Brentwood School - Brentwoodian 2020

91 With the addition of 100 new recruits in January 2020 RSM Gough and RQ Adams along with the CSMs and CQs worked hard on ensuring the new Third Years in Basic Company learnt how to correctly wear their uniform and start to march like soldiers? Elizabeth HB, Basic CSM, soon had them in shape enjoying the initial basic training. Officer Commanding Basic Company, Lt. Gellard, ensured the cadets progressed with great enthusiasm and attention to the basic syllabus. We must acknowledge the great and positive impact that Lt. Gellard has made during her time in the Army Company and we all wish her well in her new role; thank you Miss you will be missed. Following on from our Gold medal success in 2019 the Combat Cadet team training and selection had been ongoing since September. The team was starting to take shape and CSgt. Sell’s expectations for more success was high. And then it all came to an abrupt halt.... Fingers crossed for all those who trained and in the Army Company next March that they can take part in the 2021 Combat Cadet competition? Despite lockdown the Army cadets were set a series of virtual exercises during the Friday sessions which they completed with great enthusiasm. These included exercises in navigation, escape and evasion, cam and concealment, building bashers to name but a few. The Army Cadets made excellent contributions which included sketch-maps, video clips and photographs of their Army training efforts under lockdown created at home often amongst their gardens' herbaceous borders. Considerable planning had gone into our own summer camp at Pirbright Army Training Camp in Surrey for the start of July and the inevitable cancellation was a real disappointment to all. However, we were left with the opportunity to run virtual field days. The virtual field day exercises planned included a day of intensive training followed by a full day battle scenario that encompassed Brentwood and its surrounding area. Submissions from the cadets were outstanding in many cases with a range of videos, sound clips and models that included tik-tok and some impressive video editing. The cadets really entered into the spirit of the event and those vying for promotions in the Lower Sixth excelled in the production of video clips comparable to the opening scenes from Saving Private Ryan (well nearly). These videos went towards the cadets’ promotions and, along with a written application, we set to selecting the SNCO team for 2020. The two key appointments were hard-earned and well-deserved and went to RSM Emma Philpot and RQ Eshan Chopra. CSMs are Neo Merrel, Charles Tomlinson and Max Scourfield. Congratulations to all the Lower Sixth NCOs on their promotions and thank you for taking the time and effort during this incredibly difficult period to submit such excellent applications. I would like to say a massive thank you to all the hard work and support on Fridays and when on exercise by the CCF and non-CCF staff without whose help none of this would have been possible. We look forward to a time of training over the coming year building to next year's Summer Camp when we hope to visit Sennelager Camp in Germany. By Mr Kiff