CCF Self Reliance Weekend
On Sunday 26 November, 10 Cadets from Nova Hreod Academy joined cadets from Marlborough College on a field exercise on Salisbury Plain.
During the morning they worked as a squad and were taught by senior cadets various military skills including patrolling, duties of a sentry and rifle skills.
After lunch they were shown how to set up a basic shelter out of a tarpaulin and how to make it comfortable enough to sleep in. By now the wind chill had taken the temperature down making it quite difficult to work in. Working in pairs, shelters were erected. Rations were then issued which were cooked using the army issue field stove (hexe burner) and mess tins.
Once the night had fallen four squads patrolled an area using the skills they had been taught earlier. This involved hand signs and observation.
Morning started at 07:00 with a heavy downpour of rain making cooking breakfast a soggy challenge. This was followed with a morning of further instruction with the culmination being firing blank ammunition at targets.
Well done to all, especially considering the weather conditions. Great enthusiasm and attitude was shown by all.
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