CCF (continued) guided each other up their routes.
MAY W/E CWRT YE GOLLEN Our May training weekend provided a programme of adventure training and fieldcraft as we started to prepare for Central Camp.
After setting up basecamp in some very miserable weather, we made our way to Llangorse Activity centre for a day of climbing. The cadets had the opportunity to undertake top roping and bouldering during the day, to develop their technique, route choice and fluidity. The centre was extremely welcoming to us and the cadets did really well to maintain their level of focus when we started introducing challenges and games into the day.
We have some extremely competitive climbers developing and we will be looking into competitions for the next academic year.
Day 2 provided much better weather which allowed us to deliver some fieldcraft, starting the day the cadets were issued their kit and provided a mission to conduct patrol around the camp mapping the area following information that there may be enemy in the area.
Following the brief, the cadets split down into their sections, prepared their kit and camouflaged themselves appropriately. Their patrols were thorough, changing formation dependent on the environment whilst developing their hand signals. We really looked to challenge our NCO’s during this exercise as they were responsible for delivering to the cadets the patrol formations and hand signals.
Following the patrols, the sections reported to command and were given further orders. We took some time to check the cadets understanding as the afternoon was going to provide more of a challenge. The orders received were to continue the recce patrols and gain a measure of the enemies’ strength. Each section once again patrolled the training area, being engaged by the enemy and retreating to consolidate their information. This provided an extremely valuable experience to the cadets, as it put into practice our training and caught many by surprise!
This was a really testing day for the cadets and we were satisfied they had done enough to enhance their learning. We had planned for the stay
out overnight but the weather forecast was extremely unkind so the executive decision was taken to let them stay in their tents.
www.matravers.wilts.sch.uk
We were greeted by poor weather again Sunday morning and had to use our alternative training plan returning to Llangorse activity centre. The day started positively but was cut short due to injury, whilst we are never happy that one of the cadets could become injured during our activities. It demonstrated that our emergency action plan was effective, the staff knew what to do and the rest of the cadets were safe. We are grateful and proud of how all cadets conducted themselves during the incident and pleased that the cadet involved is back to being 100%.
This training weekend proved to be extremely important for our preparation to Central Camp and allowed us to start using our new MOD facilities such as coaches to transport the cadets around.
CENTRAL CAMP OKEHAMPTON
We attended Central Camp at Okehampton Battle Camp this year and it really provided an opportunity for Matravers CCF to demonstrate our high standards and be visible to our MOD sponsors. We were paired with Elizabeth College CCF for the week and it was a pleasure to work with their staff.
The camp provided a week of exhausting activities encompassing all aspects of the cadet syllabus and Military life. Our first day saw us deploy on Willsworthy training area to undertake a platoon attack and Snap Ambush. Our cadets mixing with Elizabeth College undertook a wide range of roles including Section Commanders and second in command whilst our younger cadets had their first blank firing experience, utilising those skill at arms drills we had practiced so much leading up to camp.
The weather provided a greater challenge, following a heat wave on Dartmoor it rained on the cadets for most of the day, nevertheless they completed two very good platoon attacks and an excellent snap ambush having the opportunity to use plenty of ammunition.
Our second day provided slightly easier going and much better weather. The cadets undertook instruction in bushcraft skills and having done quite a lot at cadets they really excelled, looking natural whilst in action. The day was a round robin of activities, with the highlight stand being axe throwing. The cadets thoroughly enjoyed this activity and Cadet Scott scored extremely well during the competition throws.
The afternoon culminated in a knot tying race with the CCFs being split into four different teams in an
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