Brentwood School - Brentwoodian 2020

92 The RAF year began with our Summer Camp at RAF Valley in North Wales; this year, we were joined by cadets from Loughborough Grammar School and Royal Grammar School, Lancaster. It was the first time in nine years our cadets had been allocated a ‘flying station’ for a summer camp. RAF Valley is the home to elementary fast jet training and when the North Wales weather allowed, the cadets were treated to Hawk jets buzzing around from all angles. The cadets had the opportunity to visit onsite sections such as the flying school where they spoke to trainee pilots, survival, engineering and the obligatory visit to the Fire Section and Air Traffic Control. A full day of shooting also meant that all the cadets shot on an outdoor range. The week ended with sea-level traversing at Holyhead pushing cadets out of their comfort zones and highlighting the importance of teamwork. Arin Chandrruangphen and Jemima Parasram were offered places on the gruelling challenges of the Air Cadet Leadership Course at RAF Cranwell; the course is widely regarded as the best (and most demanding) leadership course in the cadet organisation. Timed runs at 6am, three phases of leadership tasks and a two-mile log run are just some of the activities! Arin and Jemima both passed the course with Merit. Having successfully completed ACLC, Arin Chandrruangphen took on the position of Cadet Warrant Officer ably assisted by Flight Sergeants Jodie Bradley and Matthew Goodwin. Their knowledge and enthusiasm had no bounds; they set a perfect example to the cadets and made a positive impact on the section and the training which was delivered. October Field Days gave the opportunity for all cadets to develop their leadership and teamwork skills with a visit to the escape rooms at the secret nuclear bunker in Kelvedon Hatch. Activities at school included: shooting, virtual reality simulator training, Bloodhound Rocket Car Challenge as well as shelters and camouflage and concealment. The good weather also gave 16 lucky cadets the opportunity to experience their first flight in a Tutor and from their beaming smiles, it will be an experience they will never forget. Unfortunately, during the Lent Term, COVID meant that CCF activities would also have to adjust to the ‘new normal’. Just before the national lockdown, we fielded a team for the Air Squadron Trophy Competition. Unfortunately, this year, we did not progress to the national final but the team did themselves proud. During lockdown, cadets from all services participated in tri-service activities on Friday afternoons ranging from a survival task to navigation and drill. I was particularly impressed by the level of engagement shown by all members of the Section during these challenging weeks; the level of quality and participation shown for the VE 75 tasks were particularly impressive and helped to contribute to a video to mark the occasion. There was some good news in April when Cpl Jemima Parasram was selected to be the CCF Lord Lieutenant Cadet for Essex, taking over from CPO Catherine Prior. It is very rare for the same school to have this honour two years in a row, but Catherine and Jemima were each deserving recipients. The School site was still closed on the Trinity Term; our Field Days were held online and with the help of Warrant Officer Grinham, who spent 22 years in the SAS, as well as Old Brentwoods, Major James Rowntree and Flying Officer Dylan Mahmut, the cadets were kept engaged in activities which were both challenging and varied. James and Dylan spoke to the cadets about their time in the CCF as well as their current roles in the Armed Forces; this experience gave the cadets a real insight into a day in the life of service personnel. RAF