Ex WET FEET at CCF Recruits Camp

Sixty brand-new Third Year recruits, accompanied by 15 of their Sixth Form NCOs, made their way to Folkestone in the middle weekend of the half-term break for Corps’ annual Recruits’ Camp. They began by receiving their uniform and being instructed in its correct wearing, before heading out beneath grey skies for lessons in basic fieldcraft and drill. As the World Cup Final raged on boxes around world, the recruits took to the training area on Saturday evening for a battle of their own against a dastardly enemy (and the elements). Their platoons scattered by an ambush, the recruits traversed the area is small groups seeking checkpoints to achieve their mission while evading enemy patrols on the never-better-named Ex WET FEET.

After a warm hot chocolate and a good (?) night’s sleep, the contingent undertook further lessons on Sunday on obstacle crossing, drill, duties of a sentry and living in the field. The evening offered recruits their first chance to fire live on the range with the small-bore target rifle, an exercise in elementary night movement beneath a glorious full moon, and lessons in military knowledge. In a flash it was Monday and time for the fiercely-contested inter-section “Coke Can Challenge”: competitions in drill, the DCCT range and the obstacle course led to 1 Section under Sgt Desai emerging as victors. On a miraculously dry(ish) final parade, the Commanding Officer commended a stellar crop of recruits warmly before awarding some special prizes:

–              Best in the Field                               Rct Roberts

–              Best on the Obstacle Course       Rct Beech

–              Best Shot                                            Rct Coomes

–              Best in Drill                                       Rct Amsel

–              Most Improved                                 Rct Foskin

–              Best NCO                                           Cpl Dillon

–              Best Recruit                                      Rct Mulcaire

Without hyperbole, the staff were agreed that it was the strongest and most impressive cohort of recruits and NCO instructors they had taken away for many years – an uplifting way to launch another busy training year.

Capt Mathew Owen

OC Army Section