Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance".
The CCF is a great enrichment programme, it has something new to offer the students at Thomas Deacon Academy. The CCF offers the opportunity to achieve a BTEC diploma in public services as well as achieving many other skills such as;
- Teaching
- Fitness
-
First aid
- Flying
- and many more.
At Thomas Deacon Academy the CCF currently has two sections an Army section and an RAF section. Upon joining it is your decision which path you would like to follow as they both offer a range of different activities. Some of these are:
- Map and Compass
- Drill
- Field Craft
- Skill at Arms and Shooting
-
Camp Craft
- Team Building
- Physical Training
Within a year there are several camps that the cadets can attend. One of these is an expedition testing your ability to map read, camp craft and general fitness. There are also at least two field craft exercises held at Thetford Forest, this tests field craft, team work and skill at arms. These weekends are jam packed with attacks, patrols and ‘roughing’ it in the field. The final camp the CCF attends is central camp, this happens once a year and is a week long and at a different location each year. This week will test all the skills and knowledge that the cadets have learnt throughout that year. Competitions are held at this camp against with the other schools contingents in which the cadets strive to do well in.
“By doing cadets I’m now starting my training In January as regular soldier in the Parachute Regiment” – Lance Corporal Matthew Baldwin
“Cadets has set me up to join up after 6th Form and has given me life skills for the future” – Lance Corporal Jake Reed