Ratcliffe College CCF RAF Section

About the CCF

From the MOD

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) has one of the longest histories of all the cadet forces sponsored by the MOD, dating back to the 1850s when a number of schools formed units which were attached to Rifle Volunteer Battalions for Home Defence.

Since the 1950s, however, the CCF has been recognised as a voluntary youth organisation, the aim of which is to provide an opportunity for young people to exercise responsibility and leadership in a disciplined environment.

Today the CCF contingents form a vibrant, inclusive youth organisation for pupils aged between 13 and 18, offering significant developmental opportunities in a unique educational partnership with the schools in which they are based.  Through the use of military-orientated and adventurous training, cadets also have the opportunity to develop their sense of responsibility and the qualities of self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance, perseverance and a sense of service to the community.  The acquisition of these personal attributes at a formative stage will remain of value throughout the cadets’ lives and will be relevant in whatever career they pursue.

There are currently 253 CCF contingents based in both state and independent schools and colleges throughout the UK. The CCF contingent may comprise up to 3 Service sections – Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. Some RN sections also include Royal Marine detachments.

The CCF is not part of the UK Armed Forces. While adult volunteers and cadets do wear uniform, they do not incur any liability for service or compulsory training in the Armed Forces as a result of being a CCF member.

Each school contingent is run by a team of enthusiastic adult volunteers drawn, in the main, from teachers within the school, although outside volunteers are often invited to help.  Schools may also employ a School Staff Instructor, either full or part-time, who is usually a retired Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, who can receive up to 51 days’ pay from the MOD in connection with CCF duties.  Adult volunteers have the opportunity to gain nationally-recognised qualifications in leadership, management and outdoor pursuits.

Training opportunities for cadets occur during weekly parades in school, whole day and weekend training periods (field days), at annual military camps, on courses run by the Armed Forces specifically for cadets and through adventurous training expeditions arranged on an ad hoc basis.  Cadets follow the syllabus appropriate to the section they join but all include drill, skill at arms and use of map and compass. Adventurous training opportunities include mountain walking, canoeing, gliding and offshore sailing. Cadets also have the opportunity to gain BTEC qualifications in Public Services and Music.

The success of any CCF contingent is due to the educational partnership that exists between the MOD and the school.  A school cannot run a successful CCF without the full support of the Head.  It is the Head who must nominate the Contingent Commander and identify the members of staff who are willing to become adult volunteers.  However, adult volunteers may also come from outside the school.  The CCF works best when it is fully integrated into the school curriculum. Time for CCF activities must be scheduled into the school programme.

In return for the school’s commitment, the MOD gives significant support to the CCF by providing uniform, weapons and ammunition, training advice and assistance, loans of stores and equipment, access to military transport and remuneration to SSIs and officers.

To summarise this educational partnership:

The MOD Provides:

• Uniforms
• Weapons and ammunition
• Training for adult volunteers
• Training assistance
• Access to military facilities
• Access to military transport
• Loans of stores and equipment
• Remuneration for adult volunteers

The School Provides:

• Time within the curriculum
• Accommodation and storage
• Adult volunteers
• Young people
• Enduring commitment and enthusiasm

From Wikipedia:

The CCF is distinct from the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, and Air Training Corps.

• The Royal Navy Section wear a distinct CCF Cap Badge .
• Army Sections wear the cap badge of their associated regiment or corps, or their school badge.
• The RAF Sections of the CCF wear the RAF cap badge.

Pupils normally join around the age of 13 or 14, with both sexes taking part. A school contingent may have any combination of Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force sections, and rarely Royal Marines and Royal Signals sections. The Army Section is almost invariably the largest. There is also a very small 'out-of-school' contingent of the Royal Marines, that meet together. These cadets are from different schools. The contingent was set up due to the lack of many Marine sections in schools, but there is a number limit of 70 and therefore places are highly contested.

Cadets

Cadets mostly hold standard non-commissioned ranks, prefixed by "Cadet". The highest ranks are usually Cadet Coxswain (Royal Navy Section), Cadet Contingent Sergeant Major or in Household Cavalry Units, Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major (Army and RM Sections) and Cadet Warrant Officer (RAF Section). These ranks are considered to be of equal parity.

Some contingents may have Under Officers in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines sections, although the RAF generally do not recognise this rank. To give total parity of ranks among the different sections, the RAF section has a special rank - that does not exist in the regular RAF (or in the Air Training Corps) - of Cadet Junior Corporal, equivalent to Cadet Lance Corporal in the Army section.

Officers

CCF officers are generally teachers from the school, and are not normally eligible to be called up. They hold commissioned ranks up to and including lieutenant colonel or its equivalent in the other services, although there are a small number of officers above this rank (This can only occur where the Officer concerned formerly served in the regular forces and has been allowed to retain his/her rank on retiring.) (JSP313, CCF manual).

Unlike in the external cadet organisations (ATC/SCC/ACF), all instructors are commissioned, by tradition as instructors are generally teachers and so 'professionally qualified'.

Officers hold commissions in the reserves of their own force. RAF officers commissions are Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) (RAF VR(T)), and they wear a VRT pin on their rank braid to signify this. RN Officers have specific CCF commissions, designated RNR(CCF), and their rank braid is 'wavy' to signify this. Army officers hold commissions in the CCF specifically, and have a CCF marking on their rank slides.

The exception to the 'all instructors are commissioned' rule is the 'SSI' (School Staff Instructor), who is an ex-forces SNCO or Warrant Officer (usually Army), who retains their rank as a reservist, assigned to the school to instruct and assist in the running of the Contingent. There is usually one SSI per Contingent, and they are often also employed by the school on a part-time/casual basis.