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cadets

Combined Cadet Force

The CCF has a long tradition at King's, and celebrated its Centenary in 2002.  We currently have over 280 cadets spread amongst the Royal Navy, Royal Marine and Army Sections and our Chindit Columns.  The emphasis is on leadership training with our senior cadets taking on much of the responsibility of instructing junior cadets under the supervision of officers and staff.

King's has a long tradition of pupils being appointed Lord Lieutenant's Cadets, and particularly girls!  This year we were very proud when school captain Hannah Cartwright was officially invested at Bishop's Palace in Wells.  We recently had a very successful Cadet 150 Celebration Day with Brigadier Neil Marshall inspecting the Guard of Honour, and the RM Section staging a spectacular section attack scenario.  Our RM Section have won the highly prestigious Sir Steuart Pringle Trophy two years in a row now, in October 2009 and October 2010.

We have two Field Days a year which always involves overnight exercises for our senior sections.  Our Easter Adventure Training Camp in the Lake District is a particular highlight, involving a mix of hill walking, mountain biking, sailing and rock climbing.  The Summer CCF Contingent Camp at Warcop gives the cadets the chance to experience more military skills, and includes live firing, canoeing, orienteering and a march and shoot competition.  The 3rd form Chindit Camp held on Exmoor in July regularly attracts half the year group.  With a range of exercises with cryptic names such as 'Blindfold Drop', 'Night Fright' and 'Ditch Delight', and with two 24-hour hiking tent experiences, the camp gives the pupils a chance to become more independent and self-reliant.  We have very well-equipped Military and Adventure Training Stores maintained by the SSI, SSgt Ron Mason.

Royal Navy

Our Royal Navy Section has grown in size over the last two years, and now serves over 40 cadets.  The section is run by Lt Mark Smith (RN), supported by Sub/Lt Rebecca Nutt (RN), and the training involves working on various seamanship and general military skills, such as rope work, chart work, knowledge of the Royal Navy, leadership tasks, drill and weapons handling.  The 4th form recruits follow the CCF RN Syllabus which is divided into three main parts.

Part One    The Individual  (keeping of uniform, drill and leadership abilities)
Part Two    RN Knowledge  (knowledge of RN ships, RN history, RN customs, etc.)
Part Three    Afloat training  (seamanship, sailing)

During the 5th form cadets are encouraged to participate in an NCO cadre course and attend courses, before helping with instructing junior cadets.  The summer and autumn months are mostly spent undertaking afloat training at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor, only 45 minutes away from King's.  Cadets can gain nationally recognised sailing proficiency certificates.  Overnight Field Days are held either at Wimbleball or at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, or on HMS Bristol in Portsmouth.

Royal Marines

The Royal Marine Section is led by Capt Peter Belfield (RMR) and Lt Steve King (RMR) with assistance from the RM training team.  The section has enjoyed great success in recent years coming 5th in 2008 and 1st in 2009 in the annual inter-schools Sir Steuart Pringle Trophy.  This is a prestigious team event involving various stances such as section attacks, drill, first aid scenarios and leadership tasks at the RM base at Lympstone.  The emphasis in the RM Section is on teamwork, physical fitness and military skills.  The time spent in the Royal Marines section is split up into four valuable and worthwhile exciting years.

The 4th form is spent learning the basics of drill, weapon handling and field craft.  At the end of their year the cadets undergo a final assessment which if passed earns them their Globe and Laurel cap badge.  In the 5th form cadets complete a cadre course.  This enables them to learn military skills in more detail, and they are shown how to instruct.  6.1 NCOs teach the 4th form recruits and help them through their basic training.  6.2 is spent supervising the smooth running of the Royal Marines section.  They oversee the 4th form basic training and help run the 5th form NCO cadre course.  Special training afternoons take place throughout the year, normally run by the Royal Marines Youth Training Team, the Display Team or the Officers.  Activities involve hands on survival lectures, unarmed combat, battle swim testing, 40 Commando Trim Trail, Live and Blank firing, DCCT and the legendary Lympstone Endurance Course.  Field Days this year included an overnight survival exercise, rock climbing, canoeing and river crossings.

Army

With nearly 90 cadets, by far the largest section in the CCF is the Army.  Commanded by Lt Col D J Cole, the section is supported by enthusiastic officers Lt Imogen Hobday, 2/Lt Steve Shaw, 2/Lt Becky Grove, 2/Lt Graham Brown and 2/Lt David Snell.  The 4th form recruits follow the Army Proficiency Syllabus which requires competence in drill, navigation, camp craft, field craft and weapons handling. In order to pass the APC, cadets must pass in all the skill areas and have completed an overnight camping or bivouac exercise.  Cadets must pass a weapons test before firing blank or live rounds on a range.  The 5th form attend the Method of Instruction Cadre run by Sgt Phil Jones from 20 Cadet Training Team, who demands a high level of commitment from the trainee NCOs.  This year all 18 cadets successfully completed the cadre course with Lucy Dunham, Lucy Sharp and Amelia Evans achieving a top A grade.

Many of our cadets remain in the 6th form very much on a voluntary basis, taking on the responsibility of instructing junior cadets in the Army, Navy and Chindits.  They are expected to plan lessons in advance and organise the equipment required for the activity.  During the summer term the cadets have a chance to participate in outdoor activities such as rock climbing and canoeing.