Combined Cadet Force (CCF)

The Combined Cadet Force is a national voluntary youth organisation. It is sponsored by the Army and provides challenging military, adventurous and community activities. Its aim is to inspire young people to achieve success in life with a spirit of service to the Queen, their Country and their local community, and to develop in them the qualities of a good citizen.

The Ratcliffe College CCF’s aim is to develop transferable skills and qualities which will be useful later in life. These include leadership, responsibility, self-confidence, initiative, reliance, team spirit and pride in one’s appearance.

We welcome cadets of all abilities and backgrounds and continuously aim to develop a sense of community. Cadets engage with pupils from different year groups and social groups. All cadets start at the same level, wiping clean the slate of existing achievements and friendship groups, and allowing each individual to develop their own talents in a new and challenging environment.

The Ratcliffe College CCF provides a wide diversity of fun, exciting and adventurous opportunities. It’s also a gateway to recognised vocational qualifications, from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to BTEC First Diplomas, which can help in working and school life. CCF’s can have Army, Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines sections and at present we run an Army and RAF section.

The Ratcliffe College CCF cadets take part in regular events such as:

Weekly parades every Tuesday afternoon;
At least one field training weekend a term,for the Army section;
Easter Adventure Training Camp;
Remambrance Day Parades
Various opportunities for the RAF cadets to go flying;
Numerous leadership courses available to cadets;
Enrolment on the CVQOBTEC in Teamwork and Personal Development in the community;
Summer camps for both sections.

We also try to organise a trip abroad every two years such as adventure training in the South of France or South Africa and battlefield tour and adventure training in South Africa for example.

Activities

The CCF also runs a wide variety of adventure training and outdoor pursuit activities within the year, some UK based others abroad. Cadets are encouraged to take part as much or as little as they would like to. Some activities may include:

Archery
Rock climbing
Kayaking
Mountaineering
Shooting and marksmanship
Caving
Skiing, Alpine and Nordic
Completion of a BTEC Level 2 Award

Fees

The Contingent joining fee is currently £60 per year which contributes towards the cost of insurance, rations, equipment, non-uniformed instructors and transport. One essential purchase, not provided by the MoD is combat boots, as the correct footwear is an important safety issue: without proper boots, no cadet may participate in training. (These can be privately purchased or via the contingent at a current cost of £37 per pair).

All other camps, exercises and activities are costed individually and range from £20 upwards depending on the length of the event, the type of event and, in some cases, which country an activity may be taking place.

For more information, please see our CCF further information booklet, which includes contact details if you wish to make any queries or join: