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The Royal Navy Section

Officer Commanding:

The Royal Navy section of the CCF offers a wide variety of exciting experiences and opportunities to cadets on both water and land. Pupils joining this section will probably be attracted by the extensive opportunities for boat work and related nautical activities. When the weather is suitable, cadets spend time canoeing, sailing, or learning to take control of powered boats in the floating harbour, a fifteen-minute drive from the school. Great responsibility is given to the cadets and many become extremely proficient in nautical skills. In the winter months classroom work covers different aspects of the naval syllabus. This tends to concentrate on navigation skills, chart work, maritime affairs and first aid. Indoor climbing and shooting are also on offer during this period.

Every term the cadets go away on Field Days to various locations and partake in a wide variety of interesting and challenging activities. The Field Days give the cadets experience of many different aspects of the Royal Navy. Recent field days include: Two days with the Royal Marines at RMB Chivenor, Devon – canoeing / kayaking / assault course and flying in Sea King Helicopters. HMS Excellent – Portsmouth – Staying on a warship, power boating, night navigation, sailing and exploring the historical navy base. The Wye Valley – escape and evasion exercises, navigation and Canadian canoeing.

During the Easter and summer holidays there are over 110 different types of MoD run courses that cadets from all three sections may attend and membership of the RN section is a passport to further superb opportunities. For example pupils have been able to gain RYA qualifications in power boating and sailing, compete at a national level and spend time on board Naval vessels around the world. The section has excellent links with commissioned warships and Submarines, which are visited on occasions. Similarly we can take advantage of the facilities at the various shore establishments within easy driving distance from the school.

The Royal Navy section will teach you to do things that you did not think were possible with boats. You will learn new skills, leadership and how to work as a team. You will also have tremendous fun and will learn to push yourself beyond the ordinary limits of day-to-day life. If boat work or anything nautical is of interest or a career in the Senior Service appeals, this is definitely section for you.

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