ambush on an armed enemy patrol. Our Sixth Form NCOs provided the enemy combatants.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 prompted the cancellation of the Summer Term programme, which would have seen the Third Years spending a night in the field and our much anticipated return to Barry Buddon in Scotland for Summer Camp.

The smooth running of the contingent relies heavily on the quality of our NCOs and we have been particularly fortunate to have had excellent senior cadets in recent years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our departing RSM, Sam Rose, and CSM, Josh Banks, for their outstanding contributions this year.

Capt D Nighy

Navy The Royal Navy section is a new adventure for me (having transferred across from the Army) and I have been incredibly impressed and proud to have been appointed as the Section Commander to this amazing and committed section of the school’s Combined Cadet Force. Examples of what has made this experience so special have been seeing the cadets display such a brilliant attitude towards all the challenges and tasks that we have set them, and I could not have been prouder then when we got to see them all parade and drill so well on Remembrance Day, as well as seeing evidence of their learning during the CCF drill and practical leadership tasks which took place during the whole school inspection.

The cadets come with a wide range of knowledge varying from experienced sailors through to those that are trying it out for the first time, but it is their

ability to learn quickly and support each other that has particularly impressed us. Our junior cadets owe so much of their development and upskilling to our brilliant senior cadet team of Chief Petty Officer Adam Childs, and the three Leading Hands of Katie Hutchinson, Ben Williams and Rachel Newberry; their commitment and enthusiasm were evident throughout the year and the children would have gained brilliant examples of best practice from some outstanding young leaders and role models.

Sub Lieutenant R Maier

Trafalgar Dinner We were delighted to welcome Admiral Sir Philip Andrew Jones, GCB, ADC, DL, and Lady Elizabeth Jones, as our Guests of Honour at the annual Trafalgar Dinner. Cadets from the Lower and Upper Sixth, across all three sections enjoyed a fabulous evening, honouring and celebrating Nelson and his success at the Battle of Trafalgar. Delicious food, wonderful company, including a huge range of guests from the military, retired and still serving, and OCs, stirring speeches and raucous sea shanties. RAF Last year, the RAF Section achieved much in the shortened time we were given due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We had a tough first half of term consisting of a huge amount of drill as a result of the Biennial Inspection. The section exceeded the already high expectations and passed with flying colours. This was then replicated in the Remembrance Parade in Petersfield and at the smaller parade in remembrance of the Heroes of Horndean, which we attended in February, to honour two Australian World War Two pilots with the unveiling of a new memorial stone. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and British weather, the section only managed two flying days this year at Boscombe Down and there will be no cadet flying until at least January 2021. However, instead of flying the Grob Tutor, cadets have been flying the famous P-51D Mustang on the school’s brand new flight simulators. These simulators, kindly donated by the PA, with state of the art graphics and flight modeling, are as close as we can currently get to flying in real life and will enhance the cadet’s flying skills before they step into an aircraft in real life. The section has seen success this year through the Air Cadets Courses and Scholarships, with Sergeant Max Walton being selected for the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme and Flight Sergeant Jasper Browne being selected for the International Air Cadet Exchange and being invited to apply for the Sir Michael Knight Scholarship, although sadly all of these had to be cancelled. Hopefully more of the cadets will have similar opportunities this year, COVID permitting.

Cdt Flt Sgt Jasper Browne

Biennial Inspection Every two years our CCF is inspected and assessed by a visiting officer and this year it was the turn of an Officer from the Royal Navy to oversee our Inspection. A parade and march past in the morning was ably accompanied by Mr Cree and the Senior Wind Band’s marching music. After lunch, an afternoon of displays and demonstrations from all three sections of our CCF offered Admiral Sir Phil Jones and accompanying officers and dignitaries the opportunity to review our CCF programme.

“these simulators, with state of the art graphics and flight modeling, are as close as we can currently get to flying in real life”