Combined Cadet Force

CCF Biennial Inspection

Group Captain M G Evans, Chief of Staff, Air Cadets, at Cranwell inspects the Guard of Honour outside Goodacre’s House.

ROYAL NAVY SECTION

1.   The Section continues to have a healthy number of cadets opting to stay on and the recruitment of 20, mainly in the Fourth Form, gives us a strength of 35 . In October the CCF ran a joint training weekend for the new recruits where we were able to teach a mix of RN topics and drill alongside joint activities such as movement and sound at night and shooting. This proved to be an enjoyable activity-packed weekend.

2.   In December, after the end of term, I took 7 cadets to Portsmouth for a Sea Day. We flew from Edinburgh to Gatwick but a 2 hour delay meant a late arrival but we did get fed! The cadets spent the Tuesday at sea aboard HMS Brocklesby, which is a mine countermeasures vessel, meeting members of the crew, seeing how and where they live and steering the vessel around the Isle of Wight.

3.   This term has been quiet for the Section with 19 cadets having passed their A.B. test and most have either passed or improved their shooting qualifications. A.B. Claire Peacock has recently shot for Scotland in an International postal competition. Scotland A won it and Claire scored 97 and 98 out of 100 on her two cards. Well done!

 

ARMY SECTION

1. Having successfully demonstrated section battle drills and ambushes with great elan on the Biennial Inspection on 7 May, attention has now switched to CCF Central Camp at Wathgill. With 22 boys and 6 girls attending this is the most encouraging sign of sustained interest for a very long time and the greater numbers will also help reinforce confidence in the team competition aspects of the camp. Scenes opposite from our last visit to Wathgill in 2006 show that with even half that number we were enjoying ourselves and competing well in all the events, particularly the march and shoot. We have now issued an enormous amount of new kit from day sacs to windproof smocks and with the newly improved Tam o'Shanter distributed all round, smartness and professionalism are the order of the day. Camp will be a busy event and in view of those who have returned from the 2006 visit, we know that Wathgill will be the place to be in early July.

2. After camp Robert Page will be attending the Cadet Leadership Course at Frimley Park, along with Jack Glen from the RAF Section; Rory Gissing from the RAF Section will attend the course after that. These courses are a thorough preparation for all manner of careers and we hope that all three cadets show what Glenalmond can produce in a very testing week. Next year we look forward to more cadets coming forward for these excellent courses.

3. On the shooting front our full-bore team took part in the CCF Match on 18 May at Barry Buddon, as seen opposite. With many young cadets competing for the first time we did not quite make the leader boards but the promise is there for the future and with more practice our hopes for Bisley are high. Glenalmond has long had a tradition of successful competition shooting and those taking part today have the full and active support of the OG Shooting Club. This year four cadets are remaining at Bisley for the Imperial Meeting after the Ashburton and this reflects well on the level of dedication shown by the team.

ROYAL AIR FORCE SECTION

1. Seven cadets from the RAF section attended camp summer camp at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.  Despite the awful summer weather, the cadets enjoyed a varied programme, which included being airlifted by Chinook into the training area at Bramley for the night exercise.  The cadets also enjoyed the day out on the High Ropes Confidence Course, which tested the nerves of all the cadets and adults!  Given the Chinook Wing’s high profile role in Afghanistan, it was no surprise that we were given a very interesting insight into the Chinook’s vital battlefield support role in theatre.  This included some fascinating footage taken by aircrew in support of the Parachute Regiment’s deployment on Op Herrick in Helmund Province.  

2. The RAF section recruited well in September and some 20 new cadets were inducted into the section.  We still have excellent flying opportunities, and in the Michaelmas term 22 cadets were able to have an air experience flight in the Grob Tutor at RAF Leuchars.  Jonathan Brewster attended a Gliding Scholarship Course at RM Condor in Arbroath over the summer and gained his blue gliding wings – well done to him.  We have learned that Cadet Corporal Fraser Bodie has been awarded a coveted spot on the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme.  This is 12 hours of flying training either with the RAF or with Tayside Aviation.  This will go a considerable way towards his Private Pilot’s Licence. 

3. Cadet Warrant Officer Tony Dent returned to RAF Cranwell in February in order to attend the annual Air Cadet Music Camp.  Tony is an accomplished saxophonist and he enjoyed the event so much last year, that he applied to return this year!   Ten RAF cadets recently completed a Heartstart Emergency Life Support Course.  This is an initiative run by the British Heart Foundation.  We were lucky to have the assistance of our Training, Evaluation and Support Team (TEST) in the form of Sergeant Mark Pearson from RAF Leuchars, who is a trained paramedic.  Mark received an RAF commendation in July 2007 for carrying out resuscitation on a man who had collapsed whilst out hill walking in the Lake District.  The man survived and owed his survival to Sgt Pearson.  We were very grateful that he could pass on his knowledge and experience to our cadets.  Surely everyone should know how to save a life?

4. Several of our cadets have been across to RAF Leuchars to fire the cadet GP rifle on the 25m range there.  The cadets appreciate being able to put into practice all the drills that they have learned during training periods, and they are always pleasantly surprised to discover that these drills actually do work for real!   We are well supported by the range staff and armourers at RAF Leuchars, and we are grateful for all the support we receive from our parent station.

5. Looking ahead, we will be gearing up for our Biennial Inspection in May, when we will be visited by a senior RAF officer.  In July ten boys and girls, along with Sqn Ldr Gardner will be attending summer camp at RAF Cottesmore, which is the home of the Joint Harrier Force.  We are very much looking forward to this, which is definitely the highlight of the year for us.   The RAF section has much to offer air-minded boys and girls, so why not come and give it a try?

 

ADVENTUROUS TRAINING - TULLOCH WINTER SKILLS

1. Five boys, representing all three sections, spent six days of February half term on a winter mountaineering course based at Tulloch near Spean Bridge. There was plenty of action and some magnificent views of the Cairngorms, Aonach Mor and Ardverickie Forest, with the conquest of three Munroes and a particularly satisfying snow hole trip to Coire Domhain. We even had a close view of a Chinook doing aerobatics and visited the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge. The food was pretty good too.

2. The cost of this training at a national centre such as Glenmore Lodge would have been about £500 plus travel. Individual costs were just £15, including travel. As with Army Central Camp, it seems that very few Glenalmond pupils want to take up the challenges offered by the CCF which can benefit them in so many ways in later life. The reason is certainly not the cost.

3rd Form Adventure Camp Inverness 08