NRA Journal - Summer 2004 - National Rifle Association

NRA CADET COACHING COURSEby Andrew PenfoldOnce again we prepared for the NRA Cadet CoachingCourse at Godalming. The difference this time wasthat the course was 50% oversubscribed by the closingdate.I had the unenviable task of using the red pen - one ofthe other coaches had suggested a blindfold and pin -however, every unit got a percentage of theirrequested places. Luckily we had operated a reservewhich meant that the two last minute vacant placeswere filled by Elizabeth College Guernsey at 7pm theevening before they were due to travel!The Surrey ACF weekend training centre was testedto its limits - 57 students, 10 directing staff and acouple of chefs.Work started immediately on the Friday eveningwhen the course participants were split into theirrespective syndicates. Saturday was spent in theclassroom and the highlight of the day had to be JoHossack (GM), Captain of the GB U25 WorldChampions, who kindly flew down from Edinburghto give an enthralling talk about her short butincredible shooting career. It certainly lit a few fires -hopefully about shooting. We were doubly gratefulas it was Valentine’s Day; she returned to Edinburghin time for her dinner date with her boyfriend Adam.Sunday morning was spent with the coaches beingput through their paces putting the SkillsEnhancement Course students into the prone position,a time consuming yet important activity.The Advanced Course were preparing to “break out”,Mik Maksimovic had designed a very practical, yetdemanding course for them to complete. Afterchecking their kit and positions it was off to the ZeroRange at Bisley; time was also spent on Stickledownlooking at wind flags and discussing wind flags, aswell as a quick walk around the ranges. It was a usefulexercise for these young people trying to break downany fear or mystique about long range shooting asfor many it was to be their first time.All members of the course were relieved that we weremoving out to Stoney Castle ranges on Mondaymorning. We spent valuable time at 300 yards zeroingand getting the cadets used to the L81 A1 rifle, as wellas getting the coaches used to their allocated cadetswhom they had never met before.The Advanced Course had to prepare and coachthemselves - quite a novelty for most of them, thoughthey all took to it like ducks to water, which was quiteuseful because on Tuesday it rained!Later Major Simon Fraser, Secretary of CCRS spoketo the junior members of the course, advising themhow to go about getting selected for the respectivejunior tours abroad.Another successful NRA Cadet Coaching Course. (Photo: Andrew Penfold)30