Cadets Learn New Skills

Posted at 2:53 pm on 1st March, 2022

CCF Field Day

Wellacre hosted our very first Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Field Day on 23rd February 2022.  As part of the special internal training day, we were honoured to invite Royal Navy officers, as well as parents and carers.

Led by School Staff Instructor Ward (SSI) Ward, and Royal Navy instructors, Chief Petty Officers (CPO) Urie and Blick. Wellacre cadets embarked on a full day of training exercises.  The range of activities included leadership tasks, team building, field gun training, and rope work. 

SSI Ward said:

“This has been a fantastic opportunity for the CCF and we feel they will gain enormously from the experience.  Working together today, alongside the Royal Navy, has helped build confidence, resilience, teamwork and problem-solving; all skills our cadets can use in school and in the future.  

I was immensely proud of all our CCF students and am looking forward to seeing them making the most of more exciting opportunities in the future.”

  

Year 11 Leading Hands, Adam and Archie, the most senior cadets in the unit, confidently led cadets in drill practice before competing to see which group stood out in their marching, formation and command reactions.  

Head Boy and Leading Hand, Adam, said:

“It was great to practice our communication skills and improve my leadership skills throughout the activities.  Everyone understood the tasks and worked really well together.”

  

The command tasks included passing a tennis ball between team mates, using non-verbal communication, and racing to pass a whole team through a tyre within a time limit.  The cadet force also enjoyed revisiting the field gun exercise, relishing the challenge to assemble and race the field gun across the school yard. 

  

Fellow Leading Hand Archie said:

“As Leading Hands in the cadet unit, and being in the last year in school, it was fantastic to encourage everyone but also to step back and allow the Year 10 cadets to take the lead role in some activities.  They did a great job and could be the future leading cadets.”

    

Upcoming CCF events include float training at Waterside Lodge, Southport, on small sailboats, as well as a trip to Portsmouth to visit an HM naval base and warship.    

The day ended with a parent and carer CCF Information Evening.  SSI Ward gathered cadets and their families to both share information and future plans, as well as celebrate the cadets achievements.  We were proud to present cadets with certificates for the following:

* Qualities of a Drill Instructor: Archie and Adam, Year 11

* Most Improved Drill: Toby and Kai, Year 8, and Jack, Year 9

* Command Task Confidence: Ethan, Year 10, and Nathan, Year 9

* Leadership Skills: Max and Luca, Year 10

Mrs Sharrock, Principal commented:

"It was a really successful day, which the cadets enjoyed immensely. It was lovely to meet so many parents and carers at the end of the day and secure their commitment to the many exciting plans we have for them in the future. Thank you to SSI Ward, and Royal Navy instructors, CPO Urie and CPO Blick.’’