Gad's Hill cadet's joined by Afghan tour veterans for field day

Gad’s Hill School were honoured to be joined last wednesday by members of the 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland for their annual CCF challenge day. Eight soldiers took part in the day all of whom had recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan and will be going back there next year.

One hundred and twenty cadets took part in a series of skills stands, ranging from command tasks, designed to test the cadets leadership and team working skills, a first aid scenario stand, where cadets had to assess a casualty and decide on the best plan of action to an air rifle sniper stand, where the students worked in pairs, one as the sniper and one as the spotter firing at targets hidden within a wooded area. The highlight of the day was an interest stand set up by 5th Scots introducing the cadets to some of the weapons used on their recent tour of Afghanistan.

Captain Nick Hill, Gad’s Hill’s new Contingent Commander, who himself has just returned from Afghanistan said ‘Despite the less than wonderful weather our cadets were hugely enthusiastic about the challenge day, and it was the perfect opportunity for them to test the skills they have learnt during their time in the CCF. I am grateful to my regiment for visiting us on the day, as you can imagine our students were extremely excited to meet them and question them not only on the weapons but also on their experiences in Afghanistan’

The CCF at Gad’s Hill School is now 3 years old and its central aims are to build confidence, leadership and team skills, as well as giving cadets the chance to take part in activities that challenge and provide a sense of adventure. The school will spend a week at Crowborough training camp in East Sussex in three weeks time, where the cadets will get hands on training from the Army as well as the chance to work with other cadets from across the country.