Activities

21 January 23 – Ex Jacob the Goose

On Saturday 21st January 2023 CFAVs and cadets with assisting cadet NCOs completed a full day’s training covering basic fieldcraft. Although cold, all participating enjoyed the day and all cadets passed the course. The day ended in contact drills using our newly acquired paintball rifles (courtesy of the CCFA – Combined Cadet Force Association – £5000 grant awarded).

Saturday was definitely a day to remember. Not only did we learn essential skills that are required during fieldcraft, but we learnt about each other as a unit. It was great seeing all the different topics come together and interweave with each other; like different hand signals needed for formations etc…The best part of my day was cooking lunch outdoors with the rest of my team! Amritpal Singh

Ex Jacob the Goose has been an amazing opportunity to build on my leadership skills. Since I have already passed Basic Fieldcraft, I enjoyed helping and teaching other cadets. Personally, I enjoyed going for a patrol around the school premises whilst guiding my squad into the correct formations. Also, it was great to talk to other people from different year group who I wouldn’t usually talk to on a day to day basis. Simrah Khan  

Despite the cold, early start to our day, we had a fantastic time! Saturday was a day full of fun and creativity, having not a single minute to spare. We learnt a lot about our strengths and weaknesses, acting as a combined unit, and learning about many important skills such as fieldcraft and field signals. I really enjoyed this day, especially when we got to shoot the paintball guns! Ambrus Hencz

14 December 2022 – Ex Santa is Down

On Wed 14 December 2022 Pioneer CCF cadets and CFAVs ventured to Black Park’s Go Ape circuit. Despite the snow, ice and freezing cold temperature our resilient cadets clung to the platforms and ropes within the tree canopy with numb fingers. This was an Arctic training exercise encouraging cadets to complete missions regardless of extreme weather conditions.

Our motto is always to train outdoors regardless of extreme heat or cold, rain, snow or shine.

11 November 22 – Remembrance Parade

At PSA, we believe Remembrance Day honours those who serve to defend our democratic freedoms and our way of life. In addition to a two-minute silence at 11:00 on 11th November, Remembrance Day, all members of the school community assembled outside the front of the school building for the laying of a poppy wreath, a ceremony led by the school’s CCF.

We united proudly as a school community to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth. We will remember them.

 

  • We remember the sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth.
  • We pay tribute to the special contribution of families and of the emergency services.
  • We acknowledge innocent civilians who have lost their lives in conflict and acts of terrorism.

7-9 October 2022 – Ex Olive Branch 3

On the 7-9 October 2022 Cadets from the Pioneer CCF Company joined cadets from A Company, Bucks ACF in the third joint training weekend at St George’s Barracks, Bicester Garrison.

In the last year or so the Pioneer CCF has developed a close working relationship with A Company, Bucks ACF.

We are the only CCF unit (school based Cadet Force) in the UK actively cooperating and working with the  community based ACF (Army Cadet Force).

A huge thanks to the Olive branch extended to us by Major Chalfont (Commander – A Company). It has become known to us that our activities have drawn the positive attention of Major Generals in Whitehall!

12 September 22 – Recruits Boot Camp

New recruits from the Summer 2022 intake conducted a day’s initial recruit training where recruits were issued and taught how to wear their PCS uniform and the basics of foot drill and low level skill at arms training.  In addition to this the 12th of September is also Saragarhi day. This is a day that is celebrated by all Sikhs in service to the crown.

On 12th September 1897, 21 British Indian Army Sepoys (Sikh soldiers) defended the Saragarhi outpost in the hills of the North West Frontier Province, now Pakistan but then part of British India, against 10,000 Afghan tribesmen. Rather than surrender, the soldiers fought to the death for nearly 10 hours with ammunition and bayonets. Although the outpost was lost, the Afghans later admitted to having lost around 180 of their warriors and many more wounded, demonstrating the expertise of the Sikh soldiers. To honour the selfless commitment and courage of these Sikh soldiers they were posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest gallantry award of the time.

The Pioneer CCF Company felt this day should be remembered by those in uniform and recruits therefore took part in a small act of remembrance once their uniform had been issued.

18 July 2022 – Ex Snowdonia

On Monday 18th July 2022 24 cadets and 4 adult volunteers from the Pioneer CCF Company travelled from Stoke Poges to Aberdovey to complete a 5-day residential Outward-Bound Adventure Training course.

Following the significant disruption caused by COVID, an expedition was proposed as the perfect way to galvanise the unit and lift morale.

Once the rough plan had been agreed, Capt. R Hague applied to The Ulysses Trust for a grant. The Ulysses Trust grants team assessed his application and took a view that the amount asked for was far too conservative, so enhanced the grant to make it more affordable to all the cadets’ families.

Following the award, the unit began a programme of exercises to prepare them for their expedition to Snowdonia.

Getting ready

Things got off to a shaky start when several cadets got lost as they struggled to use a map and compass properly during a navigation exercise. However, more activities followed including an expedition to the Peak District with various Adventure Training exercises, a day of canoeing on the Thames, and 2 weekends in the Chilterns where the cadets completed the expedition element of their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. It was during these build-up activities that the cadets learnt more about teamwork, leadership and building confidence to face new challenges.

By gradually increasing the level of challenge involved in these activities the cadets were well prepared for Snowdonia.

Building resilience

On their first day, the cadets engaged in multiple challenging activities which stretched them out of their comfort zones. These included jumping off a high jetty and swimming in the sea, and preparations for a two-day wild camping expedition. These activities were designed to build resilience, teamwork and autonomy in planning.

The following days (which included the hottest day the UK has ever experienced) saw the cadets gain altitude for their mountain camping expedition. A variety of navigation and signalling activities were undertaken. These were followed by a canoe journey down the estuary for an evening campfire on the beach. The finale was a wall climbing exercise to showcase their teamwork skills before heading home. This support from the Ulysses Trust has helped kick-start the Pioneers into planning more expeditions in the future.

18-19 June 2022 – CCF DofE Bronze Expedition

On 18-19 June 2022 9 Pioneer CCF cadets completed our first Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Qualifying Expedition. This took place in the Chilterns. We have big plans for 2023 when we will be running both the Bronze and Silver Awards.

15 June 2022 – Ex Delta Force

On Wednesday the 15 June 2022 it was the hottest day of the year. 16 cadets and 2 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) marched from PSA to Velocity Paintball (Stoke Poges) where “only the brave survive”.

The exercise was led by Capt. R Hague and Sgt D Henry.  C Sgt J Barrett was on hand to brief cadet section commanders and their 2 I/Cs on battle drills learned and practised at PSA.

2 sections (red and blue teams) of cadets led by CFAVs and cadet NCOs engaged each other in a sequence of 7 brutal skirmishes in the dense woodlands of Stoke Poges. It was a hot and sweaty business where opposing teams of cadets attempted to put their infantry battle drills into practice: Prep for battle, Reaction to effective enemy fire, enemy location and paired fire and manoeuvre drills.

At the end of the day, 16 tired, sweaty, bruised but very happy cadets marched happily back to base followed by their limping and aching CFAVs.

We look forward to continued and sustained exercises.

25 May – 27 May 2022 – Ex Lost Earth Adventure 1

From 25 – 27 May 2022 the Pioneer CCF embarked on its first independent adventurous training camp. Capt. R Hague, Lt. J Mangan and C Sgt M Barlow projected 8 cadets from PSA to the Peak District in 2 Army sponsored vehicles – a 17-seater minibus and a combi support van carrying all camping equipment, cadet equipment and field rations for 3 days.

Wed 25 May – After a 4 hour journey the team arrived at North Lees Campsite near Hathersage and set up our camp for the next three days. Having eaten and changed into the appropriate gear we drove to meet the Lost Earth Adventures team where wetsuits and helmets were issued. We followed the instructors in convoy and began trekking to Fairbrook Clough on the North side of Kinder Scout and proceeded to scramble up the fast-flowing stream up slippery rocks and challenging terrain, climbing up waterfalls and leaping into pools. When we returned to camp, wet and cold, we fed on Sikh rations issued by the Army and camped for the night.

Thu 26 May – Revelly was sounded at 0700. The following morning having prepared ourselves for the day we drove to Edale where we met the Lost Earth instructors. By this time, the instructor named Luca had already learned the names of all 8 cadets which was quite impressive. We began our 8-mile trek up Kinder Scout and it began to rain from the outset. We climbed and climbed in the wind and rain, clambering up steep rocky crags until we reached the summit of Kinder Scout. On the peak of Kinder Scout, the wind and driving rain was furious and after hours of climbing and hiking we were all cold and soaked through. After several miles we escaped off Kinder Scout seeking respite from the howling wind and driving rain down a steep grassy slope where many of us slid down the hill laughing in the face of adversity. As we attempted to extract ourselves the wind and rain intensified as if Kinder Scout did not want us to leave – We named him the “Angry Mountain”.

By this point it was late and still windy and raining so we drove to Glossop where CCF funds paid for all to share 6 large freshly made and baked hot pizzas – it was a genius morale booster warming all from within. Returning to camp the rain stopped and the sun began to shine and we changed into dry clothes and relaxed.

Fri 27 May – Revelly was sounded at 0700. We carried out personal admin in the field and struck camp loading the vehicles and after a 40-minute drive met the Lost Earth instructors by the sailing club. It was a windy day in the open canoes, and it was challenging to manoeuvre, turn and make progress on the lake. However, by tying the canoes together and working as a team we achieved our objectives. Cadets learned an important lesson – the team is greater than the sum of its parts. After a 4 hour drive we handed the tired cadets back to their parents at PSA at 1800 as planned.

The exercise, though very challenging, was a great success and Pioneer CCF plans to repeat this next year but doing Canyoning, Trekking and Caving instead.

The cadets learned – independence, camp craft, personal admin in the field, and developed self-reliance, self-confidence, resilience, discipline, courage and above all teamwork.

04 May 2022 – Ex Longridge

On Wed 04 May 2022 the Pioneer CCF spent a day at the Longridge Activity centre on the river Thames canoeing, kayaking, bell boating, dragon boating and raft building.

02 October 2021 – CCF Range Day

At 0800 on Saturday 2 October 2021 12 KSA CCF Army cadets travelled to the Otmoor Army range to join 14 RGS High Wycombe cadets on the live firing range.

The cadets, supported by the School and RGS CCF Adult Volunteers, received expert instruction in a full day of live firing using the L98A2 Assault Rifle.

They received expert instruction from the Army’s 11 Infantry Brigade’s Cadet Training Team led by WO1 Al Batchelor.

The cadets fired over 90 live rounds each at targets at 25m, 50m and 100m.

The weather was awful as they aimed down the range in the pouring and driving rain. By 1500 all cadets, volunteers and army personnel were soaked through to the bone so we decided to call it a day and dispense with the opportunity of firing from a distance of 200m.

Despite the cold and the heavy, heavy, persistent rain the cadets were all still smiling.

04-05 March 2023 – CCF Ex DofE Silver Practice Expedition

On the weekend of 4-5 March 9 new cadet entrants to the CCF DofE Silver Award attended a training camp in the Chilterns with 2 CFAVs (Capt. Hague and Lt Woodcock) and Mr John Williams from “Zest for Adventure”. After a long day morale was boosted as all gathered around a large fire in the forest built by the fire master. It was a magical time as a Punjabi song was sung about the heroic battle of Saragarhi where 20 Sikh soldiers fought to the death against 10 000 Afghan tribesmen. This was ably translated by Cdt Jasleen Johar. The following day was spent on an accompanied walk in the Chilterns where navigational skills were taught and demonstrated.
From Sat-Mon 11-13 March these 9 cadets were joined by 7 bronze award holders at PSA where Capt Hague, C Sgt Barlow and Sgt Barrett transported the cadets in two vehicles (provided by the Army) to the Cotswolds near Cheltenham where we made our rendezvous with Lt Woodcock (CFAV) and John Williams and David Goss (Zest for Adventure). Here on the snow covered hilly terrain began a 3 day, 2 night arduous camping expedition where cadets, carrying full kit, marched in the cold, driving rain for 50km.
This was a challenging expedition where only 80% of the company made it to the end (20% being returned to barracks for a variety of very valid reasons). The CCF adult volunteers spent 3 days tracking the cadets using our new tracking technology, assisting lost cadets only when necessary.
I have to say I was so impressed by the grit, resilience & determination of these 16 (Y10-11) cadets. It should be noted that Nationally only about 300 000 young people do the Bronze expedition per year compared to maybe 100 000 doing the Silver Expedition. This is a very small percentage of all young people. It is no surprise therefore that only 2000 youngsters per year (17-25 year olds) dare brave the Gold expedition and those that do and pass will receive their awards from the Duke himself at Buckingham Palace.
Impressed…why you may ask?
Because hiking with full kit for 3 days on challenging unfamiliar terrain, in adverse weather conditions and camping in wet muddy fields, is challenging for experienced hikers in the correct technical kit. These cadets have never done anything like this before and without the modern technical equipment.
Needless to say, I am extremely proud of them and of our volunteers who gave up their time to support them.
For me, although exhausted myself, I can say there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the bright smiles of satisfaction on the cadets’ faces, having faced the elements and having overcome their fears & challenges. In their own words, they have learnt much about themselves, their comrades and have realised that the team is so much greater than the individual.
The real challenge will take place on their qualifying expedition in the bleak and harsh terrain of the Peak District (1-3 July 2023). For this challenge they will need to reflect on lessons learnt and spend the next 3 months preparing.
All hail the glorious Pioneers!