CCF Field Day

A senior NCO writes:

SHIPLAKE COLLEGE CCF SPRING TERM FIELD DAY

Over a hundred Cadets set off on a Tri-Service Field Day yesterday morning to Cane End woods. Under the direction of Senior NCO’s they were split into three Platoons’ and put into practice their Tuesday afternoon military training.

The morning consisted of a round robin of tactical and strategic scenarios utilising both natural cover and manmade structures. The first involved a routine patrol moving through the woods where they encountering enemy fire. The enemy had secured a vital bridge which had to be taken by force using covering fire and flanking manoeuvres. This was followed by an attack on a well defended fort, aided by smoke grenades which provided colourful and choking cover! The final exercise involved engaging insurgents in a built up area, clearing buildings with at times painful close range combat.

Over lunch we were debriefed by the CCF officers who complemented the leadership skills exhibited by both the Senior and Junior NCO’s and the enthusiasm and commitment of all the troops.

In the afternoon military tactics were laid aside and the Cane End staff allowed the cadets to dictate the attacks and a testosterone fuelled paintball firestorm followed; with a brave Mr Starr in thick of the action!

The day proved both enjoyable and educational and I would like to thank all the CCF Staff for organising the trip.

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Meanwhile Year 9 and the Sixth form non-combatants got on with work, but with most of year 10 and 11 out on the range, the handful here worked to this brief from Mr O'Brien:

The task for your group is to:

Design A Country

You choose the setting of your country. It can be situated in either:-

1. A desert

2. A rainforest

3. The Arctic

4. An Ocean island

At 3:30pm, in the Tithe Barn, your group will make a five minute presentation to the other groups to show what a fabulous, interesting country you have created. There will be winners (and prizes). Your presentation will be judged on creativity, impact, style of presenation, content and entertainment value! We are looking for teamwork, initiative, effort and imagination. You will need:-

v A team leader

v To use the skills, interests and specialisms of the people in your group

v To utilise the skills and guidance of the teachers available to you and the resources that they provide

v To plan your day

v To report back to Mr O’Brien in the Pavilion at the beginning of each double period – 10:00am, 11:35am, 1:50pm and again at 3:00pm.

v To cover at least four activities/topics in your presentation. If you can do more that will be a bonus and give you an advantage.

The options of things you can do, where you can go and who is available to guide/teach/help you, are on the next pages. You need to plan well through the day. You can split your group of six into smaller groups if you wish, to go to different subjects, depending on the interests and skills of your team members.