On Friday 12 May 2023, two OKS returned to King's to inspect the CCF.

Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Reserves & Cadets), Major General Marc Overton (BR 1983-88) and Colonel Jeremy Bagshaw (BR 1980-85), Chief of Staff, London District conducted the Biennial Inspection of the School's Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Jeremy acted as ADS for the inspection. 

Major General Overton and Colonel Jeremy Bagshaw visited the cadets on the second day of their summer fieldcraft exercise.  

Touring training, he watched cadets face several challenges required to pass their CCF basic syllabus.   

Camouflage, concealment, target indication and stalk skills were all tested using laser taggers, while an exciting night exercise assessed night movement and navigation. The cadets also demonstrated their tactical skills in a section attack using blank ammunition and pyrotechnics. 

Staying out overnight, the cadets cooked their own food from military rations.  

The visit comes on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) in 1948.   

At the end of the exercise, Removes (Year 10) cadets were presented with their basic syllabus proficiency badges.   

Major General Overton commented: “It was great to visit my old CCF unit during the CCF 75th anniversary year.  Despite the poor weather morale was high and it is clear the Unit is thriving offering high quality, engaging and innovative training for the cadets.” 

Major Alistair Goddard, the school’s Contingent Commander, commented: “It was an honour to host Major General Overton and Colonel Bagshaw for our inspection in this anniversary year of the CCF.  Developing young people by encouraging them out of their comfort zones has clearly been central to the cadet experience across generations. With such distinguished observers, I was proud in the exemplary standards the cadets demonstrated across training despite some challenging weather conditions”.   

Over 120 pupils at King's are members of the CCF.

Above: Colonel Jeremy Bagshaw (BR 1980-85) looking at the laser tagger

Above: Major General Marc Overton (BR 1983-88) talking to the CCF

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Photo credit: Tom Lawrence.