Combined Cadet Force

Overview of Combined Cadet Force

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a national military youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. Q3 Academy Langley operates an RAF Air Cadets section, which was first established in around 2017. CCF is not designed to be a recruiting tool for the Armed Services, although students who are interested in pursuing a career in the military can gain experience. The main purpose of the CCF is to provide students with an opportunity to experience military skills and discipline, to participate in physical and adventurous activities and develop character skills such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience.

CCF @ Q3

Students are invited to join CCF at the beginning of year 9. They are required to submit a formal letter of application, with students then being shortlisted to participate. Cadets attend Parade on a Thursday night from 15:00 – 17:30. During parade evenings activities are split between physical education, cadet activities (such as foot drill, working towards qualifications such as First Class Cadet and Leading Cadet, radio communications), and Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) activities. The Cadets have performed an annual Remembrance Parade to commemorate Armistice Day for the last three years. This has included a demonstration of basic foot drill and the laying of a wreath, with the Parade being performed in front of the whole school cohort. A number of cadets have also been taken to RAF Cosford to participate in supervised flying activities. This involves cadets being taken into the air by experienced RAF pilots in two-seater Grub training aircraft. The CCF also look to organise a week long residential camp during the summer term at RAF Inskip, although availability for this has been limited over the last two years.