In December we ran a camp called Siberian Tiger Cub Camp. Initially this was meant to run in October, but as we have to share resources with the regular army we were pushed back to December - and the Siberian aspect was certainly evident - the heavy snowfall came on the last day of camp. We had over 100 cadets on camp and ran 4 separate streams of training, and just to add to the complexity we also hosted Brigadier Anthony Lamb who was carrying out our Biennial Inspection. He had to produce a report for the MOD to say how our cadet unit is performing.
Brigadier Lamb is Head of Youth and Cadets in the Ministry of Defence (MOD), with responsibility for shaping the future of the nation’s cadet force and we were very keen to make a good impression. Below are his comments, followed by articles written by cadets from each of the streams.
Brigadier Anthony Lamb MBE DL VR Impression on Cadet Turnout and Training
Brigadier Anthony Lamb MBE DL VR
Impression on Cadet Turnout and Training
"Simply put, excellent! The attitude and approach of the cadets, from the RSM down to the newly minted Y9 pupils in their hoodies was exemplary and a credit to the school and the staff. I observed lessons being delivered by senior cadets (Fieldcraft and Values and Standards/Cadet Code), by relatively junior cadets on their Cadet Force Instructional Techniques (CFIT) Course (How to prep a beret for wearing) and from adults (Introduction to navigation; weapons handling test revision) and the standard of instruction was high with a high quality of authentic engagement from all the cadets.
"I was invited to inspect a full parade where I observed a strong sense of pride amongst the girls, a good quality of drill and a strong sense of self-discipline. I also received a march-past where again I observed a high-quality standard in what is not a simple exercise. Both of these events were impressive given that the cadets had only 2 hours to prepare for them, and they did so with what is clearly their customary gusto and positivity. Finally, the RN section deserves mention here too: whilst small, it has a very strong and positive vibe where the morale and spirit of the girls in this section is excellent."
TWGGS CCF has an enviable reputation both regionally and beyond. Their success on regional courses (Senior Cadet Instructors Course) and their repeatedly amazing performance on the Cambrian Patrol Competition, where they have been Gold Medallists twice in succession now, illustrates the quality of the standard of instruction received by the cadets and is testament (much of it from the senior cadets themselves). All of this is down to the immense hard work that has been put in by the CFAVs (Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers) from the Contingent Commander down. They have created a culture whereby a high standard is expected, and the girls rise to the challenge.
Because we are a small section, we spent the camp having lessons in our billet, as well as improving our drill. None of us have been on Siberian before, so we weren’t quite sure what to expect: luckily, we got settled into the routine very quickly.
We were planning to have a course in essential navigation. Unfortunately, our instructor was ill- so instead, we revised some essential parts of the Navy cadet syllabus (uniform, ranks and rates, ethos…) as well as having new lessons in buoyage and leadership training. As well as this, our section had a lot of time to bond with each other and become better friends, playing games and chatting in our spare time.
The most nerve-wracking part of the experience for me was the parade we did for the high-ranking ‘VIP’ who had come to watch TWGGS CCF. Though we were up at 5:00 to polish our boots and clean the billet, when the time came to do the parade we were complimented by multiple people- including the VIP himself- on how well our section has bonded, as well as the neatness of our drill and our ability to work as a team.
Overall, it was a great experience and I’m looking forward to coming back next year!
When I went to Siberian Camp for the first time, I was not expecting to have this much fun. We spent the whole weekend learning how to shoot rifles and the values of an officer. The most enjoyable part of my weekend was when we did an activity called “Seen not seen”. It was where we had to camouflage ourselves and hide behind bushes and trees whilst other people in our group tried to spot us. I also enjoyed practising drill for the competition along the road, even though it started to snow half way through, which I found ironic since we were at a Siberian camp.
The entirety of our stay, we were learning how to use rifles safely, load and unload, and strip the weapon to clean and re-assemble. This was going towards our weapons handling test, where we reviewed most of what we had learnt and we all passed eventually.
During many of our lessons, we learned useful skills, which will come in handy later on in our CCF journey. We learned how to put up bashers in the woods and how to properly tie them around the trees so they don’t collapse.
Most of the work we did indoors was learning army etiquettes, and the origin of TWGGS CCF. We learned about the different ranks that you can reach when you are a student, but also when you leave school, and if you decide to come back as a volunteer. We also learnt how to properly take care of our uniform, how to keep it presentable and how to tie our hairs back appropriately.
One of the least enjoyable parts of our trip was the temperature, as we were camping in December instead of October, and it didn’t help that we didn’t turn our heating on the first night. However the food and the activities kept us warm and strong enough to survive the week.
The best part of Siberian, was that I got closer with the people in my section, and we had fun doing team activities during the day, and socialising at night. Overall, I loved my stay at Siberian, and would definitely recommend it to the next Year 9s.
On Siberian tiger camp year 10 was focused on fieldcraft. During this weekend we battled the cold into minus degrees. Our fingers froze, our boots were frosty but it didn’t stop us from going out and running through section attacks, patrols, and drill practice to keep us warm. Cadets wore many layers and waterproofs and huddled together in the billets when we could whilst learning our fieldcraft theory. Our sergeants, RSM and SSM took us through many many acronyms and topics under fieldcraft while doing quizzes after each day. We ran through things such as hand signals, fire control orders, observations, clearance patrols and much more we all put to practise throughout the camp.
On the 8th of December, members of the contingent travelled to Crowborough for our annual Siberian Training Camp. At this camp, Year 11s got the opportunity to complete their CFIT (Cadet Force Instructional Techniques) course. This is the senior teaching course which allows cadets to take on greater responsibility in the contingent and to help mentor the younger cadets. Although the weather was bleak and bitter, we were all excited for the weekend ahead of us, especially with the prospect of passing our CFIT course.
On the first two days we covered the theory needed for the CFIT and learnt the most effective ways to teach and how to keep the class engaged. First we started with some icebreakers to introduce us to the group which involved some extremely interesting stories which I will personally never forget. We then had to prepare three lessons (theory, practical and drill) which would be presented to our peers. These lessons were then assessed and we were given a score out of ten which determined how competent we were at teaching. We received feedback from our peers and instructor, which was extremely beneficial. To build our confidence before the assessment, we took part in a fruit themed Dragons’ Den task which involved ‘borrowing’ fruit from the mess and selling our ideas to our peers. While everyone else took apples and avocados, my team managed to smuggle a whole pineapple out of the mess which was quite an achievement in itself! We also got the chance to look after the younger cadets which was a really good opportunity to pay back for all the help that we received from our seniors. We were in charge of their wellbeing and also helped them to settle in. This was rather challenging but incredibly rewarding to see them flourish and thrive as new cadets. All of the Year 9s successfully passed their weapons test which was a great start to their CCF careers and I could not be prouder of them. I am also extremely happy to report that all of the Year 11s passed the assessment which led to all of us being promoted to Corporal which is an exciting new role that many of us are keen to fill. This camp was an amazing experience for cadets of all ranks and ages and, despite the weather we faced, it was a truly memorable experience for all. Thank you to all staff for all of your hard work and support.
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