Calday Grange CCF, Full name Calday Grange/West Kirby CCF is the Combined Cadet Force of both Calday Grange Grammar School and West Kirby Grammar School. It consists of three sections, Army, Navy and Royal Air Force, and is held on Thursday evenings at Calday.

The Combined Cadet Force Contingent, (CCF), in Calday Grange Grammar School traces its history back to 1916, when a unit of the Officers’ Training Corps first formed.


Evolving throughout the subsequent years, the CCF now consists of three sections, A Royal Naval Section, an Army Section, and a Royal Air Force Section. Cadets wear the uniform of their parent service, which is issued free. Cadets are not required to join any of Her Majesty’s Forces when they are older.


The aims of the CCF are to develop the leadership skills of cadets by teaching them discipline, comradeship, good manners, and technical subjects appropriate to their chosen sections.


The Contingent parades from 4pm to 6pm every Thursday during term time. Cadets are expected to attend every parade, unless there is a very good reason for not doing so,


Additionally, there are two “field days” each year, when cadets are taken away from School to take part in activities relating to their Service. There are other training events during the year at weekends.

TRAINING

Recruits can choose to join whichever section they wish. The training which they receive initially is very similar for all three sections. All cadets will be taught footdrill, ranks and badges, basic map-reading, basic first aid, and how to fire a rifle.



Having passed the relevant examinations, cadets will then “specialise” in subjects appropriate to their Service. More senior cadets can be given specialist leadership training.








Cadets in the Royal Naval Section will specialise in nautical subjects. This will include sailing. The Section has its own boats.



Cadets in the Army Section will learn basic army tactics, based on the Infantry. Subjects include camouflage and concealment, and generally there will be more shooting.



Cadets in the Royal Air Force Section will specialise in aeronautical subjects. They will have opportunities to fly in RAF aircraft and to go gliding.

ANNUAL CAMPS

The Army and RAF Sections have one week camps each year at an Army base or RAF station. The RN Section does not have its own camp, but cadets have the opportunity to go to RN stations on specialist courses, or to attend a camp with the Army Section.

DUKE of EDINBURGH’S AWARD SCHEME

Cadets from all sections take part in the Scheme. Much of the training which a cadet does in the CCF can count towards an Award, so cadets are encouraged to take part. There are a number of Adventure Training weekends each year which are planned to help cadets gain an award.

PROMOTION

Cadets who show the right ability and progress can be considered for promotion to be non-commissioned officers, (NCOs).

OFFICERS

Contingent Commander/Commanding Officer (CO) for CGCCF is Major Adcock, Army. The Current Officer Commanding (OC)of the Army Section is Captain Ian Davies. The OC Royal Air Force Section is Flt Lt Doyle
Many of the officers have had either previous military or cadets experiences, some also being teachers at Calday Grammar School.

Army Section

The Army section is by far the largest of sections, not to mention the best within the Cadlay CCF. It is run by a Cadet Colour Sergeant who has worked up through the ranks, generally becoming an outstanding cadet and leader. In some cases, very special cadets can go one further by becoming a Cadet Company Sergeant Major, but this is very rare. Cadets start off at the lowest level, generally with no responsibility. As the progress, the maybe promoted to a Lance Corporal where they are generally given responisibilty over 4 other cadets. The next promotion pahes is Corporal, where cadets are in charge of 8 other cadets and this rank is generally achieved in year 11. The best of these corporals get promoted to Sergeant, where they are second in command of the section or even higher to colour sergeant where they become senior cadet within the Army section with lots of responsibility that the position requires.
The cadets in the Army section carry out most of the rilfe firing, (on military firing ranges with REAL ammunition and military exercises with the Calday CCF Army section. They use blank ammunition, (which are pretend bullets that make a large bang to simulate a real bullet) and carry out patrolling and ambush exercises throughout the British Countryside.
Many regular army personel come to train the Army section with rifle handling and tactics. Also, old cadets who have left Calday school and have gone on to university sometimes come back as part of the TA (territorial Army) or OTC (officer training Corps) to attach themselves to the Army section for military exercises, helping to pass on the wealth of their knowledge to the younger cadets.

RAF Section

The RAF section is one of the smaller sections in the contingent in terms of number of cadets. It is currently under control of Flight Sergeant Jonathan Merry, currently in upper sixth form at Calday. Other NCOs include Flight Sergeant Luke Ward, Sergeant Patrick Cowling, and corporals Jennions, Robinson and Pettit. The RAF section fly from RAF Woodvale for Air Experience Flights.