Lili in Year 12 attended the Master Cadet programme over the October half term at Frimley Park near London, which is the home of the cadet training world.
The aim of the Master Cadet is to broaden and develop further the leadership of 4-star cadets and is a course that Army units can submit bids for their most able cadets to win places.
Cadets who gain a place need to be fit enough to take part in 10 battle exercises a day, complete arduous runs carrying logs and obstacle courses, have a very good knowledge of marching drills, navigation and fieldcraft such as weapons, and be able to plan and teach cadet lessons.
Lili blogged about her unique experience
My time down at Frimley Park, the Headquarters for Cadet Training, was a tough but certainly memorable time; making lots of new friends, scaling an obstacle course, and making it through a three-day exercise, where I took on a leadership role or two.
On my first day we were greeted with a warm welcome and icebreakers to get to know the team that we would be working with for the next few days. The next day we were straight into our obstacle course, which consisted of running a mile whilst holding a log, then scaling many tough obstacles.
The first day out on the exercise period of our course followed, and consisted of many platoon attacks firing blank ammunition, a late-night ambush, setting up a platoon harbour (where you sleep and eat in) and building models/maps out of our surroundings such as with twigs and leaves. This was certainly the toughest part, but it was an experience to remember. When we got back we were certainly pleased to see our beds, making a difference from the firm ground and tents we were in.
In the evening a formal black-tie dinner was held for the members of the course, our instructors, and even some higher ranking officers. It was a pleasurable evening spent with the people I’d grown to know and like over the past week.
On our final day we took a short trip to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, where we were given a tour around the premises and a brief introduction into what it would be like to join the army. It’s fair to say I slept the whole journey back home, but it was a one-of-a-kind experience and I’m so glad I took part in the course.
Lili, Year 12
