Ask me about the CCF

I've been meaning to make this topic for a while now as I think it's rather interesting.

Basically, at my school, Friday afternoon activities can be CCF (Combined Cadet Forces). We can choose to go into Army, Navy or RAF. In each of the different sections people learn about their chosen section; such as the Army would learn about being in the army etc. the Navy would learn about sailing etc. and the RAF would learn about flying etc.

I chose to join the Army as it's the most respected/coolest/hardcore of the three (second is Navy and RAF isn't acknowledged most of the time). In the Army section we learn about

• Marching
• How to operate and clean rifles and light-support weapons
• Shooting, basic first aid
• Survival training
• Patrolling
• Sentry duties
• Building bashers
• How to clear buildings
• And more.

I'll try to answer any questions that people have on it to the best of my ability.


[EDIT] 1000th post.

Grats on your 1000th post :P

My question:
WTF is the point of CCF? Apart from it being reasonably fun, it seems one of the most pointless exercises I know about... I mean what is the point of knowing how to clear buildings unless you actually want to join the army? And if you do join the army then you'll most likely get taught it again anyway.

What is it meant to teach?

Also,

• are there any other options apart from CCF?
• Do you do D of E?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Toaster

Grats on your 1000th post :P

My question:
WTF is the point of CCF? Apart from it being reasonably fun, it seems one of the most pointless exercises I know about... I mean what is the point of knowing how to clear buildings unless you actually want to join the army? And if you do join the army then you'll most likely get taught it again anyway.

What is it meant to teach?

---

You almost answered your own question there. It is really fun learning all this stuff, and when you put it into practice on some of the camps we go on where we romp around on the moors doing night patrols, it is brilliant.

I remember one time I was on an army camp at Penhale which has got this massive area filled with sand dunes. We played a giant game of "Capture the flag". One flag was a stretcher, the other an empty missile case. We were all given rifles and put into teams. We had NCOs (Non-commisioned Officers... older students with rank) watching over us and we killed each other with clickfire. Clickfire is when you pull the trigger with nothing loaded and it makes a loud click noise, hence the name. They stood near to us and judged whether we hit our target (the other team) and points were added up for kills. If you were killed you were sent back to base and had to start again. We had people going up flanks, fireteams, we had to give people cover, it was like being in a movie or video game. It was so, so, so unbelievably, undeniably awesome.

We played it all day.

Back on the topic though, it teaches respect and how to act around superiors. As well as this, if you are given rank within the CCF you are taught leadership and also how to teach, as it's the NCOs who give us most of our lessons.

As well as this a surprising number of students from the CCF at my school go on to join the army. These aren't the dunces who haven't a hope of getting a 'proper' job but people who want to become medics. If you've been in the CCF when you go into the army you'll also have a huge step-up on other recruits and are looked on favourably. You're also much more likely to get real rank in the army.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Toaster

Also,

• are there any other options apart from CCF?
• Do you do D of E?

---

Yes there are other options but they're a bit... weak. You've got art, photography, typing skills, conversational spanish, ICT etc.

Our school does do Duke of Edinburgh, but it's also seen as a bit of a weak option here. Mainly because they don't seem to work as hard as others.

For example, the 10 Tors team regularly did 30+ kms a day on their practices. D of E did something like 10 kms on the first day of their walk, forced to camp and then did another 5 kms the next day for the actual event! I'm not sure if that was the exact numbers but it was a pitiful amount compared to 10 Tors. The people who do it are also kind of odd.

But this is just our school's "version" of D of E. I hope it is run differently at other schools and given more respect as it is a valid exercise in my opinion.

OK, that pretty much answered my questions :)

At our school, you can do either CCF, or VSU. VSU is voluntary service, ie helping old, people, etc. CCF is pretty much the same as you've explained. More people do CCF than VSU, but VSU does look better on your CV.

Then almost everyone in the year does D of E, which requires some voluntary service anyway... I can't remember whether CCF counts towards this.
I agree that 10km is not really much of a challenge, but I guess some people are pretty unfit, and you have to do the orienteering and stuff as well.

I do VSU, since most of my friends do it. The two 'coolest' options are VSU and army. VSU is cool because it ends early and you don't have to smear your face with mud; Army is cool because of the hard image.

What are the 10 Tors that you talked about? Never heard of that... care to explain? Oh and that Capture the flag sounds awesome :D