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King George VI Memorial Leadership Course (KGVI) 07-12 June 2009

As the future designated OC of the Army section, it was a requirement that I attended the KGVI course at the Cadet Training Centre (CTC) Frimley Park. The course is designed to ensure that teachers and Adult Volunteer Instructors (AVIs) lead and instruct cadets safely and responsibly whilst at the same time making training realistic and exciting. I was keen to attend as not only was my knowledge of cadet issues woefully poor, it gave me the chance of a whole week away from SIMs!

On arrival I found that I was sharing a room with an ACF WOII (real world job IT), and an ACF Capt (real word job salesman). There were 49 students on the course from ACF and CCF. Instructors were all serving regular WOs and Officers with ACF and CCF assistant instructors. This eclectic mix meant that there was a wealth of experience both from within the cadet movement and wider walks of life.

The days were long; we started at 0730hrs, rarely finished work before 2330hrs and yet the week flew by in a blaze of classroom instruction, demonstrations, Battle Exercises (BEs), planning, tactics, fieldcraft and a large element of social orientation in the Mess bar into the wee small hours. Not only was the instruction thorough, relevant and delivered in an extremely diverse manner, the course was a wonderful networking opportunity to find people who may help with our Contingent training. As an example, a student on the course is currently helping me to arrange an RAF helicopter visit to Clifton.

Apart from watching another student fire an improvised anti tank weapon made from bean tins, tape and lighter fuel in the gardens, the highlight was definitely the BE day at Minley training area. As a squad everyone planned, directed, played a soldier and enemy for one of 13 exercises. These ranged from reaction to effective enemy fire, through the phases to full section attacks and a night ambush. Blanks and pyros were in plentiful supply! We wrote, delivered and received at least 13 sets of an Exercise Action Safety Plans (EASPs) and conducted Weapon Handling Tests (WHTs) on L98A2 (new SA80), LSW as well as qualifying in the use of various pyros including trip flares.

By the end of the week I had qualified as an Exercise Conducting Officer (ECO) and have a greater awareness and knowledge that will let me assist and conduct better training for the Army section. Those students who worked hard and immersed themselves fully in the training gained the greatest benefit. We now know all of the procedural and practical requirements and considerations required to deliver safe, legal and worthwhile training to our cadets. All we need now is a resupply of ammunition, pyros and funding! All in all, the course went rather well; I have been asked to return to Frimley as an Assistant Instructor on the KGVI. But more importantly, it was fun, informative and one that is an absolute requirement for any Officer in the Army section of Clifton College CCF.

Maj P A Simcox MBE
OC Army Section

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