Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Reserves & Cadets), Major General Marc Overton (OKS, BR 1983 – 88) and Colonel Jeremy Bagshaw (BR 1980 – 85), Chief of Staff, London District recently conducted the Biennial Inspection of our Combined Cadet Force.

Major General Overton visited the cadets on the second day of their summer fieldcraft exercise. He toured training and watched cadets face several challenges required to pass their CCF basic syllabus.  

Camouflage, concealment, target indication and stalk skills were all tested using laser taggers, while an exciting night exercise assessed night movement and navigation. The cadets also demonstrated their tactical skills in a section attack using blank ammunition and pyrotechnics. Staying out overnight, the cadets cooked their own food from military rations. 

The visit comes on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) in 1948.   The CCF offers young people a broad range of challenging, exciting, adventurous and educational activities. Its aim is to enable the development of personal responsibility, leadership and self-discipline.  

At the end of the exercise, our Year 10 cadets were presented with their basic syllabus proficiency badges.  

Major Alistair Goddard, the school’s Contingent Commander, commented: “It was an honour to host Major General Overton and Colonel Bagshaw for our inspection in this anniversary year of the CCF”.