Always a popular co-curricular choice, the Combined Cadet Forces enjoy two days off the College site, to participate in various activities from climbing and bouldering, to riding in a chinook helipcopter! Accompanied by Head of Outdoor Education CSgt Steve Macpherson, Lt Cdr Grant Lawson and Fl Off Nick Sexton, the pupils involved had an exciting and informative two days. Thank you to Mr Lawson, Mr Macpherson and Mr Sexton for the following reports:
‘On Wednesday 16 March, cadets involved with the Royal Navy undertook the practical elements needed to complete their proficiency syllabus training. The cadets travelled to Reading Climbing Centre, where they spent the morning learning several climbing skills, including bouldering, group and individual belaying and using the automatic belay wall. The pupils quickly got to grips with the various skills well, and were soon tackling some difficult ascents, impressing the instructor with their enthusiasm and effort. Upon returning to the College, the group spent the afternoon on the Thames. Senior NCO PO Jack Fullerton took charge of instructing the junior cadets in afloat training on board the RN Section’s Cheverton Champ. Skills practised included helming, navigating locks, mooring and coming alongside. The cadets all passed their afloat training test and Jack as a result completed his instruction cadre and will be promoted to Coxswain. The remaining part of the day was spent at Queen Anne’s School pool, where the cadets underwent the final practical test: the Royal Navy swim test. Once again, each of the pupils passed, allowing Year 11 pupils James Davie and Dhanyal Butt to complete their advanced proficiency syllabus and be promoted to Leading Hand, whilst Year 10 student Daniel Anstey passed his basic proficiency, and is therefore being promoted to the rank of AB.
Meanwhile, the army section travelled to Abingdon to use the field training area adjacent to the airfield for their overnight exercise. Arriving just before dark, the cadets set about putting up their shelters in the woodland and then cooking an evening meal of army rations. The cadets then split into small groups and practiced their patrolling skills around the area, with one group using the local Air Training Corps as a target for some close target reconnaissance. It was clearly a successful patrol- they weren’t seen by any of their colleagues in the Air Training Corps! The group then settled down to a night under the stars, preparing for a busy programme the following day. After an early morning (and a struggle to wake up!) everyone was up and going about the business of feeding themselves and packing away their kit. The morning was spent learning and practising section battle drills. This training is the bread and butter of the regular army and what most of the cadets enjoy most. After lunch we had some fun planned in the way of an escape and evasion exercise, with half the group acting as hunter force and the remainder the hunted. We gave the cadets the whole training area to use and an hour to get from the start to the extraction point. The cadets soon realised how difficult it was to move around tactically without being seen, with many being caught and sent back to the start to try again. The second round proved even more difficult, but some managed to find their way to freedom in both rounds! The cadets performed exceptionally well during the field day and were a credit to the school; the external staff from the Cadet Training Team and Army Cadet force were both impressed by the efforts of our cadet...next stop will be the summer camp in Wales!
The RAF cadets headed to RAF Oadiham, home of the mighty Chinook helicopter used to support all three services in combat and peacetime operations. The day started with a tour and photograph of the famous BN - the only Chinook to survive the sinking of the Atlantic Conveyor during the Falklands War. The tour then moved onto the armoury where cadets learned about the weapons used by Chinook personnel to protect themselves in hostile environments. This was followed by learning about protection of another type in the survival school, where pupils found out exactly how warm a ten-man life raft gets in just ten minutes! The highlight was an hour spent flying with 27 squadron-who were hosting the cadets-who showed the group tracts of Hampshire and Surrey at speed from the air. The cadets had a fantastic day, and would like to thank Sgt 'Bones', the ever-enthusiastic host, who also thrashed the Shiplake table football team over lunch in the crew room.’
