CCF Cadets Tackle Busy Service Weekend

11th October 2023

Cadets from Oakham School’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) tackled a busy Service Weekend packed with challenging exercises at the Otterburn Training Area in Northumberland.

This was the first Service Weekend for the new Form 4 cadets, who gained a comprehensive introduction to CCF life. The new recruits undertook four days of intensive training, including camouflage & concealment, air rifle shooting, command tasks and basic fieldcraft. Their weekend concluded with an impressive formal parade, where the cadets ‘passed off’ the square.

Also spending the weekend at Otterburn were Oakham School’s Form 6 cadets, taking part in their first Service Weekend since joining the 2-year Upper School Leadership Development Programme. The cadets were put through their paces on a challenging field exercise, which culminated with an ‘attack’ on a number of enemy positions.

The program aims to boost the cadets’ tactical skills and confidence through the Cadet Force Instructional Techniques (CFIT) course, which teaches them how to instruct. As cadets move into Form 7, they take over the leadership and running of the contingent through command appointments.

Meanwhile, the Form 5 members of the contingent spent Service Weekend in Cromford in the Peak District doing Adventurous Training.