• Combined Cadet Force
Tradition

Combined Cadet Force

The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a uniformed youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. The CCF aims to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance". The CCF is not pre-service training for the Armed Forces.

The Victoria College Contingent

The Victoria College Contingent was formed as an Officer Training Corps in 1903 and in 1948 became the Victoria College CCF Contingent. In 1951 the Royal Air Force section was formed and in 1976 the Royal Navy section. To find out more about the history of the Contingent please use the navigation bar on the left which will take you to the '125 Years of Tradition'.

The Contingent Today

The Contingent parades on a Friday afternoon at 1400hrs for senior Cadets and 1530hr for Year 11 Cadets. First year Cadets in Year 10 parade on a Wednesday at 1530hrs. Wing Commander D J Rotherham the Contingent Commander leads a contingent of two hundred cadets and fifteen officers and staff. Cadets regularly attend camps at military establishments across the UK including adventure training, cadet skills competitions and courses. On Island training includes sailing, rock climbing, archery and live firing at the Crabbe Range Facility. The Contingent performs several ceremonial duties including the
mounting of the Halberdier Guard.

Cadet Training

The CCF is the most popular extra-curricular activity available to pupils in Year 10 and above at Victoria College. Approximately 50 new recruits following a selection process are accepted into the CCF at the end of Year 9. Recruits enter B Company of the Army Section to begin their training. Cadets are then selected in Year 11 to remain in the Army Section or join the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Sections. Progression through the proficiency awards with commitment and service to the contingent leads to promotion at the end of Year 11. Further promotion to the highest cadet ranks is highly selective and can only normally be achieved at the end of Year 12.

Contingent Headquarters (CCFHQ)

The Contingent Headquarters (Sir Michael Alcock Centre) is situated behind the Pavilion on College Field it includes the CCF office, classroom, meeting room, 25 yard indoor range, purpose built armoury, clothing, training and equipment stores.

The clothing store is open for uniform exchanges every Monday and Wednesday lunchtimes between 1305hrs and 1330hrs. The Quartermasters Stores is open on Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes.

Royal Navy
 
The Royal Navy Section offers cadets the opportunity to experience a variety of activities based on and around the water. These include sailing, power boating, pulling and canoeing alongside further instruction and training to gain the Royal Navy Proficiency Certificate and then the Royal Navy Advanced Proficiency Certificate.
RAF

The Royal Air Force Section was formed in 1951 its current establishment is 60 Cadets and 3 Officers. The Section thrives on competition focusing on the Regional and National RAF (CCF) Ground Training Competitions. Drill, First Aid, Leadership Tasks, Physical Fitness, Shooting, Aircraft Recognition and RAF Knowledge are at the heart of both the competition and therefore the Section's Training Programme.

Army

The Army Section is the oldest and largest of the three service sections. It is established for 120 cadets and can trace its history back to 1883. The Section is proud to wear the Victoria College cap badge first worn by the Officer Training Corps of 1903. Fortunately the rest of the uniform has changed since then and the current Section is well equipped with current service issue equipment and Soldier 95' Uniform.