THE MAGAZINE FOR INSTRUCTORS OF THE COMBINED CADET FORCE
CONNECTED SPRING 2017
COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK
TOP TIPS
HOW TO CO-OPERATE WITH COMMUNITY CADETS PAGE 30
LEADING THE WAY
THE BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING
SNAP HAPPY THE WINNERS OF THE INAUGURAL CCF PHOTO COMPETITION INSIDE: NEWS
LIFE ON A SUBMARINE COMMAND & LEADERSHIP TASKS RAF UNIFORM INSPECTION TIPS AND MORE
CONTENTS
WELCOME
I SS U E # 5 : S P R I NG 2017 In 2016, the cadet forces enjoyed unprecedented support from the highest levels of government, where it is recognised that the competence, dedication and enthusiasm of the CCF’s adult volunteers underpins the continuing success of our established CCF schools and the development of the new CCF sections as part of the Cadet Expansion Programme. Last November, a further 19 new CCFs were approved together with another linked ACF detachment in Scotland and five Sea Cadet units. We remain well on track to meet the Government’s target of 500 school cadet units parading in 2020. You can read about the progress of several new contingents on pages 20-21. Much work is being done to bring CCF policies and processes up to date. A major development is the approval by HM The Queen of a new Cadet Forces Commission (see page 26). This will enable the services to introduce arrangements for their volunteers that properly meet the needs of a modern, military-themed youth movement. Finally, the single Service CCF HQs are busy preparing for another full programme of training for our 363 parading contingents. The coming months will see the roll-out of new, carefully selected cadet radios as well as the long-awaited replacement for the No8 small-bore target rifle. There is plenty for everyone to look forward to. BRIGADIER MATTHEW LOWE MBE Deputy Commander Cadets, Regional Command
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THIS ISSUE 06. VOLUNTEERING The benefits of leading a CCF contingent
ON THE COVER Winning photo by Mehreen Khalil, Bradford Grammar School
12. REMEMBRANCE PARADES Honouring the fallen
16. UNIFORM INSPECTION Top tips on inspecting an RAF uniform
18. PHOTO COMPETITION The winners and runners-up
20. MEET CEP SCHOOLS Rockwood Academy and St Thomas More School
EVERY ISSUE 04. NEWS Crowdfunding, STEM in Action camp and charity trek
10. TRI SERVICE We meet one of the Royal Navy’s first female submariners
22. COMMAND & LEADERSHIP Practical training tasks to test your cadets’ skills
24. HOW TO… Claim volunteer allowance online
26. NOTICEBOARD Meet the new Chief Exec of CCFA
30. HOW TO… Co-operate with fellow cadets
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: 02074268377 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: Carly Chynoweth Art editor: Simon Goddard Project manager: Esther Newman 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 or 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 Poppy receives her award from Dame Janet Trotter
AWA R D S
Honour for Poppy CCF and ACF cadets from across the UK came together to see STEM principles in action
E D U C AT I O N
CADETS SEE STEM IN ACTION CAMP GIVES CADETS A CHANCE TO PUT PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE
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adets and CFAVs from the CCF and ACF came together to fi nd out how the Army applies science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) principles in operational situations at a new camp: Science in Action. The week-long event, at Rollestone Camp near Salisbury, took place over October half-term. The 78 cadets and 12 CFAVs spent time with different arms and services discovering how scientific and engineering principles are exploited by the Army. They had hands-on experience building models, exploring equipment, working out logistic problems and conducting experiments. They were also given the opportunity to take part in a battlefield all-arms simulation in the combined arms tactical trainer, and live firing on the 105mm light field gun. Capt Mike Holdsworth, from Stamford
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Endowed Schools CCF in Lincolnshire, said: “This has undoubtedly been the highlight of my cadet experience, both as cadet and officer. “The spirit in which all elements of the course were planned and conducted was impressive. The insight and memories derived from this course inspired many to consider a technical career in the Armed Forces. “Big grins were found in abundance over the week. Live-fi ring the 105mm light field gun and meeting an Apache AH-64 [attack helicopter] up-close certainly captured the cadets’ attention.” Cadet James Wright, who attended the camp, said: “It was a great week. We got insights into the Army and made loads of new friends from around the UK.” The STEM camp will run again. The details will be published on Westminster.
A cadet who had a central role in the success of a CCF set up under the Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) has been appointed one of the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets for Gloucestershire. Cadet Sergeant Poppy Slack from All Saint’s Academy in Cheltenham was one of the first 16 pupils to join the contingent when it was formed under the CEP. She is the first from the school to be recognised for this honour. Many Lieutenancies appoint cadets to assist in ceremonial duties. Contingent Commanders can contact their local RFCAs to see if CCFs are eligible in that area. School Cadet Expansion Officer Les Tanner from Wessex RFCA said: “It’s great to see Poppy being recognised with this honour as I know she’s been instrumental in helping the CCF fully embed into the school. It’s quite unusual for a new school to achieve this, so I’d encourage all schools to look at whether this is something they can get involved in, as it’s a great experience for any cadet.”
FIND OUT MORE For more on the Cadet Expansion Programme, turn to pages 20-21.
GET IN TOUCH E: marketing@combinedcadetforce.org.uk @CCFcadets
VOLUNTEERING
“There will be pupils who don’t always get academic or sporting praise; this gives them something else” Flying Officer Emma Wellington, page 6
DID YOU KNOW?
Charity events, like Soldier 30:30, can be used towards DofE Awards
EVENTS
CHARITY TREK COLLEGE HOSTS SOLDIER 30:30 CHALLENGE
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enstone College in Staffordshire aims to help raise £40,000 for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) by hosting a Soldier 30:30 challenge in February. Teams of four or more will complete a trek of either 30km or 30 miles carrying a total weight equal to 30lb per team member. The college has taken part in similar events on Exmoor and this year is using this experience to play host to the charity challenge. The college will be the event control centre, and the venue for the evening meal and awards.
Cadets have been putting their sailing ability to the test in the CCF RN National Regatta for more than 40 years
SAILING
Cadet WO2 Rannoch Linnell said: “These events are a brilliant challenge for cadets. They raise money for a fantastic military charity and also provide an immense sense of achievement for the team. I strongly encourage more schools to take part.” FIND OUT MORE www.ssafa.org.uk/soldier3030 Email: teamssafa@ssafa.org.uk Revd Rupert Jarvis (RJarvis@denstonecollege.net) is happy to be contacted for advice on taking part from a CCF perspective.
FUNDRAISING
New fundraising approach Four schools trialled a new way to raise funds for projects and equipment with support from CCFA and Crowdfunder UK. Penair CCF had the most success, raising £6,000, which will go towards developing its leadership and adventurous training. The CCF focused on raising small amounts from a wide range of people offering various rewards to sponsors, such as creating an annual award in their name or putting their company logo on cadets’ sports kit. Penair CCF also received match funding of £4,500 from the Garfield Weston Foundation.
FIND OUT MORE Visit www.combinedcadetforce.org.uk/funding to find out more about CCFA funding and grants
EXETER WINS THE REGATTA Ten teams tested their skills in the CCF RN National Regatta at HMS Raleigh in tricky conditions EXETER SCHOOL’S sailing team was the clear winner in the CCF RN’s annual National Regatta at HMS Raleigh in October. The A and B teams from Sedbergh School took second and third place in the contest after ten teams from around the country – from Ulster to East Anglia – took to the water to test their skills. Cadets sailed Topper Topaz Argos in teams of two. The first race of the day saw some teams face penalties and disqualifications. However, despite this tricky start for some, the competition evened out over the five races, with many of the teams still in the running for places at the top of the leaderboard. Only two points separated the third, fourth and fifth-placed teams. As the day progressed, the tide began to build – meaning that judging the laylines (the course the boat should take) for the windward mark became more complex. Teams also had to cope with a tidal back eddy (a reverse current), which was particularly challenging for several teams for whom sailing on tidal waters was a relatively new experience. The weather conditions and strong wind on the second day made sailing impossible, so the results were calculated based on the first day’s races.
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FE ATURE
THE VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Giving up your time to lead a CCF contingent enables youngsters to enjoy new and exciting experiences – but the benefits go both ways
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VO LU N T E E RIN G
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lying Officer Emma Wellington, the contingent commander at All Saints’ Academy in Cheltenham, counts aerobatics in a Grob Tutor as one of the best things she has done in her three years with the CCF. “I took an odd number of students and there was an extra spot, so I was lucky enough to go up,” she says. “It was better than any ride you could go on. I’ve also had Chinook helicopters land over my head and been on three camps, which are wonderful opportunities for cadets and instructors.” For 2Lt Will Wyllie, it was a chance to get involved with something that he’d loved to have done as a lad. “I would have jumped at the chance to have been able to join the cadets at school,” says Will, the contingent commander at Holly Lodge. “It is great to be able to give our pupils the chance to do so many different activities. Everyone gets really stuck in to the training, and I’ve loved every minute of it.” RSA Academy’s contingent commander, former police officer 2Lt Jim Andrews, is in it for the challenge and the camaraderie. “I like being part of the bigger military family; it reminds me of being in the police,” he says. And all of them love knowing that they are helping to give their students extra opportunities. “For many of the cadets summer camp was the first time they had ever been away from their parents,” says Will.
2Lt Jim Andrews enjoys the camaraderie
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VO LU N T E E RIN G
Flying Officer Emma Wellington (next to Union Jack) with cadets at All Saints’ Academy in Cheltenham
“They have shot rifles, been in canoes… they are getting experiences that they would never have dreamed of without CCF.” Emma adds: “If you want to see pupils go further this is brilliant. Sometimes there will be pupils who don’t always get academic or sporting praise, and this gives them something else.” Jim, a home school liaison officer responsible for attendance, agrees that opening cadets’ eyes to new possibilities is a central part of being a volunteer. He has also noticed that many cadets look at him slightly differently now because of the cadet-instructor relationship. “I got involved because I could see the benefits
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“I GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE I COULD SEE THAT IT WAS A CHANCE FOR ME TO BE SOMEONE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE COULD TALK TO” 2Lt Jim Andrews for young people, but I could also see that thought of by our senior leadership team. it was a chance for me to be someone that Oh, and my mum and dad say that my young people could talk to, not just ironing has got better, too!” the ‘wagman’ chasing them,” he The computer science and fi lm says. “And I am getting good studies teacher recently helped reports from teaching staff her first cohort of cadets in that being a cadet has helped All Saints’ Academy’s threeThe CCFA brand students in class.” year-old CCF write UCAS centre includes Emma has had a similar applications that included posters to recruit experience. “As a teacher it their cadet experience. “And more volunteers is nice to be seen in a different in 2016 one of our cadets, role. Now even pupils I don’t Poppy Slack, became the Lord teach will come up and talk to me. Lieutenant’s cadet, which was a great “It also gives you wider school honour,” she says. “She has learned with me, responsibilities; at my school it is very well she has helped with younger pupils, she has this amazing thing on her UCAS application and she has met royalty.” (News, p4) Becoming a CCF officer isn’t for everyone but if you have the time and interest it is an incredibly worthwhile pursuit, she says. “My advice is to think about the commitment,” adds Jim. “It is a long-term Left: It can be thing that involves you getting trained as rewarding watching much as training the cadets. Take time to cadets learn new skills
DID YOU KNOW?
VO LU N T E E RIN G
MAKE THE MOST OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Seeing cadets take part in important ceremonial events can be very inspiring
Taking part in a Remembrance parade
Students enjoy the outdoor activities
fi nd out more and talk to people at other CCF units if yours is new.” And don’t be afraid to speak up if you need help, adds Will. In his first year as the contingent commander at his school’s newly-established CCF he was also a master teacher of maths, head of year, in charge of the school’s DofE programme – and father to a newborn. “It got to the stage where I almost lost the plot,” he says. But he spoke to his headteacher and slightly reduced his other professional commitments, freeing up the time needed for him to focus properly on the CCF. “It is a time-consuming role,” he says. “My advice is to not take too much on at once and, if you do run into issues, talk to your headteacher about it.” It’s much better to resolve any problems fast than to quit – after all, that
would mean missing out on some incredible opportunities. And don’t be shy about asking a question more than once if the first answer isn’t clear, whoever you’re talking to, says Emma. She found getting her head around the military aspects of leadership one of the more challenging parts of the training. Jim says it was the jargon that took him a while to pick up. “It took me ages to get all the acronyms,” he says. “Sometimes they are the same acronyms that are used in education, but with different meanings. And I still have all the police acronyms in my head, too.”
Learning uniformed military service skills through the CCF gives teachers and other school staff something extra to offer all students, says Major Phil Green, RN and RM Cadets SO2. “We run a whole raft of afloat training courses where adult instructors can learn a multitude of new skills,” he says. “These courses also offer personal development and civilian-accredited qualifications.” Explaining the thoroughness of the training can encourage people to give it a try, adds Phil, who is responsible for training volunteers with RM and RN sections. “We give people the tools that they need to return to their school’s RM or RN section and work effectively with young people. You go away for five days and come back with resources, tools and knowledge about how you can add value.” Going on the Initial Officer Training course in the summer gave Charter Academy’s Sub Lieutenant Les Latcham a big confidence boost. “It has been a big change in my life, for the good,” he says. “I have just been promoted at work and I truly believe that being in the CCF has been a big part of that.”
FIND OUT MORE Visit www.combinedcadetforce.org.uk/ volunteering to read more case studies about the benefits of volunteering in the CCF
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HMS Vigilant is the third Vanguard-class submarine of the Royal Navy
TRI SERVICE
SUBMARINES In our new series we explore innovations in equipment and practice in the three services and discover how cadets can learn more about them. Here, Connected talks to one of the Royal Navy’s first female submariners
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or as long as she can remember, Lt Laura Mullin wanted to be a submariner. The intense and unforgiving operating environment, the high levels of responsibility and the professionalism at the heart of everything that takes place on a submarine appealed to her. “On board, everyone depends on everyone else. We all have the same purpose and share the same living conditions. There’s a lot of camaraderie, which I like,” she says.
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Now 29, she has fulfilled her ambition as a logistics officer on HMS Vigilant and has already spent several months at sea. But just a few years ago this wouldn’t have been possible. Women were allowed to serve on submarines only in 2014. Of the Royal Navy’s 3,500 submariners, Laura is one of only eight qualified female officers, although more are currently going through the training. She doesn’t see gender as a barrier to her chosen career. “I’m incredibly proud to be a submariner,” she says. “Nobody cares if you’re male or female because once
you’ve got your dolphins, it’s irrelevant. The submarine qualification process is so intense that everyone recognises the hard work and respects you.” In some respects, in the intense, enclosed world of a submarine, being a female officer can be a useful attribute for the crew. “On board, we have a divisional system: everybody has an officer who they can talk to about anything. I’ve got a division of about 15 people. As a woman, I do think the men come and talk to me maybe a bit more than they would do if I was a bloke.”
She says that everyone deals with life underwater in different ways. As well as the divisional system, there is a Diversity and Inclusion team on board that’s always available for crew to speak to, plus the boat’s doctor. “When I was at sea I took some photos to remind me of home. And loved ones wrote letters that I opened at certain points. My friends give me little care packages, with Lego and stuff to do inside them,” she says. CHANCE OF A LIFETIME But you get the impression that, for Laura, the time away from home and lack of personal space is a small price to pay for the opportunity of a lifetime. “The friendships that you make will probably last you for life. If you’re interested in engineering, it’s one of the biggest engineering challenges you’ll ever face and the nuclear technology you will work with is impressive.” When asked what advice she has for young people – especially young women – thinking about a career as a submariner, she says: “Just go for it. It’s not a limitation any more, being female, and if you’re capable, medically fit and your eyesight is good enough and you pass all the tests, why not do it?” She adds that applicants need to be aware that life at sea is completely cut off (no social media, no wi-fi, family contact limited to “Familygrams” of 120 words a week from
Submarine escape training tank: a bird's-eye view of the training tank at the former HMS Dolphin in Gosport
“THE SUBMARINE QUALIFICATION PROCESS IS SO INTENSE THAT EVERYONE RECOGNISES THE HARD WORK AND RESPECTS YOU” Lt Laura Mullin a nominated loved one). Plus, “if you’re claustrophobic it’s probably not the best environment,” she says. “But submarines are a constant learning environment. At any time, there is a submarine on patrol, maintaining the nation’s strategic deterrent. The qualification process requires you to learn so much, and there’s always the chance to improve your knowledge somewhere. It’s a completely unique experience that you will not get anywhere else.”
TRY THIS TAKE YOUR CADETS TO VISIT A SUBMARINE
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Experience a working sub Speak to Master at Arms Rob Grenfell (NAVYTRGCORECCFCLOP@mod.uk) at CCF RN HQ about the possibility of arranging a visit to a submarine for your Contingent. As well as meeting the men and women who work on the vessels, it may be possible for cadets to take a tour of a modern-day, working submarine.
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Experience a piece of history As well as the chance to experience what life is like on a modern-day submarine, cadets can also pay a visit to Britain’s only surviving World War IIera ocean-going submarine at Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard (www.submarine-museum.co.uk). At the museum, cadets can enjoy a guided tour of HMS Alliance from former submariners. There are also other activities on offer:
Life on a submarine
A taught workshop from the museum’s Education Officers
Deployment time: more than 70 days
Time in the different museum galleries including the interactive Science & Submarines Gallery
Work-up package (submarine preparation): 3-8 weeks
Time to look at other submarines such as Holland 1 (the Royal Navy's first submarine) and X24 (the only surviving example of a World War II midget submarine).
Crew: 168 (on HMS Vigilant) plus trainees, split into two watches Watches: 07:00-13:00; 13:0019:00; 19:00-01:00; 01:00-07:00 (crew rotate six hours on, six off)
Inside a sub: the interior of HMS Victorious
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Image: Paul West Photography
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TIME TO REMEMBER From simple tributes to grand displays, here we round up some of the ways CCF contingents have honoured the fallen
© Paul West photography
Image: Paul West Photography
INSIGHTS
RE M E M B R A N CE
IN THE PHOTOS: 01 Canford School CCF on parade 02 King’s College Wimbledon 03 Canford School CCF on parade 04 King’s Wimbledon 05 Gresham’s School CCF on parade 06 Duke of York’s Military School at Westminster Abbey
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cross the country, schools fell silent at 11am on Armistice Day. For some, this simple but effective recognition of those who have given their lives for their country was the start and end of their commemorations. But for schools with a CCF, the cadets can often help to turn 11 November into a more momentous occasion that unites the whole school community. This was certainly the case at Thomas Deacon Academy in Peterborough, where 2,500 pupils, staff and other visitors came together to honour the fallen. The school’s principal, Geoff Walls, said: “The Remembrance services that take place at Thomas Deacon Academy, in both the juniors and the main academy, are a poignant, thought-provoking and important part of the calendar year.” The ceremony contained readings and the Last Post, but there was one particular element that made it all the
“THE CCF MARCHING IN THE TOWN PARADE IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR COMMEMORATIONS” David Evans, Loughborough Grammar School
more poignant. Walls says: “Our CCF always works hard to make the occasion very special for students, staff, governors, parents and visitors.” The school had an interesting idea to really bring home the message of the commemorations. After the whole academy had observed the twominute silence, students scattered poppies from the upper balcony to symbolise the fallen. For many CCFs it is also an opportunity to work together and strengthen links with other military organisations in the community. More than 90 cadets and staff from Nottingham High School paraded through Nottingham city centre, alongside the East Midlands University Officer Training Corps (UOTC). The links between the two go back more than 100 years, as both were founded by the same officer and teacher from Nottingham High School. In Loughborough, meanwhile, the Grammar School and High School’s joint CCF contingent of about 280 cadets led part
of the Remembrance parade through town. This CCF has a long history of playing a prominent part in the town’s annual Remembrance event. The two schools have much to remember: during World War I, more than half the grammar school’s students lost their lives. And as recently as 2007, a former high school student was killed in Iraq. “The CCF marching in the town parade is the highlight of our commemorations,” says David Evans, geography teacher and school photographer at the grammar school. “But Remembrance is taken to heart by the school community all year round. Our whole school quadrangle has been dedicated as a war memorial, and wood from the old cherry trees that were chopped down has been designed by a sixth former into 58 plaques – one for each of the pupils who fell in World War I. Each time our students go on a field trip to northern France, they take a few plaques to lay on their graves.” In Oxfordshire, Radley College organised a visual spectacle that could be seen for
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RE M E M B R A N CE
DID YOU KNOW?
You can find more photos at: combined cadetforce.org.uk/ remembrance _gallery miles around. The school’s Remembrance parade concluded with a flypast by a Tiger Moth in World War II colours. As it flew, the plane released poppies over the college’s memorial arches, which commemorate the former pupils lost in World War I. The school’s contingent commander Sqn Ldr Tim Morris, says: “Like many public schools, Radley was hit hard by both world wars, and the Remembrance Sunday parade at Memorial Arch is a major event in the school year. Around 300 parents and friends joined the CCF for this year’s parade; in recent years we have been fortunate that a former cadet parent was able to perform a flypast in his Tiger Moth.” As well as special events to mark the day itself, several schools also spent many months planning and organising visits to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Some 243 cadets and 42 members of staff from Oundle School in Northamptonshire travelled to the Menin Gate in Ypres, where the school’s CCF band played in the Last Post Ceremony in front of over 3,000 people. The group then visited battlefield sites, memorials and cemeteries and laid wreaths on the graves of Old Oundelians. The pupils were accompanied by Oundle head teacher Sarah Kerr-Dineen, who describes the trip as “unforgettable”. “Sorrow and gratitude for all those former pupils who died was mixed with pride in the pupils of today, who behaved with such maturity in registering the sacrifice of their predecessors, many not much older than them,” she says. Here are just a few of the fantastic images that you have shared with us to show the many ways in which your cadets have shown their appreciation of the fallen, and to help inspire other contingents as they plan for this year’s commemorations.
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RE M E M B R A N CE
IN THE PHOTOS: 01 City of London School CCF service was attended by Freemen of the City of London, veterans and students/staff of the school 02 Hele’s School CCF on parade through Plympton 03 Thomas Deacon Academy CCF cadets took centre stage at their event 04 Trinity School Croydon banner bearers for their Remembrance parade
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05 Stowe School’s CCF paraded for the inspection of Major General Peter Williams CMG OBE, who delivered the address at the subsequent Chapel Service 06 Hurstpierpoint College RSM Jack Court marching with the CCF Standard 07 King’s College Wimbledon preparing for parade - Chief Petty Officer Steve Legge RN, helping cadets 08 Victoria College CCF at the Jersey Island Parade and Service at the Cenotaph in St Helier
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09 Nottingham High School joined the Remembrance Parade through Nottingham City Centre 10 Alleyn’s School CCF at Dulwich Chapel
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UNIFORM
OFFICER MALE #1 DRESS
OFFICER FEMALE #1 DRESS
OFFICER MALE #2 (FULL) SD
FIND OUT MORE
Visit the CCF website for a downloadable poster with uniform tips
RAF UNIFORM
Inspecting uniforms can be one of the trickiest aspects of formal parades – especially if the cadets and adults are not from your service
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n part two of our series on uniforms, Connected highlights the key things to know about the Air Cadet Dress Regulations (AP1358C) to help you get ready for a formal parade or inspection.
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CADET MALE #2 SD
UNIFORM TIPS
OFFICERS #1 SD The uniform worn for ceremonial duties or parades. ESSENTIALS Brown service-issue leather gloves to be worn when on parade, unless white cotton gloves are required for specific ceremonial purposes. The style of the jacket shouldn’t be altered by ironing in pleats or creases. Sleeves should only be lightly pressed, using a damp cloth, to iron out lateral creases; this is best achieved using a sleeve board. Trousers are to be worn with pressed-in creases, front and back, for the full length of each leg. Female officers may wear issued #1 SD skirt or trousers. Service-issue court shoes can be worn only with the skirt and never for marching duties.
OFFICERS & CADETS #2 SD The routine working dress uniform for officers. ESSENTIALS Officers should wear #1 SD hat (peak cap) or optional field service cap – never a beret. Long-sleeved Wedgwood blue shirt and black tie can be worn with or without jersey. 2B (short-sleeved) dress uniform is worn without a tie.
OFFICER FEMALE #2B
CADET FEMALE #2 (FULL) SD
Cadets also wear #2 SD for certain occasions, including parades. However, they are only permitted to wear longsleeved shirts (with or without jumper). Female cadets may wear skirts or slacks.
CADETS #2C The standard working dress for cadets. ESSENTIALS A tie is never worn with #2C uniform. Sleeves may be rolled up above the elbow. Brassard should be outside the turnup of the sleeve. Shirt collar is to be unbuttoned and, if in jumper, worn outside the jumper neck. Grey or RAF stable belt may be worn by any rank.
HEADDRESS Beret badge should be above the left eye, beret band 25mm above the eyebrows, with excess material shaped to pull down over the right ear. Personnel of Sikh religion are permitted to wear turbans of approved Service pattern and colour. The cap badge should be fitted centrally. Muslim female personnel may wear hijabs of the approved pattern and colour under their uniform headdress, except when training or health and safety conditions dictate otherwise. Male Jewish personnel may wear a dark plain patterned yarmulke whenever service headdress is removed. Officers are not permitted to wear a beret except in MTP/DPM.
CADET FEMALE #2C
CADET MALE #2C
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PHOTO COMPETITION
WINNERS CADETS 01: Mehreen Khalil, Bradford Grammar School
ADULTS 01: Myles Ripley, Sedbergh School
RUNNERS UP
01 WINNER
01 WINNER
02 RUNNER UP
02 RUNNER UP
03 RUNNER UP
03 RUNNER UP
CADETS 02: Charlotte Mason, Writhlington School 03: James Owen, Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College
ADULTS 02: James Grime, Lancing College 03: Henry Fairwood, Barnard Castle School
BEST OF THE REST CADETS 04: Katie Patchett, Brentwood School 05: Reed Webb, Warminster School 06: Samuel Shackleton, Queen Mary’s Grammar School
ADULTS 04: William Knight, Brentwood School 05: Laura Peil, Tudor Grange 06: Zeta Flemming, Brentwood School
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PHOTO COMPETITION
WINNERS
ACTION SHOTS
More than 40 schools sent in entries for the inaugural CCF photography competition
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he theme of the first national CCF photo competition was ‘Adventure in the CCF’. We received a range of fantastic entries from instructors and cadets from more than 40 schools. The photos were judged by a triservice panel of representatives from Regional Command and CCF RN HQ, and the ACO Corps photographer. The winners each collected £300 of photography vouchers, while the runners up got £100. Myles Ripley, winner in the adult category, said of his image: “This was taken at the top of Malham Cove with a couple of Silver DofE expeditioners. They were keen to take a photo at this spot, because of the link to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part of which was filmed there.”
THE WINNERS ARE: Adult category: Myles Ripley, Sedbergh School, Cumbria Adult runners up: James Grime from Lancing College, West Sussex, and Henry Fairwood, Barnard Castle School, County Durham Cadet winner: Mehreen Khalil, Bradford Grammar School Cadet runners up: Cadet Charlotte Mason from Writhlington School, Somerset, and Cadet James Owen from Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College, Leicestershire The judges were impressed by the quality of the entries, and would like to encourage a wider range of schools to enter this year’s competition. Now is the time to start thinking about what you could enter to be in with a chance of winning.
CREATE A PHOTO WA LL
Why not create a photo wall in your school dedicated to cadet activities? Encourage cadets to take photos during your parades and camps to populate this wall. It might even provide you with some entries for the 2017 CCF photo competition.
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COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 19
FE ATURE
THE CEP SCHOOLS
IN THE NEXT ISSUE More from CEP schools as they look towards annual camp
Rockwood Academy is one of the latest schools to join the Cadet Expansion Programme
ROCKWOOD ACADEMY
importantly, for many it will be their first night away from home.” The camp is close enough to the children’s homes that anyone who gets severely homesick can go home easily. It is also preparing them for longer camps ahead, adds Gary, who is also deputy commandant, soon to be commandant, at Shropshire ACF. His advice to other newly-established CCFs
R
ockwood Academy’s first ever CCF parade was a great success. “The cadets enjoyed it and we put on a range of activities for potential cadets… that generated enthusiasm throughout the academy,” says Lt Col Gary Newbrook, the Birmingham school’s contingent commander. “We have 30 cadets at the moment –
we’re capped because it’s our first year as a
20 CONNECTED SPRING 2017
is simple: focus on getting the foundations CEP school – but we could double that quite
right and the rest will follow.He adds that
easily already. There are people coming to
the staff delivering the training get to know
us because they see the activities the cadets
the cadets quickly, and are best placed to
participate in and recognise that the CCF
understand the training that they need. “We
offers fantastic opportunities.
stick to the training programme, regardless of
“The next big thing on our agenda is
what is going on outside,” he says.
spending a weekend with 6 Rifles of the
museum. The cadets will also do a variety
“PEOPLE RECOGNISE THAT THE CCF OFFERS FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITIES”
of activities, including range work but, most
Lt Col Gary Newbrook
Army Reserve in Shrewsbury to learn more about its history and to visit the regimental
M E E T T H E CE P S CH O O L S
ROCKWOOD CADETS AND INSTRUCTORS HAVE THEIR SAY “I saw the assembly they did about the CCF and I joined because I thought it sounded really cool. I like that you get the opportunity to travel and learn lots of different things.” Anisa Year 8
Commodore Bob Fancy has been involved at the formal launches for some of the new CEP schools, pictured here at the Charter Academy CCF launch
“I really like the camouflage lesson. We had to work in pairs, learn how to put on camouflage cream and hide each other. The hardest part is drill. You have to focus, and we spend a long time working on it.” Bishr Year 8 “It was really competitive to join. We had to write about why we wanted to join and they picked the top 30 people. Lots more people wanted to join. Next year another year group will join, which is cool as we will have the opportunity to lead them and have responsibility.” Azaan Year 8 “I get approached two or three times a week by other year groups interested in joining... I think it will definitely grow in the future; lots of the kids are keen to get involved.” Anthony Chwalinski (SSI)
ST THOMAS MORE UPDATE
A
t the end of autumn two busloads of 15 and 16 year olds from St Thomas More School in Bladon, Tyne and Wear, joined a group of teenagers from their CCF partner school to try out heavy machine guns, tactical training and PT Royal Marines-style. “It was a taster session for next year’s
simulating a rapid casualty evacuation. This was followed by a team tactical training exercise with laser rifles that culminated in cadets attacking an “enemy” in a bunker. “The last part was leadership training which included a couple of challenges.” One was the proverbial minefield, with one cadet guiding four other blindfolded cadets out of the ‘minefield’ using only voice commands.
potential senior cadets,” says WO2 Mark
The second task saw cadets moving
Stuckey of the Royal Marines Youth Team.
medicalsupplies across a ‘ravine’ using a
“The group had a good mix of boys and girls
bunch of ropes and carabiners.
and people with and without previous cadet or military experience.” The first of four activities was the chance
“In both cases I printed out the instructions in military NATO sequence, gave cadets five minutes to read and understand
to try out some of the weapons used by the
them, and then watched to see who came
RM, albeit not necessarily by RM cadets.
to the fore and what their planning and
“They got their hands on heavy machine
leadership potential will be.”
guns and various rifles,” says Mark. Next was a PT session which, like most such
Over the winter the teenagers who committed to the cadets began their training
exercises in the RM, focused on the practical
with the RM to prepare them to start training
application of good fitness: a stretcher race
junior cadets this May, he says.
COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 21
T E A M B UIL D IN G
COMMAND AND LEADERSHIP THREE DIVERTING TASKS GUARANTEED TO BUILD INTEREST, ENTHUSIASM AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR CADETS TASK 1
TASK 2
TASK 3
MINI BRIDGES
DESCRIPTIVE POWER
TOWER CHALLENGE
Equipment: Old newspapers, sticky tape, scissors, weights (for example, bags of coins) Time: 20-30 minutes Where: Works best indoors Aim: Construct a bridge capable of supporting weight Benefits: Planning, cooperation, careful use of resources Instructions and results: In small teams, cadets must design and construct a model bridge, at least 30cm long and 15cm off the ground, which must be free-standing and support weight. Limited resources (one newspaper, 1.5m sticky tape) mean the teams must plan carefully. Cadets who launch straight in tend to run short of resources and fail to produce something that can bear weight. MAKE IT EASIER: Allocate more resources to each team. MAKE IT HARDER: Reduce time, or make teams bigger (more diplomacy required).
22 CONNECTED SPRING 2017
Equipment: Blindfolds, lots of different pairs of objects (these could be anything you like: stationery, fruit, pieces of MTa kit – be creative) Time: 5-10 minutes Where: Indoors or outdoors Benefits: Communication Instructions: Cadets sit in a circle, blindfolded. Each cadet is handed one item by the instructor, with the other identical item being handed to someone else in the circle. With their blindfolds in place, cadets must try to work out what the object is, and then identify who has the same item, so they end up sitting in pairs. MAKE IT EASIER: Show the group the items beforehand. MAKE IT HARDER: Use lots of similar-shaped items: for example, a pair of apples, a pair of pomegranates, a pair of pears.
Equipment: Activity kit such as an MTa learning kit Time: 15 minutes Where: Indoors or a flat surface outdoors Aim: Construct the highest possible free-standing tower Benefits: Logic, engineering skills Instructions: It doesn’t matter too much what equipment the cadets have, as long as each team has the same. The challenge is to build something self-supporting that doesn’t collapse under its own weight. The best teams work out that triangles are generally a strong shape to build into the base. If using MTa kits, cadets will also benefit from correctly using the locking plates to stop pieces sliding out of place. MAKE IT EASIER: Provide longer pieces and more of them. MAKE IT HARDER: Limit the number of joining pieces (nuts, bolts, locking plates) available.
1
DID YOU KNOW?
Our updated website includes a command task resource bank
2
3 COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 23
HOW TO
HOW TO
MAKE A CLAIM Discover how to use the remuneration function in Westminster to claim back volunteer allowance
T
he remuneration function in Westminster allows CFAVs to claim volunteer allowance (VA) and Home to Duty Travel (HTD). It is already in use by the ACF and there has been positive feedback from users. Not only has the remuneration function made making claims quicker, but it has also reduced the amount of administration required at contingent level to approve claims. All VA claims will be linked to events and courses that are run on Westminster. Each event is set up with the number of VA days claimable. At the end of the event, CFAVs will
be able to log in to Westminster and make their VA claims. The process is quick and cuts out the need for paper pay sheets. The remuneration function now also allows CFAVs to track and manage their VA and HTD claims. Since February 2016, CCF contingents in 7 Inf Brigade have been using the remuneration system in Westminster. Most remaining CCF contingents started moving to the new system at the beginning of 2017, and will be using the remuneration function fully from 1 April with the exception of CCF (RAF) personnel, who will continue to use their current system.
Claiming VA and HTD for your events and courses is now quicker and easier
HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK?
1
The event director creates the event on Westminster
6
CFAVs will receive their remuneration
24 CONNECTED SPRING 2017
2 5
CFAVs attend the event
Contingent HQ approves the claim and submits details through the Joint Personnel Administration system (JPA)
3
The event director updates the event to confirm attendance
4
This allows CFAVs to log on to Westminster and make a claim
HOW TO
T R A I N I NG Regional Command will offer a range
remuneration function. It takes less than
can read how to guides in the Westminster
of training to help people get started.
an hour to complete.
Knowledgebase. To access them, click on
Some training will be aimed at specific roles. Maj Anthony Shallow, SO3 (ICT)
Help in the Defence Gateway.
ONLINE APPROVAL TRAINING COURSE An online training course is being created
WESTMINSTER TRAINING ENVIRONMENT
CFAV TRAINING
and will be ready soon for contingent
The Westminster training environment
We have developed an online training
commanders and SSIs. Once you have
is available now to all users. Note that
package for CFAVs, which is located in
completed your training you can use the
the training environment gives all users
the Defence Learning Environment.
Westminster training environment to
the “paid rank” of captain so that
This short course is designed to train
familiarise yourself with the Remuneration
you can also create non-standard
and inform all CFAVs how to use the
Functions. In the run-up to the release you
claims in training.
Cadets, explains.
R E M U N E R AT I O N
1
Remuneration icon on Westminster homepage
2
3
My remuneration claims screen
Remuneration options in Westminster
GET IN TOUCH
Email us at ccfmarketing@armycadets.com and let us know what you think of Westminster. Tell us if you’re struggling to get to grips with anything, or are frustrated by any sections, and we’ll make sure we cover those in a future How To in Connected.
COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 25
NOTICEBOARD UPDATES FROM HQ REGIONAL COMMAND
C O M M I S S I O N U P D AT E
A PROPER COMMISSION FOR THE CADET FORCES THE CONTRIBUTION OF VOLUNTEERS TO THE CADET FORCES IS BEING RECOGNISED WITH A BESPOKE COMMISSION, SAYS BRIGADIER (RETD) MIKE WHARMBY OBE ACOS CCF
O
ne of the more important reforms in 2017 will be the introduction of the Cadet Forces Commission. In reality, this is not as big a change as you might think. In the past few years we have been working with colleagues in the RN and RAF cadet worlds to see how we can make things easier for all our volunteers. One of the most complex areas for volunteers in the CCF has been the commission and the myriad rules, regulations and procedures that come with it. Last summer, HM The Queen graciously approved in principle the creation of a new Cadet Forces Commission, the first new commission created for a century. Why is that important to our volunteers? Because the commission will recognise the
“THE COMMISSION STARTS IN APRIL FOR NEWLY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS”
26 CONNECTED SPRING 2017
contribution that our volunteers make as leaders in a military-themed national youth organisation. In addition, we now have the opportunity to write the ‘rules of the club’ that best suit the needs of the cadet forces. The policies that will underpin the new commission are still being written but there are some key messages. Firstly, the Cadet Forces Commission is not a second-rate commission or any reduction in the status of cadet officers who hold it. CCF RN, Army and RAF officers will still be appointed by the sovereign as they are now. The new commission will help to strengthen the links between the CCF service sections. Their parent services will better understand the unique roles and responsibilities of cadet force officers. Cadet officers will retain their MoD 90, and yes – they will still be allowed in the officers’ mess on military bases! The Cadet Forces Commission is the opportunity to simplify and
standardise the regulations for cadet force officers. This will mean that they can be contained in the relevant cadet force regulations and manuals rather than being tied to elements of Queen’s regulations for the regular and reserve forces. The Cadet Forces Commission will be unique to the cadet forces, emphasising that cadet force officers are not members of the armed forces, but very much an important part of the wider defence community. Importantly, officers who have previously been subject to the Armed Forces Act (CCF Army and CCF RAF) will no longer be subject to the Act, reconciling a position which has long seemed to place an inappropriate burden on volunteers, and bringing all cadet forces in to the same position. The Cadet Forces Commission starts in April for newly commissioned officers. More information will be published as policies become clearer. Log on to the Defence Gateway to find out more.
N O TI CE B OA RD
HOW TO
Co-operate with community cadets page 30
IN BRIEF
AWA R D S
CELEBRATING MEDAL WINNERS RANK
INITIALS
SURNAME
SCHOOL
THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS WERE AWARDED THE CADET FORCES MEDAL IN AUTUMN SCHOOL RANK INITIALS2016 SURNAME LT LT(CCF)
GA SJH
BRYANT YETMAN
St Lawrence College CCF, Kent Royal Grammar School (Guildford)
THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE 4TH CLASP TO CADET FORCES MEDAL LT LT
PH RL
BRISTER STOCKTON
The Kings School CCF, Grantham, Lincs Victoria College CCF, Jersey
THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE 3RD CLASP TO CADET FORCES MEDAL LT LT COL LT COL
PH MP RL
BRISTER STEAD STOCKTON
The Kings School CCF, Grantham, Lincs Harrow School CCF Victoria College CCF, Jersey
THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE 2ND CLASP TO CADET FORCES MEDAL LT LT COL
PH RL
BRISTER STOCKTON
The Kings School CCF, Grantham, Lincs Victoria College CCF, Jersey
THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE 1ST CLASP TO CADET FORCES MEDAL LT CAPT LT CAPT
PH JL M TEB
BRISTER KIGGELL ROBERTS WORRALL
The Kings School CCF, Grantham, Lincs Sevenoaks School CCF The Kings School CCF, Grantham, Lincs King Edward VI School CCF Essex
IN FUTURE ISSUES WE WILL BE PUBLISHING DETAILS OF THESE AWARDS FROM THE PREVIOUS FEW MONTHS
The headteachers’ conference provides a forum for discussion, with all Services represented
NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR REGIONAL COMMAND Regional Command has recently made a number of new appointments. Veronica Stauton-Lambert has joined as the new SO2 CCF. Paul Crossman and Mark Osborne have come into roles as SO2 and SO1 CCF Modernisation respectively. HEADTEACHERS’ CONFERENCE The next headteachers’ conference will take place on 2 March 2017 at RAF Cosford. See the inside front cover of this issue of Connected for more details, and make sure you book your place. NEW YEAR’S HONOURS LIST A huge congratulations to Captain Verna Jacqueline Burrell-Taylor (Charterhouse CCF) who was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list.
COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 27
N O TI CE B OA RD
APPOINTMENT
INTRODUCING THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE COL (RET’D) MURDO URQUHART OBE IS THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CCFA AND ACFA. CONNECTED SPEAKS TO HIM ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE AND HIS AMBITIONS FOR THE ROLE
T
HE NEW CHIEF executive of the CCFA and ACFA is Col (Ret’d) Murdo Urquhart, OBE, who spent 37 years in the Army, including operational service in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Sudan. Both of his sons were in the CCF with the Royal Marines Section of King’s College in Taunton. “My last post in the Army was at HQ, where I was the most senior serving regular officer totally focused on cadets,” he says. “It was a role I sought out because whenever I visited cadets I came away uplifted. What impressed me was what the adult volunteers were doing to help young people, many from challenging backgrounds, to develop.” The biggest challenge facing adult volunteers today is balancing the conflicting demands of their primary careers, their family
28 CONNECTED SPRING 2017
commitments and their commitment to cadets, he says. “These are three substantial sets of responsibilities, not least because the 24-7 nature of work means that people are often answering emails well into the evening and at weekends, which puts extra pressure on domestic and volunteering commitments. “There is nothing that the CCFA can do directly to ease this but what we can do, and strive to do, is represent the interests of adult volunteers.” Murdo explains that he thinks of the cadet hierarchy as a pyramid, but one that is balancing on its tip rather than on its base. “If you think of it that way the responsibility of the Government, the MOD and the single services is to support the adult volunteers above them rather than to push policies and direction down to the base.”
C A D E T E XPA NSI O N PR O G R A M M E
CADET UNIT UPDATE 25 new cadet units in schools have just been approved in the most recent round of the CEP. 19 of these will be CCFs, five with RN sections, one with an RM section, 10 with Army sections and three with RAF sections. Five schools will start MSSC units, and one will establish an ACF linked detachment. This round has included schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Schools up and down the country are celebrating the launch of new CCF units
N O TI CE B OA RD
TRAINING
Adult Instructors pilot scheme COURSE
THE CONTINGENT COMMANDERS’ BRIEF THE CONTINGENT COMMANDERS’ BRIEF IS A NEW ONE-DAY COURSE AT CTC FRIMLEY THAT ALL CCF CONTINGENT COMMANDERS WOULD BENEFIT FROM ATTENDING, SAYS LT COL ALISTAIR MACK, SO1 CCF, CADETS BRANCH
W
hen offered the role of contingent commander many questions can go through the mind of the individual. Am I good enough? Will the headteacher back me up? How will it affect my career? What is a delivery duty holder and how does this new responsibility affect me? The answers will not always be to hand, which is why we have developed the new Contingent Commanders’ Brief. The aim of the brief is to introduce prospective contingent commanders to their roles and responsibilities to equip them for future employment. In an ideal world, you would attend the brief before assuming full responsibilities. The reality is, however, that you are likely to attend in your first months when you need to pause and reflect on your strengths and shortfalls. You are learning alongside officers from all the services and
ranks. It’s a valuable opportunity to be briefed on key developments, to explore important issues in a supportive, non-assessed learning environment and to network with likeminded CCF officers. External speakers are carefully selected contingent commanders who share their experiences, frustrations and successes on a range of subjects, including: Building and maintaining relations with the Senior Management Team Building Cadet Force Adult Volunteer capability Working with a School Staff Instructor Working with a Cadet Training Team Managing problems Supporting brigade summer central camps If you are interested in taking the course, discuss further with your Cadet Training Team.
T
O SUPPORT CCFs in the recruitment and retention of CFAVs, the Army is piloting a scheme to introduce uniformed adult NCO volunteers into the Army Sections for the first time. These will be known as Adult Instructors (AIs). Three year-long pilots were launched in September 2016 and the plan is to have the scheme, and a bespoke training package for AIs, in use across CCF (Army) sections by December 2017. The headteacher will remain responsible for identifying suitable volunteers. Factors such as attitude, commitment, qualification and experience, as well as health and fitness, should be taken into account. There are no specific nationality requirements as long as the applicant has the right to live and work in the UK. All applicants are required to successfully undergo an enhanced disclosure and barring service check (or Scotland/ Northern Ireland equivalent). It will be up to each school whether to recruit AIs. As things stand, Army funding will not increase but contingents will be much better placed to balance their CFAV manning according to their needs and volunteer availability. What will not change is the discrete, contingent-wide role of the SSI – nor will the importance of the cadet NCOs be diminished.
The project will look at ways of reducing the training burden on volunteers
COMBINEDCADETFORCE.ORG.UK 29
HOW TO
HOW TO
Co-operate with community cadets
King Edward VI Grammar School CCF and Ormiston Maritime Academy CCF parading with local ATC, ACF and SCC units
Army and Navy cadets from St Dunstan’s College CCF visiting their local ATC, 1921 (Lewisham) Squadron
Working together can be a win-win situation
T
here are lots of practical reasons for cadet organisations to work together, whether they’re community-based or school contingents, according to Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, Commandant Air Cadets. “One is simply resource-driven,” she says. “If you’ve
got a shortage of volunteers, then sharing resources
to community units, she says a good first step is
is just a practical way forward, whether that’s staff
to simply find out where they are by contacting
resource, equipment or access to facilities.”
your local Wing (or other service) headquarters,
But there are also reasons beyond the practical,
and get in touch. You could suggest an initial
which have more to do with breaking down social
meeting to discuss ways to work together. She
barriers and promoting inclusion. “Working together
adds: “I think once they get together and realise
gets cadets from all different backgrounds to mix,”
they’re in it for the same thing, which is to deliver
Dawn says. “There’s still a tendency to see the two
a better cadet experience for the young people
two types of cadets as separate, but while they might
we’re responsible for, it’s then a matter of finding
have different perspectives or backgrounds, they share
out what each party has to offer the other.”
a common passion, which is to be a cadet, to go flying
Much of the co-operation will come down to
(in the case of my cadets), and possibly to join the
the personality and willingness of individuals,
armed forces.”
and there may be practical barriers to working
She acknowledges that the two types of cadets
together, such as distance or differing parade
don’t traditionally mix, but this is a culture she’s
times. But, “the culture I want to foster is one
working to change among the ATC and CCF (RAF),
of mutual co-operation in the interests of the
with a specific objective in her strategy to encourage
cadets,” Dawn says. With that in mind, there can’t
mutual cooperation where possible. She points
be any harm in trying.
WORKING TOGETHER
What CCFs and community cadet units can offer each other SENIOR CADETS It can be difficult for CCFs to develop senior cadets, because they often have less time for in-depth training, but community cadets might stay on until they are 19 or 20 and have access to lots of leadership training. If a CCF is looking for an older cadet to run activities or act as a role model, there may be a local cadet who could help and those cadets can count it towards their DofE volunteering section. CEREMONIAL TRAINING Have a drill competition coming up? Perhaps local community cadets could lend you their drill Warrant Officer. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT If your school has space for fieldcraft activities, offer it to a community unit for a weekend. Even better, set up a joint event.
out that there are a number of volunteers who hold positions in both kinds of cadet forces and some super-keen cadets who parade with both, which shows that there are some areas where the two are well integrated. In terms of advice for CCFs looking to reach out
30 CONNECTED SPRING 2017
FIND OUT MORE
For more tips from Air Commodore McCafferty, visit www.combinedcadetforce.org.uk/community_cooperation
THE MAGAZINE FOR INSTRUCTORS OF THE COMBINED CADET FORCE
CONNECTED
N EX T ISSUE NEXT ISSUE: UNIFORM HINTS AND TIPS REPORT FROM THE HEADTEACHERS’ CONFERENCE MORE FROM THE CEP SCHOOLS PREPARING FOR ANNUAL CAMP AND MORE