Page 178 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019
P. 178

Lucton School CCF
This year we have been improving performance and formalising CCF programmes alongside the School’s. We have maintained our numbers just over establishment. Cadets continue to be involved in all activities offered with high levels of enthusiasm and commitment. This year also saw the contingent open an RAF Section.
Lucton School CCF’s last event of 2018 was a special Centenary dinner night, attended by our guest of honour Vice Air Marshal Smart and over 100 cadets. Training began with a leadership cadre
run by SSI WO2 Rich Brown. The main principles of leadership and the place of both the Army’s values and standards and the School’s being covered. The Cadets also gave a five-minute talk on a leader of their choice and ran their own command tasks.
Cadets were also tested over two challenging fieldcraft weekends, the first at Nesscliffe where section commanders led sections into assaulting a smoke-filled bunker. The second weekend was held at Swynerton and saw a platoon of cadets operating over the area gathering information on a drugs cartel. A dawn raid shut it down and all had a great time as did the SSI who made some fantastic props and training aids.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s award continues to be popular with a record number of passes at bronze and silver levels. Our cadets took part in testing, wet expeditions over the Long Mynd and Wenlock Edge. The Contingent also had its first in-house Gold passes with C/Sjt Joe Lund, Cpl Ellie Painter –Black and L/Cpl Jo Hawthorne all are exceptionally honoured to receive their gold award. First Aid has again been a big hit with all year 10 passing their youth first aid. The CCF also headed up the national ‘start a heart’ day delivering lifesaving first aid training across the School. The first aid team also won the best CCF in the brigade competition. The team led by L/Cpl Ellie Muckalt along with Nataly Powel, Molly Harris and Dom Yates are keen to complete the Nationals at Nesscliffe in September.
Summer began with a three-day event at Oakerwood for year 8 Cadets. Day one involved activities such as raft building, a milk crate stack and a high Jacobs ladder followed by a BBQ cooked by the Contingent staff. On day two all were introduced to field skills including basher building, movement, camouflage and concealment and ration packs before spending their first night out. Summer Camp was hosted by 51 Brigade at Barry Budden. A total of 49 cadets and staff endured an epic 10 hour coach journey from Lucton. A very wet 24-hour exercise tested not only the cadet’s military skills but their ability to build a water tight basher. The cadets enjoyed a very good range package. The highlight for many was white-water rafting and they loved every second of it. The final afternoon was filled by a small parade where the best cadet from each Contingent was rewarded. Cpl Gena Yates and Cdt Jack Nicholas won shooting prizes while best cadet was won by Cdt Sameer Ria. We also said a sad good bye to some of our senior Cadets including CSM Aaron Powel, C/Sjt Ellie Nichols, Sjt Gena Yates,Sjt Cassie Hollier.
Once again, we received excellent support from our parent Brigade, 11 Signals & WMids Bde and from the CTT represented by Sgt Al Welsh. The Contingent would also like to thank Mrs Gill Thorne the Head of Lucton School and Dr Tony Paterson the Head of Governors for their continued and unwavering support. On behalf of the Cadets we also wish to thank the Contingent staff for their relentless hard work with CCF. We have again had a successful year and continue to promote real pride in the Rifles badge.
Major Craig Derrigan
Contingent Commander
       Raft Team two ready to hit the water
  Cpl Brown Advances
 CADETS WERE ALSO TESTED OVER TWO CHALLENGING FIELDCRAFT WEEKENDS
  176 CADET FORCES
THE RIFLES




















































































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