Expedition Weekend: from Teamwork and Training to a ‘Leap of Faith’
Last weekend saw CCF Cadets and Duke of Edinburgh Awards pupils head out on expedition across the country.
CCF RAF Section
The RAF Section travelled to Wales for the Autumn Field Trip in Brecon. On the first evening new cadets received a presentation and quiz from senior cadets, covering essential information about the Royal Air Force. On the Friday, Cadets spent the morning under the Black Mountains, squeezing through a range of varying size gaps by participating in caving, before donning wetsuits for gorge-walking above ground in the afternoon sunshine. Both adventurous activities promoted and facilitated teamwork and leadership skills among the group at the start of the school year.
Section lead, Pilot Officer Webster said: “The trip was hugely successful with the cadets engaging in adventurous activity. Receiving compliments from the Centre’s staff – quote, ‘the best group we’ve ever had’! – they were a credit to both the School and to the CCF.”
Pilot Officer Webster
CCF Naval Section
The Naval Section travelled to Top Barn to experience the challenges of raft building, archery, climbing and the ‘Leap of Faith’. The raft builds were some of the best we have made but still were very difficult to steer. In Archery, it is safe to say, I think that none of the Cadets would have made it into Robin Hood’s band but we all had a good go. The climbing and Leap of Faith were done with great success as indeed was the Night Exercise ‘Shaken not stirred’. Here the cadets had to escape the attention of the chasers as they scurried around the grounds of RGS The Grange, finding pieces of a map that in the end would reveal a famous landmark that terrorists were threatening!
Cdr Shorrocks
CCF Army Section
On a calm, sunny afternoon, 29 Army cadets headed to the Nesscliff Training Area. As the sun began to set, the cadets divided into three sections and, with maps in hand, made their way to what could loosely be described as a campsite. Each section set up their side of a triangular harbour, pitching their bashas between the trees. As the light faded, Cadets prepared their evening meal and settled in for the night.
The next day, training began early with the sunrise. The cadets followed a rota of lessons that included orienteering to assess the local area, orders, map construction, camouflage and concealment, hand signals, day and night movement techniques, and various types of crawl. These lessons, delivered by the senior cadets, were designed to prepare the new Year Ten recruits for the upcoming night exercise: a reconnaissance mission to gather information on an enemy location without being detected.
After a hearty evening meal (ration pack), the recruits received orders at the pre-constructed map. Following rehearsals, the cadets set out under the cover of darkness for a two-hour reconnaissance. While they generally maintained stealth, they did have to avoid the occasional “herd of night elephants.” The strategic use of smoke grenades helped cover their movement.
With the reconnaissance successfully completed, the cadets earned some well-deserved rest before an early morning ‘bug-out’. Congratulations to the Year Ten recruits for surviving their first two days under a basha, cooking their own meals, and to the senior cadets for providing excellent leadership and instruction throughout the Field Training Exercise, making it a great success.
CCF Contingent Commander Smith
Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Year Ten Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award cohort took part in their first Training Expedition of the year last weekend. Pupils spent two days walking and navigating across 24km of mixed terrain within the Long Mynd area. An overnight camp gave pupils the chance to extend their training by refreshing their campcraft skills. Despite the muddy conditions underfoot, the sun shone across both days and pupils displayed excellent resilience, teamwork and dedication to learning new skills ready for their 3-day practice expedition in March.
Mrs Catherine Rhodes-Jones, Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award Co-ordinator
Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award
A group of 23 students travelled up to Llanrug in the heart of Snowdonia, North Wales to start their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. Their first task was to pitch their tents in the dark, whilst battling some typical North Wales windy conditions! Eventually all succeeded before turning in for the night.
Over the next three days the Lower Sixth students learnt the basics of sea kayaking. They enjoyed paddling at a variety of locations including Llanberis lake, the Menai Straits and the east coast of Anglesey. They learnt how to manoeuvre their sea kayaks, what to do in the event of capsizing, as well as route planning and navigating when on a journey. They gained experience in recognising the impact of tides and currents as well as changing weather conditions, all the while surrounded by some stunning scenery. The students camped throughout, further developing their campcraft as well.
Much fun was had with all returning having mastered the basics – all a little tired from their efforts too! The group will soon start planning their next expeditions taking place in the New Year. Thanks must go to Miss Gill and Mr Holt for giving their time and expertise for the trip.
Mr Gwilym Batchelder, Head of Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award
