Abingdon School Combined Cadet Force Information for Prospective Members
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Abingdon School Combined Cadet Force Information for Prospective Members I hope that the following information will be of interest to both you and your parents in explaining a little about the organization and how it works. You may like to talk to some of the current cadets about their experiences and impressions of what the organization can offer. If you have questions which are not answered by the following information, please ask myself, Mr Schofield, or Mr Forster. In addition, I am happy to receive telephone calls with CCF enquiries from your parents. Since it is a frequent question, I should say now that you can do the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme within the CCF. In fact, many of the things which you achieve in the CCF can count directly towards the Award. If you would like to join then please fill in the forms which are attached and hand them via the Masters’ Common Room to the Adjutant. You will then be expected to come along to the CCF Headquarters situated behind the Sports Hall, on the first Tuesday afternoon parade of term (check the CCF notice board) and begin your membership from there. If you are reading this during the Summer term with a view to joining us in September, then please make sure that your papers are with me by the end of term so that your uniform can be ordered well in advance. Please find attached: Application form Kitting form Medical form Consent Forms Forecast of Events Please return these forms to the Adjutant as soon as possible, either via the Masters Common Room or by Post: Captain J Billington Adjutant Abingdon School Park Road OXON OX14 1DE Major DJM Carson Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Contingent Commander The Combined Cadet Force The Combined Cadet Force is a national organisation, which exists only in schools. It exists to give its members military skills, adventurous training and qualities of leadership within the safety of a formal and controlled structure. It is possible to have sections from all three major arms of H.M. Forces: the Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force. At Abingdon we have an RAF Section and an Army Section. Which section you join is entirely up to you, and is a decision, which will be made shortly before your Recruit Training Camp in the Easter of your first year of membership. The CCF is jointly financed by modest grants from the Army, together with termly subscriptions from the boys. • The broad function of the Combined Cadet Force is to provide a disciplined organisation within a school so that boys may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance, and a sense of service to the community. It is firmly believed that the self-confidence and self-discipline required in Service life are equally important in the civil life of the nation today. The specific function of the Service training in the CCF is to: • Provide the opportunity for young people to exercise responsibility and leadership and to learn from the Services how they can be best developed; • Show them why the Services are needed and how they function; • Encourage those who have an interest in the Services to become officers of the Regular or Reserve Forces. How things work at Abingdon The CCF here is completely voluntary. Since each member of the CCF receives much training and equipment, we require boys to stay with us for at least one year and preferably until they complete their proficiency training. Although joining the CCF is voluntary, as a member you are expected to attend every parade. The programme of activities is progressive and this is not viable unless your attendance is consistent. It is your responsibility to keep a careful eye on School notice-boards and be aware of what is going on from week to week. The CCF notice-board at the bottom end of Lower Corridor gives a comprehensive timetable for the term, and also carries notices informing cadets about camps, exercises and flying opportunities. Each week a notice is posted here to indicate the programme for that week’s parade, including what you should wear and where you should meet. As with every successful organization, there are rules and regulations, which have to be observed. In the CCF you will rely heavily on your common sense and can expect to be disciplined for failing to meet the expected standards. We have few rules, but two are particularly important: non-attendance at more than three consecutive parades without sufficient good reason will result in detentions, and parading without the correct uniform can also result in disciplinary action. The CCF at Abingdon meets regularly every Tuesday during term time from 3.40 p.m. until 5.05 p.m. The time is carefully chosen so that games sessions do not clash with it. If any boy has another activity which happens at the same time as CCF then difficulty can usually be overcome by negotiation. There is no need for any boy to feel that membership of the CCF will prevent him from doing any other School activity. Nevertheless, you should feel a certain commitment towards your CCF activities, and will be well rewarded for consistent effort and attendance. Air Experience Flying sessions are arranged on week-day afternoons on a rota basis throughout the year, and gliding opportunities on certain weekends. Military exercises generally take place during the half term holidays, and camps take place during the main School holidays. Cadets are expected to attend at least one of these in any one year as part of their training. Facilities We occupy a splendidly refurbished building, which has been fitted out to the highest standards. We have our own four-lane indoor shooting range for small-bore rifles, and our own armoury. We own and operate a recce Land Rover which is used for week-end and longer camps and visits. We operate our own clothing and adventure training stores and have access to additional stores through the RAF and the Army. Recruit Training When you join the CCF you are classed as a Recruit. Recruit Training is compulsory for 1 year. Your first termly subscription will provide you with a T-shirt, olive green trousers (OGs), camouflage clothing (DPM) and a pair of high-leg combat boots, which must be worn for each parade. Uniform is an important part of cadet service life: it gives you a corporate identity, and a sense of belonging. All Cadets are expected to parade in uniform. With your first term’s subscription you will also receive a copy of the Soldier’s Pocket Book & new boots. For this reason your first subscription will be £55 (paid in advance by cheque to ‘Abingdon School CCF’ for this term only). Subsequent termly subscriptions are collected by means of the end of term bill and are currently set at £30.00. We aim to provide all CCF activity during the term, including week-end ‘overnights’ at minimal – and often no – cost. Additional cost is normally only incurred if a cadet goes to one- week RAF or Adventure Training camp. They usually take place during the Easter and Summer holidays. The CCF prides itself on offering exceptional value for money in all that it does as well as exceptional opportunity in its activities. Initially, Recruits joining the CCF are trained separately, parading away from the senior cadets. You will follow a common core syllabus regardless of which Service section you eventually wish to join. Skill at Arms: Cadet GP Rifle; .22 Target Rifle, Range Firing and Weapons Training. Fieldcraft: Patrolling; Camouflage and Concealment; Section Battle Drills. Military Knowledge: Drill; Rank Structures; Map & Compass Work; The Armed Forces Recruit training will include the following compulsory events: a field day in September, a weekend exercise in the Lent half term, and Recruit Camp during the Easter holidays. After Recruit Camp you will receive your beret and the uniform appropriate to your chosen section. Wherever possible, this ‘Passing Out Parade’ will be carried out at a formal parade on the final day of Recruit Camp, to which your parents will be invited. Failure to attend Recruit camp will make it very difficult for you to complete your recruit training. Recruits then become cadets in either the RAF Section or the Army Section, under the control of their respective Section Commanders. What do you do in the CCF? Some of the training is common to both the Army and RAF Sections. As a general rule, cadets in the RAF section are involved in all the activities possible within the Army Section, but in addition RAF cadets are eligible to fly. In every term there is a field day which typically might involve a visit to a military base or other military training such as range days, which allow cadets experience of full-bore shooting. Weekend exercises, open to both sections, allow cadets to practise their skills in leadership, navigation, camp-craft and military tactics. An Adventurous training expedition takes place in the Lent half term, which can count towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. There are occasional AT camps overseas; recent camps have been in Bavaria and Cyprus. Other opportunities include: Overseas camps (e.g. Cyprus, Germany, Canada, USA) Parachuting Caving & pot-holing NCO instructional and leadership courses Helicopter flights RAF overseas flights RAF air experience flying at RAF Benson RAF gliding at Abingdon airfield RAF gliding scholarships (to solo standard) As you can see from this outline, we offer plenty of variety: too many activities to list.