Page 50 - Cadet Review Summer 2023

HSY ACF
MANOR TOP 1* FIELDCRAFT WEEKEND
By Lt Kate Jackson
The weekend of 24-25 April saw 35 cadets come together from Manor Top, Rotherham and Greenhill detachments for a 1* Fieldcraft Camp hosted at Manor Top Detachment, Sheffield. This was the second year of successfully running this opportunity to provide some of our newest cadets with their first taste of a residential activity close to home, building on their fieldcraft skills within a familiar environment. The cadets had the potential to pass their 1* fieldcraft whilst making new friendships across detachments, in addition to our senior cadets demonstrating
their skills, and employing their leadership and instructional techniques throughout the weekend.
Building on the groundwork delivered during detachment training evenings, lessons were taught throughout the weekend by both senior cadets
and adult volunteers. Together with a number of assessment activities to test the cadets putting their knowledge into practice, cadets had to ensure they had excellent discipline in looking after their (wooden) weapon systems throughout, and that they maintained good standards of personal administration in the field.
Therewasagoodlevelofenthusiasmfromthe cadets as they got to grips with living in the field, albeit in some instances experiencing somewhat ofaneyeopenerofthehardworkthatneedstobe put in to adapt to the field environment. Some of the activities taken part in are outlined below, which providedplentyofopportunitiestopracticefieldcraft techniques. Whilst many individual and collective achievements were demonstrated during the weekend, this taster highlighted
current knowledge and under- standing, and paved the
way for cadets to
further enhance their
skill base.
BASHA BUILDING
Basha building was an integral part of the weekend, where cadets were provided with
Whilst the weather
was kind to us for the majority of the weekend, a heavy downpour overnight tested the effectiveness of the bashas
the equipment and techniques to build a suitable waterproof shelter to ensure they could keep themselves and their kit dry whilst operating in the field. This proved more challenging for some than others, with some cadets needing lots of support
and instruction from both adults and senior cadets, which was to be expected since this was the first time a number of cadets had had been away from home, let alone building their own accommodation for the weekend. Whilst the weather was kind to us for the majority of the weekend, a heavy downpour overnight tested the effectiveness of the bashas.
JUDGING DISTANCES, TARGET INDICATION AND FIRE CONTROL ORDERS
There were several lessons where the cadets
were instructed on how to estimate distances, to understand and identify the best methods to alert others to an enemy location, and how to engage that enemydependingonthesituation. Cadetswere pushed outside their comfort zone by having to deliver an appropriate fire control as an individual in front of thewholegroup. Thistestedboththeirconfidence and understanding and teamwork to correctly identify and indicate a target with one of the four fire control orders. ThecadetDirectingStaff(DS)alsohoned their own skills at instruction as senior cadets.
SELECTION OF A ROUTE AND STALKING
The lessons around route selection brought together navigational skills within a fieldcraft context. This was designed to support cadets to interpret the ground from visual images (maps and photos) and other intelligence, and also how to appraise a situation
with constraints in access, and the needs of a team. These skills were critical alongside the principles of camouflage and concealment, and ways of moving over ground, for cadets to employ in an assessed stalking activity.
Once darkness had fallen, cadets set off from a designated point in pairs and were tasked making their way covertly to observe an enemy location and obtain as much information as possible about the enemy strength,equipment,moraleandactivities. Asthe cadets had been operating in the area during the day, this meant they could use their knowledge and skills gained to select the best route to navigate obstacles, and a lack of cover in places.
This activity was a particular favourite of the cadets as they were able to choose themselves how to approach the situation, using their newly acquired skills to stalk the enemy and a healthy level of
50 CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2023