CCF Summer Camp

Posted: 13/08/2015

To view a selection of images from the Summer Camp, please click here. 

On the evening of the 2015 Commemoration fifteen Cadets set off on summer camp to Penally in South Wales.

On their first morning, cadets encountered their first opportunity to participate in military training. They took a short walk out to the range, where they fired the Cadet GP Rifle up to 200 metres, the weather was great for firing and all Cadets performed incredibly well, with all 15 passing the shoot and two of the cadets achieving marksman scores.

The second day provided the opportunity for the cadets to participate in some adventurous training. In the morning cadets rock climbed two pitches and conducted a long abseil, and in the afternoon they moved to a reservoir where they kayaked and finished off with some cliff jumping. That evening saw the contingent move back to the range for some archery and clay pigeon shooting, before conducting pre-exercise admin prior to the following days exercise.

Days three and four were a fully tactical exercise deployed onto an airfield and the surrounding woodland. For the duration of the exercise Bromsgrove were paired with Sherborne School making a 36 cadet strong platoon. This platoon conducted reconnaissance, standing patrols and a full platoon ambush during the first 12 hours of the exercise. With each phase the cadets improved in confidence and displayed a great understanding of military tactics. Throughout all of the phases of the exercise cadets were given the opportunity to occupy positions of command and responsibility, the Bromsgrove students were extremely forthcoming when it came to these opportunities, wanting to prove their ability to command and lead.

Early the next morning saw the final phase of the exercise, a long patrol into a two kilometre advance to contact with multiple enemy positions. Movement throughout this action was akin to that of regular soldiers with the cadets demonstrating high levels of battle discipline, tactical awareness and command and control. The platoon had been grouped into four sections, which were all a composite of Bromsgrove and Sherborne cadets. The Bromsgrove Cadets grasped the opportunity and took the lead in all four of these small teams. The attack was conducted in stifling heat over tricky terrain proving to be an extremely physically demanding exercise. All cadets rose to the challenge and pushed themselves incredibly hard, once again displaying the determination and strength of the Bromsgrove Cadet. They had done themselves, and their staff extremely proud.

The final day of the camp saw the cadets learning raft building techniques and competing in a three way race of; construction, racing and capturing the buoy. Another physically tough day for the cadets, but yet another chance for the students of Bromsgrove to display their enthusiasm and teamwork in demanding circumstances.