CCF On Adventure Mode
Last week, the Royal Navy section of the CCF had an amazing opportunity to visit the HMS Queen Elizabeth as part of a Royal Navy outreach day.
They were given a tour of the ship, including the Ops Room, Flight Deck, and accommodation – yes, there really are only four showers between 80 people (the saving grace being that not all 80 people are on the same watch!).
They also had the chance to try their hand at using fire hoses on the Upper Deck and to find out about the many career opportunities in the Royal Navy, including the Royal Marines, submariners, and reserves. A clear highlight for some was the press up competition in the Hanger, with the reward of a goody bag, or the 60kg weight drag, which is one of the fitness tests for Naval applications. Many thanks to the RN for a great afternoon.
This was swiftly followed by the Tri-Service CCF Autumn Camp which saw 105 cadets from PGS depart these shores for MOD Jersey Camp, Isle of Wight. The camp was designed to give the 51 Year 9s an introduction to basic military fieldcraft, for the Years 10-11 to continue with their single Service training and for the Year 12-13s to instruct.
After an initial daylight orienteering exercise, to find their bearings, a rotation of instructional stances began, from how to eat from a ration pack to how to put up a ‘basher’. The weather on the Saturday was sunny and mild, which the Year 10-11s took advantage of by being introduced to the joys of Cadet Field Gun running. At dusk a night-time orienteering competition was held, much to the cadet’s delight. The Sunday saw grey skies and splashes of rain. Basic military tactics were taught, including how to patrol, how to set up a harbour and setting an ambush. As well as this there were demonstrations upon how to recognise parts of a rifle and how to use a sling. Probably the most fun element of the day was playing laser quest in the woods with their newly taught basic infantry skills. By evening the heavens opened, so it was perfect timing to test the basher building. Some were successful, some were not!
The following day saw weary eyed Year 9s determined to eat their rations in the rain and the post camp admin began as we cleared the site before the welcomed sight of the coaches arriving.
A big thank you to the staff involved for their hard work and dedication over the weekend, especially Mr Sheldrick who planned the majority of the exercise and to the pupils for their resilience over the weekend.
