PROUD cadets have been on parade in Weymouth.
Budmouth College’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) has just completed its biennial inspection.
The CCF is a Ministry of Defence-sponsored youth organisation and the Budmouth unit has both Royal Navy and Army sections.
In addition to numerous camps, courses and visits, cadets can undertake a BTEC in public services.
The CCF is particularly beneficial for students thinking about a career in the services or those that want to develop leadership skills.
The inspecting officer, Commodore Martin Westwood, arrived at the college in a Lynx helicopter from the Royal Navy Air Station in Yeovilton.
He was welcomed by a guard of honour, the contingent commander Captain John Hegarty, and the college staff instructor WO1 John Donald.
The commodore went on to inspect a parade of around 120 cadets who were supported by the band of the Adjutant General’s Corps.
The inspecting officer was accompanied by Captain Luke Dodington of the Light Dragoons who, as a former student of the college just back from Afghanistan, was familiar with the work of the CCF.
Commodore Westwood said: “This was a truly bravura performance by a very well led and enthusiastic contingent, where cadets benefit greatly from the development opportunities offered.
“That this was achieved by a group in only its fourth year of existence is a truly remarkable achievement.”
Seamanship and marksmanship were undertaken using the latest computer simulation programmes, which allow the cadets to demonstrate their skills in increasingly difficult scenarios.
Commodore Westwood joined the cadets on the Royal Engineers range at Chickerell to undertake live firing of the new cadet SA80 rifle.
This was followed with a trip on to Weymouth Bay to visit the naval cadets sailing.
The ceremony ended with a march-past and salute after which the commodore went on to see cadets practising their skills in marksmanship, communications, navigation, field craft, first aid, and field gun trials.
The parade also included a number of promotions.
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