Combined Cadet Force (CCF)

At CCF, your child will learn life skills, first aid and map reading, they will also learn soft skills such as leadership, discipline and confidence, all done in a military environment with a military ethos. They will wear a military uniform and attend weekend camps and annual camps all over the United Kingdom, where they will use their newly acquired skills on exercises, rifle ranges and adventure training.

The Adult Volunteers (AVs) in the schools CCF receive professional courses from the British Army, so they will be current and competent in all that they do. It is also compulsory for all AVs to have a disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and to attend a Safeguarding lecture every year, so the welfare of your child is first and foremost in all CCF activities.

The role of CCF AV is not only for The Ferrers School teachers, we are hoping to recruit in the local community too, so if you believe you have skills that can be used or you wish to join the CCF as an AV please contact DAverill@theferrers.org

The exercise consisted of a two day round robin covering military themed subjects such as Navigation, First aid, Fieldcraft (Patrol Skills, Camouflage and Concealment and a Stalk), Weapon Handling and a Paintball Close Quarter Battle Course (CQB). On arrival, school CCF staff re-taught the cadets basher building and cooking in the field. The cadets were put into mixed teams of 12, from all of the different schools and then, after a safety brief, they proceeded to do the round robin.

Paintball:  Cadets were put into teams and moved tactically through the terrain where they met with wooden targets which they had to fire paintballs at. The cadets were camouflaged with local ferns and wore cam cream, they thought this was the best stand.

Weapon Training:  3 members of the Cadet Training Team taught the cadets characteristics, named parts and safety of the air rifle.

Navigation:  The lesson concentrated on the use of compass, bearings and pacing. Once the lesson was taught, there were three practice games for the cadets to hone their compass skills and pacing.

First Aid:  The cadets were taken through DR ABC, resuscitation and CPR.

Patrol Skills:  All cadets were taught how to react to enemy fire and how to make use of cover, then move forward using pairs fire and manoeuvre. They were taught how to camouflage themselves (in pairs) and then proceeded to carry out a stalk (sneak up on someone) without being seen or heard.

The weather on the evening and night was awful, so the cadets were put into a large hanger to administrate themselves and to sleep. During this time, they cooked their own dinner and breakfast under supervision of the CFAVs, played games and met new cadets from other schools.

All in all a very good first exercise, our cadets loved it and wanted more!  They have learnt skills and had experiences that they will never forget, and more importantly, they made new friends from the other three schools.

Moving forward we have a 2 day weapon training weekend in Nottingham and two Remembrance Parades, one in school and another at the cenotaph in Higham Ferrers. We are looking forward to next year where we have more exercises in the planning stage, range days, an annual camp for a week and the older cadets will be starting their Duke Of Edinburgh training.

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) was established in 1948 and incorporated school cadet units from all of the armed forces.  Historically CCF Contingents were only present in independent schools but the Cadet Expansion programme which was established in 2012 allowed state schools to establish their own contingents with funding and support from the Ministery of Defence (MOD).  There are now CCF contingents in over 400 secondary schools all over the UK, offering young people a broad range of challenging, exciting, adventurous and educational activities. The aim of the CCF is to enable the development of personal responsibility, leadership and self-discipline giving young people the life skills and self-confidence to take charge of their lives so they can reach their full potential.