Gliding at RAF Kenley

At 07.30 on Sunday 20 September seven RAF Cadets from a mixture of year groups headed to RAF Kenley outside Caterham to spend the day gliding with RAF volunteers. All the cadets were involved in preparing the aircraft for flight and launching them as well as having the chance to get taken up 1500ft in the air to practise their flight control skills. We had glorious weather despite the fog that had grounded aircraft at Heathrow.

Summer courses 2011

RAF NCA work experience and Gliding Scholarship courses

During the summer holidays I took two RAF courses. They were both fun and very informative experiences. The first trip was an NCA (Non-Commissioned Aircrew) work experience course; I was with ten other students who had come from all over the UK. For a week we primarily looked at jobs such as being in the back of an E3-D Sentry or the personnel in the back of a Chinook.

The second course that I went on was a Gliding Scholarship. This was mainly a chance to fly in a glider on your own and receive a qualification (wings). We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and by the Monday evening I had completed the basic Gliding Scholarship. I wondered if this would be a problem, as the course was a week long and I was over 100 miles from home, but the next day the Duty Inspector offered me a spectacular chance to do the Advanced Glider Training, which is the step up from the GS and was potentially harder. The gliding started again and the same thrill and exhilaration that you could feel when you were flying the aircraft by yourself stayed with me whilst I flew on my own five more times. Seeing your name in your ROS (Record of Service) book with ‘self’ listed in the ‘Captain’ column felt just as good. Overall the courses were extremely fun. Next year I hope to continue to a Flying Scholarship.

Stuart King

AvTech Work Experience at RAF Cosford, 21-26 August 2011

During the Summer Holidays Benedict Durrant and I travelled to the training base of RAF Cosford, to participate in an Avionics Technician work experience course. It was a five-day residential course and we were joined by fellow CCF and Air Training Corps cadets.

During the first two days we were introduced to the profession as a whole and were taught the basic principles of being a technician. With the help of the ‘Avionics System Trainer’, a specially tuned cockpit simulator, we quickly became familiar with the operation and workings of a modern jet fighter. We learned the correct procedures for applying power starting the engines, as well as operation of the on-board computer systems including the radio, radar and various guidance systems. When not in the classroom, we marched to our next destination in flights led by the senior NCO cadet. Presentation was an important part of the course as a representation of RAF life, and so we polished our shoes every night and ironed out creases of our uniform.

On the third day, we were sufficiently proficient on the AST to be granted a session of fault finding on the retired aircraft used for real RAF training: the Jaguar. This involved firstly identifying the problem using a very thick Maintenance Procedure manual whilst activating different systems in the cockpit. When the fault area was established, we viewed schematics and circuit diagrams to determine the electrical fault and opened up the relevant panel. We worked in our group to test suspect components with a voltmeter.

Aside from these course specific activities, the RAF provided several activities that all work experience courses involved. These included the multi-stage fitness test, a talk with the careers expert and a team building exercise with a special motivational outreach group. With all these activities to keep us occupied, there was hardly a free moment.

I am very glad I got to take part in this activity, as demanding as it was with military grade early mornings and a flood of information. The RAF clearly invests a great deal of time and money in such courses and as such is one of the best specifically designed work experience courses available. It has greatly helped inform me of life in the RAF and as such helped guide my career path.

Benjamin Hudson

Air Cadet Leadership Course at at RAF Cranwell

After completing my Lower Sixth year, I attended an Air Cadet Leadership Course at RAF Cranwell. Having enjoyed my years in the RAF section of the CCF, I wanted to develop my skills so that I could better interact with my peers in the RAF and in the future. As the first applicant from Sevenoaks for many years, I didn’t quite know what to expect.

For that reason I was shocked by the discipline that greeted me upon arrival. Being marched to every location, shouted at for addressing an officer incorrectly and led to the drill square almost immediately after arriving took a lot out of me. By the end of the first evening I wanted to go home.

However I stuck with it and put up with room and uniform inspections (during which I was called ‘the scruffiest cadet’), a fitness test at 06.00, lack of sleep and next to no free time. However, after the first few days I no longer noticed the discipline and began to enjoy the command tasks, assessing our leadership and most of all getting to know my flight. Despite my lack of experience, I performed well, being made one of the Course Leaders and passing the course with merit. When the week at Cranwell came to an end, I was able to look back on a testing but worthwhile experience that I had come to like, and left not only with transferable skills, but also some lasting friendships.

Adam Gristock

CCF Field Day April 2011

All three sections of the CCF held their Lent term Field Day on Wednesday/Thursday 27/28 April.

The Royal Navy section made a short journey to our local lake at Chipstead for a day of sailing instruction and a regatta. This was the first experience of sailing for many of the group and last week’s tuition on how to right a capsized dinghy came in useful in the windy conditions. They decided to ‘reef up’ the Bosuns as the wind built up to a force four, not a problem for the more experienced sailors but a necessity for those who were in a dinghy for the first time. In the morning, those cadets with helming experience took two novices on board for a fun ride in the middle of the lake. The day was broken up with a barbeque lunch and the afternoon session enabled the novices to take the helm and gain instruction in some of the finer points of sailing. By 3pm they were looking very comfortable and after a short break the group were allocated a Bosun, a Topper or a 420 for a short regatta to finish the day.

As part of the RN training the group will be sailing at Chipstead every Thursday this term and will continue after the summer break in preparation for the SE CCF Sailing Regatta which is held at Bough Beech in September.

The Army section went to Pippingford Park training area near Crowborough for 24 hours of varied exercises. An evening phase of establishing platoon harbours and feeding on ration packs was followed by a night escape and evasion task involving collecting different items from around the area and transporting them to a base to collect points whilst evading marauding enemy forces. After a night sleeping in ‘bashas’, the morning phase rotated around three activities: a Close Quarter Battle lane involving pairs of cadets practising fire and manoeuvre with blank rounds at hidden enemy targets, section battle drills – attacking an enemy position as a section, and a camouflaged stalking task. This was followed by a perennial favourite, Laser Combat – a sort of military outdoor version of Laser Quest.

The weather couldn’t have been better, the NCOs made great progress in their leadership roles, and all had a thoroughly enjoyable time.

The Royal Air Force section went further afield, with the Lower Sixth cadets going to the RAF Museum, Hendon in North London. They explored the Bomber Hall, Grahame-White Factory and Watch Office and the Battle of Britain Hall, walking amongst historic aircraft, learning about the role of the RAF during conflict and the international nature of personnel and stations. There was a sound and light show on the Battle of Britain with spotlights on the Spitfires and Messerschmitt. They completed Operation Aviation in which they had to plan and fly (on a simulator) a rescue mission to the centre of London to help flood victims in distress. One group said, ‘Shockingly, we made it there and back in one piece – although I wouldn't fancy being in that plane for an actual journey!’ But sadly another group had to bale out as they ran out of fuel. They also went into the 4-D cinema where they watched a brilliant and very moving’ film dedicated to the airmen who died during the Second World War. Finally they were thrown around in the simulator of a dog-fight with the Red Baron, which highlighted how aircraft have changed over the years.
The Year 10 cadets visited RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire and were incredibly fortunate with the weather for their first Air Experience Flights in the two-seater, dual controlled Grob Tutor training aircraft. There was plenty of blue sky for great views and some blustery winds which added to the fun! They all got a chance to take control of the joystick to steer the plane and many were taken through some aerobatics. Loop-the-loops, barrel rolls and stall turns exhilarated the most experienced roller coaster fans! For one cadet it was ‘the single most awesome thing I have ever done!’

An incredibly enthusiastic group of cadets, they made a very positive impression on the pilots, who thoroughly enjoyed flying them. All learned how to use the joystick and trim wheel and read the panel instruments. They cannot wait for their next flight, which for some will be in a few weeks when we go gliding at VGS Kenley in Caterham.

CCF Biennial Inspection 2010

Thurs 7th October gave the CCF their biennial opportunity to show the hierarchy from the MOD the strength of the corps in the school. Our inspecting officer was Old Sennokian and former cadet Colonel Jonny Bourne OBE of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and liaison officers and cadet HQ staff of the Army, RAF and RN as well as Mrs Ricks, Mr Bolton and Mr Tetley made up the inspection party.

The day started in glorious weather at Chipstead Lake with a review of our RN sailing operation, after which an Honour Guard with representative cadets from the 3 sections was inspected. The afternoon was designed to show the breadth of activities undertaken in regular Thursday CCF time and consisted of computer flight simulation, RN chartwork exercises, leadership & problem solving command tasks, weapons training, radio work, shooting, climbing, self defence and sub aqua diving. There was also a display by the Army section – a section attack on an enemy position, and the activities ended with a demonstration of our intersection Field Gun competition.

Finally, Col Bourne addressed the cadets, highlighting the role of the regular Army, the importance of the CCF, and how the leadership qualities it fosters are so important in today’s society.

Training Section Exercise

Thurs 23 September saw all 83 new Year 10 CCF recruits undertake their Training Section Exercise in Knole Park. After the normal afternoon training, they set out across the park at 1630 to the ‘bivvi wood’ where they spent the first part of the evening making bashas (sleeping shelters) and donning camouflage cream. They then had their first experience of cooking and eating army ration packs for an evening meal. The final phase involved a night orienteering course with problems to answer and chocolate to find!

Ably supported, instructed, cajoled and marshalled by senior cadets, they had an exciting and fun time, which finished at 2215 (just in time to complete the night’s homework!). The cadets will now join their respective service sections and start to train up for the Biennial Inspection on 7th Oct.

Cadet 150

On Weds 10th, 32 of our cadets and 8 officers from across the Army, RN and RAF sections took part in a public celebration of the 150th anniversary of the cadet movement which was held at Tonbridge School. The ‘Cadet 150’ event involved cadets from Skinners, Judd, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks displaying typical cadet activities. Also in attendance were displays from many regular forces including helicopters, tanks and weapons systems simulators. An impressive parade and drill display was accompanied by the band of the Parachute Regiment. Braving the cold, we laid on our Gun Run competition and provided a demonstration of sub-aqua diving for the many hundreds of visitors. The day culminated in a charity dinner with Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of Defence Staff, as the guest of honour.