Oct 2008 - Morrison's Academy

Page 100 The Morrisonian | 07/08 Co-Curricular
Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
The CCF continues to be a popular
extra curricular activity within the
school and offers pupils the chance
to involve themselves in a variety of
challenging activities. The emphasis
is very much placed on the individual
to decide what they want to achieve
from their time within the CCF. For
some the camaraderie of the annual
summer camp is a highlight of their
time in the organisation; whilst others
gain great satisfaction from honing
their shooting skills and competing in
the Country Life Shoot. The
opportunity to complete the Silver
and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award is
a key attraction to many and every
year a significant number gain these
awards.
This report aims to give an overview of
some of the key moments of the
previous twelve months.
Summer Camp 07
During the first week of the summer
holidays 65 cadets and six members
of staff headed to Barry Buddon
Camp for a week of activities. The
first day was spent settling into the
modern well-equipped
accommodation and being issued
equipment for the week by Mr
Buchan. Then the Contingent
deployed into the field for a twentyfour
hour exercise. This was organised
by members of 21 Cadet Training
Team, who regularly assist Morrison’s
Cadets. Despite some heavy showers
all went well and morale remained
high. Everyone completed a
challenging series of events including
blank-firing section attacks, a night
ambush and a night sleeping under
bivouac shelters. It was a great
opportunity for the senior cadets to
assume command positions and lead
their junior counterparts throughout
the exercise. As an interest activity
the cadets were given a survival
demonstration that will be
remembered for many years, even if it
is only for Oliver Jones eating a fish’s
eye.
The chance of some sleep in camp
the next day was spurned by the
majority of the cadets and, having
cleaned themselves and their kit, they
enjoyed impromptu football games.
Then it was onto buses to head to
Ballater to begin an adventure
training package. This was overseen
by Edinburgh-based 24 Cadet
Training Team and was the highlight
of the week for many. I was extremely
impressed with those S2 cadets who
completed a 27km walk over 5
Munros. Jasmine Thomas still had
enough energy to run to the minibus
at the end of the walk. The next day
was spent canoeing on Aboyne Loch
and orienteering at Cambus of May.
The torrential rain meant that the
planned abseiling and climbing was
not a viable option.
Following another bus journey, we
arrived back at Barry Buddon for the
final two days of activities, the first of
which comprised of a day shooting
on the ranges. For many this was the
first time that they had had a chance
to shoot at targets at ranges greater
than 25m. There was also an
opportunity to fire the Light Support
Weapon which was enjoyed by all.
That evening the cadets participated
in a period of drill instruction which
was led by a sergeant major from the
Scots Guards. It was amazing to see
the rapid improvement in the
standard of their drill and bearing
after only half an hour’s instruction.
By this stage Andrew Turnbull was
complaining that he was exhausted
and had never felt so tired in his life.
How he must have wished that he
had heeded the advice to sleep
earlier in the week!
The final day of activities was spent
completing a series of stands run by a
variety of the arms of the British Army.
The Royal Artillery introduced the
105mm Light Gun, the Royal Engineers
ran a mine clearance stand and the
Royal Army Medical Corps ran first aid
activities. The most unusual part of
the week was still to come and this
took the form of a visit and speech by
a NASA astronaut who had just
returned from space! He might well
have just inspired some intrepid
travellers of the future.
Throughout the week Sandy Jackson
and Vicki Henderson worked tirelessly
to organise the cadets and it is down
to their hard work that the Contingent
received so much praise from the
various members of staff who ran the
activities. In addition Mr McKeever
and Dr Kihlken must be thanked for
giving up their time to provide extra
staff cover for the week.