CCF Ex Longmoor Warrior

A small squad Army Cadets from Fourth Year and Lower VI, spent three days at Longmoor Training Areas over Easter honing their fieldcraft and tactics.

Following the glories of last year, Caterham School CCF has once again been awarded a place on Cadet Cambrian Patrol in May. This exercise therefore offered intensive training and confirmation of skills for the 11-cadet squad, building on hard work at unit over the past months. Knowing the size of the boots from 2024 they aim to fill – Gold Medals and Best Patrol Commander – the intensity and effort was tremendous throughout.

After occupying a patrol harbour, the section moved to an OP. One fire-team was tasked with observing and producing a detailed range card, while the other wrestled with a fiendish military knowledge quiz. From there, they were ordered to occupy a defensive position in expectation of probing enemy attacks, offering the commanders a chance to fine-tune their fire control orders. Eventually the enemy presence grew, forcing the section to break contact.

But there was no rest yet. A 6km navigation exercise saw the section, led by some excellent navigation by Cdt Chapman, cover a significant distance in limited time and reach far-from-obvious CPs en route. Following night CTRs on an enemy location, bashas beckoned (stag notwithstanding).

The morning of Day 2 was devoted to section hasty attacks. After revision and the building of SOPs, the section conducted an arduous lane comprising six enemy positions, by the end working with great efficiency, communication and tactical awareness. The afternoon focused on battlefield first aid: presented with a string of scenarios of multiple, graphic casualties, they performed splendidly, in several cases despite enemy contact.

The last few hours of the vernal light allowed the section 2i/c, Sgt Gumbley, to orchestrate the building of an impressive model – a first experience for all the 2* cadets at the heart of the section. Following formal orders from the Section Commander, Sgt Woods, ROC drills and a hasty dinner, the section occupied an ambush, sprung late into the evening by an enemy convoy totally overwhelmed by withering fire beneath a canopy of flares.

Day 3 was for the confirmation of skills learned, but, with 11 cadets vying for just eight places on Cambrian, the cadets knew well there was much at stake before the DS’s beady eyes. The three phases – a multiple-casualty first aid scenario in contact, a section attack lane and a stretcher run – challenged the cadets’ weary legs and brains, but they performed very well indeed, showing composure, determination, skill and esprit de corps to the very end. As endex was called and they mopped the sweat of hard work from their brows, all of those involved could be very proud of themselves indeed.

As ever, the exercise would have been nothing without the efforts of our ADS – Upper VI Master Cadets and Cambrian Gold Medallists whose insights and expertise were the heart of the squad’s learning. Nor too could it have worked without the extraordinary dedication of my colleagues, who, as ever, went above and beyond for the benefit of the cadets and of Corps.

Capt Mathew Owen
OC Army Section