Last weekend Year 12 pupil, Eleanor, was part of a selected team of cadets undertaking Exercise Cadet Cambrian Patrol testing a wide range of skills across the CCF syllabus; arguably one of the hardest physical challenges completed by any youth organisation.
With Storm Hannah overhead the Brigadier in charge commented the weather was the worst they have seen in 31 years! The day started at 04:00 on Saturday with an arduous journey in hail and rain across Sennybridge Training Area, north of the Brecon Beacons. Over the next 12 hours the teams covered 30 km on foot whilst carrying full kit and weapons, encountering stands to test areas such as map & compass, first aid, teamwork, leadership and fieldcraft. After a night undercover, due to sleeping out being deemed inappropriate due to the saturated terrain, the cadets final task was a patrol to the range where they engaged targets up to 300m away on Sunday morning.
Well done to Eleanor and her team mates for gaining a Bronze medal completing this tough challenge, and serving as role models to younger cadets in the application of leadership and the value of effort over adversity.
Over Easter Year 10 pupil, Xanthe, found out she had been selected to take part in the annual International Cadet Exchange with the Royal Canadian Army Cadet Force.
Only 46 cadets have been chosen from cadet forces across the UK to take part, and the procedure involved an in-depth written application and 2 arduous selection weekends in January and April including physical fitness, team working skills, biking and swimming ability and proving her French speaking skills!
Xanthe will be on “Rocky Mountain” exercise in Alberta. She will experience six weeks of watermanship, camping expeditions, wilderness first aid, hiking, bike maintenance and riding skills, abseiling, rock climbing, marksmanship and canoeing. The exercise also includes an element of drill, citizenship and community activities and physical fitness. What a fabulous summer she has in store.
