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The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a tri-Service military cadet organisation based in schools and colleges throughout the UK. Although it is administered and funded by the Services it is a part of the National Youth Movement.
There are some 240 CCF contingents with 40,000 cadets. The role of the CCF is to help boys and girls to develop powers of leadership through training, which promotes qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance, perseverance and a sense of service to the community. Military training is also designed to demonstrate why defence forces are needed, how they function and to stimulate an interest in a career as an officer in the Services. Additionally, the CCF contributes yet another challenging dimension to what is already an intensive educational programme at Rossall School.
It has, however, been established that Rossall was the first public school to enrol Volunteers and have them sworn in under the provisions of the Volunteer Act, and we have the original muster book in which the first names were entered on 1st February, 1860. Other Corps at Eton, Felsted, etc., were raised within a month or two.
The CCF receives assistance and support for its training programme from the Regular and Reserve Forces, but the bulk of adult support is provided by members of school staff who are responsible to head teachers for the conduct of cadet activities. CCF officers wear uniform but they are not part of the Armed Forces and carry no liability for service or compulsory training. Without these staff being prepared to dedicate significant amounts of their own time to these extra curricular activities, the Corps would simply not exist.
The CCF is however not primarily intended as a recruiting wing for the Armed Forces and carries no liability for military service. Having said that, 35% of commissioned officers within the Armed Services have previously been members of a CCF contingent somewhere in the UK.
Finally, the remaining major aspect of CCF life is shooting and marksmanship. All cadets are trained on either the No8 rifle, the Cadet GP assault rifle or the Cadet target rifle. They have to pass a safety test supervised by a member of the Armed Forces before they are allowed to handle any loaded firearms.
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Autumn Term 2010 - letter to parents......
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