Last week saw our annual Adams’ CCF Passing Out Parade take place. It was wonderful to be able to invite parents and family members into school to support the pupils on this special occasion.
The CCF training programme endeavours to teach a cadet the importance of drill, teamwork, discipline, camaraderie, confidence and respect towards others. Cadets undertake weapon handling and live firing, field craft skills, first aid, adventure training and physical fitness all of which gives them a basic understanding of what an Armed Forces recruit will undertake during training. With the majority of the programme being run by senior cadets, the programme also provides real leadership experience.
In addition, cadets have the opportunity to attend field days, weekends away attending military skills competitions and an annual cadet camp. In the RAF section cadets have the opportunity to spend time in a flight simulator and experience flying, when weather permits!
We were extremely fortunate to have Air Vice-Marshal (retired) Warren James CB CBE DL as our inspecting officer. Warren’s long and successful career in the Royal Air Force started in 1985 with a flying scholarship, having himself been in the CCF at school. A helicopter pilot and flying instructor in his early service, he has over 4,500 hours of military flying and was mentioned in Dispatches during his first tour. During his career he commanded the UK’s tri-Service helicopter instructor school, a Search & Rescue squadron and, as Station Commander, the RAF Shawbury base. Warren was appointed CBE in 2012 and Deputy Lieutenant for Shropshire in 2020 and CB in 2021 when he retired.
Of thirty-three pupils from Year 9, twelve recruits passed over to the army section and twenty-one recruits to the RAF section. They were awarded cap badges which can now be worn with pride on their berets. Congratulations!
