Developing a skill helps you get better at something you are really interested in and gives you the confidence and ability to use this skill both now and later in life.

 

Cadet activates that are accepted in this section are:

 

 

The study and practice of drill, its use and history.

 

You  should select ideas from the list below according to your interest, and the

length of the period of activity. You should also be progressing through the

APC Drill, Turnout and Military Knowledge syllabus, but drill practice alone is

not sufficient to fulfil the aim of the section.

• Make a study of services, such as the Armed Services, who require good drill to carry out their duties.

• Understand the significance of drill in training

• Investigate the variations in drill between different services or Nationalities (e.g. naval piping aboard, national marching steps)

• Investigate drill carried out in National Voluntary Youth Organisations, and note the variations

• Recognise and name two military marches. Research composers, and

  dates.

• Participate in Church Parades and other ceremonies such as

  Remembrance Day, and research the history of the occasions and

  parading of flags and banners.

• Study the history of uniforms, particularly ceremonial dress.

• Study the history of the carrying and parading of Colours by the Army.

• Study the bands and marching of non-military organisations.

• Research the format of, and if possible visit, a major event involving drill

  such as Trooping the Colour, the Edinburgh Tattoo etc.

• Study the history of the Changing of the Guard, the Keys ceremony at the Tower of London or a similar event.

• Be aware of the role of drill through history.

• Undertake an advanced drill practice such as Cane Drill, Sword Drill,

  Guard Mounting, Silent Drill.

 

 

The Armed Forces have traditionally used badges to identify themselves, to

record achievements and qualifications, and local connections. This is

collectively known as Insignia, and includes cap badges, shoulder titles,

flashes, regimental devices and qualification/skill badges.

• You should make a study of badges and other insignia. As time permits

  other topics as below should be included.

• Make a study of as many cap badges as practicable, with a sketch or

  photograph.

• Know the official title, nickname if applicable, order of precedence and

  three major battle honours of the Regiments selected above.

• Find out the date of the introduction of each badge, the Regimental

  devices, and where appropriate, the mottoes and names of the

  Regimental marches of the Regiments selected.

• Visit a Military museum dedicated to at least one of the Regiments

  studied, and produce an account of the visit.

• Develop knowledge of the history of the headgear in one of Her

  Majesty’s Forces from the beginning of the 19th century and produce

  either original drawings or cut-outs of the headgear, showing how

  badges were worn.

• Know the correct heraldic terms for the colours and metals used in the

  badges in the collection

• Research the development of the uniform of one of Her Majesty's

  Forces to the present day

• Study the history of a number of Regiments

 

 

 

Learning how to play a musical instrument. The examples given are those

likely to be followed by Cadets who are members of a Band or Corps of Drums.

 

You should select items from the list below appropriate to your ability and

preference.

 

Bugles and Trumpets

• Have a high standard of turn out, and be able to keep the instrument

  Clean

• Be able to march well (not playing) carrying the bugle or trumpet in the

  right hand with the bell on front right hip, attention to be paid to swinging

  the left arm.

• Be able to play the five notes of the bugle or trumpet.

• Research the history and development of bugles and/or trumpets.

• Be able to sound three single routine calls - e.g. “Fall In”, “Cookhouse”,

  “Lights Out”.

• Be able to play “Last Post” and “Reveille”.

• Be able to take part in the bugle or trumpet marches

• Carry out the bugle or trumpet drill movements as used in the Cadets

  unit.

• Be able to sound “Retreat”, Tattoo “First Post”

• Be able to play as many as possible of the following calls:

  Orderly Sergeants Double General Salute

  Dismiss Fire Alarm Warning for Parade (Half Hour Dress)

• Continue to build up a repertoire of calls and tunes.

 

Drummers

• Have a high standard of turn out, and be able to keep the instrument clean

• Be able to march well (not playing) with drum slung and stick in the right

  hand. Particular attention to be paid to swinging the right arm.

• Be able to beat 2/4 and 6/8 time and be able to play a good three pace roll. (Side & tenor drummers)

• Show good stick drill when playing at the halt (Bass drummers)

• Be able to play “off” beats in 2/4, 6/8 and 3/4 time, be able to beat a good

  seven pace roll and take part in six different marches as solo side

  drummer. (Side and tenor drums)

• Be able to march over prescribed distance (50m minimum) beating

  prescribed paces to the minute and show good stick drill with two sticks on the march. (Bass drummers)

• Be able to play a good five pace roll and fifteen pace roll (Side and tenor drums)

• Be able to demonstrate “the Flam”, “the Drag” and “the Paradiddle”. (Side drummers only)

• Be able to demonstrate good stick drill, maintaining a good rhythmic beat in quick and slow time while introducing “stick twirling”. (Bass and tenor drummers)

 

 

Good communications is essential to a modern army. Signalling training

involves learning the basic techniques used, and researching the history of

signalling.

• Undertake basic signals training prior to the Signal Classification Test.

• Understand the role of communication in the Army

• Know basic voice procedure including simple radios nets and elementary call signs

• Have a knowledge of radio equipment

• Understand the importance of effective communications

• Undertake further training and qualify in the Signal Classification Test

• Research the history of the Royal Corps of Signals and their role in today’s Army

• Have a knowledge of line instruments and field testing

• Gain competence in all communications procedures

• Learn more advanced radio skills

• Attend a CCF/ACF Cadets signals course.

• Begin qualifying as a Cadet Assistant Instructor in signals

• Demonstrate an ability of instruct cadets up to the standard of the

  Classification Test.

 

 

This involves learning the skills of maintaining and handling weapons safely and competently, and applying that skill to target shooting. The range of weapons will be those which are currently approved for use by the Cadet Forces.

 

You should undertake activities from the following list appropriate to your

ability and stage reached in the APC, and the length of the period of the Skill.

 

• Undertake Skill at Arms Training at basic and 1-star level both

  theoretical and practical

• Pass the 1-star Skill at Arms Test

• Know the rules for firing on miniature ranges and 25/30 metre ranges

• Be a second class shot with the air rifle or No8 .22 rifle as laid down in the current APC (ACF) syllabus

• Continue Skill at Arms training at 2 star level

• Pass the 2-star Skill at Arms test

• Know the rules for firing on all ranges

• Pass the GP Rifle grouping test as laid down in the APC (ACF) syllabus

• Be a first class shot with the air rifle or .22 rifle

• Continue Skill at Arms training at 3-star level.

• Pass the 3-star Skill at Arms test

• Pass the GP Rifle Test or the LSW test as laid down in the APC (ACF)

  Syllabus

• Learn the use of the Target Rifle Pass the Target Rifle Test

• Enter the ACF Cadet Hundred small-bore competition and obtain an

  average score of 80 on four targets

• Enter the Montgomery of Alamein or Earl Roberts competition for the

  GP Rifle

• Enter the Commonwealth Target Rifle Match or fire in the ISCRM at

  Bisley.

• Enter other competitions such as:

  News of the World

  Country Life

 

Here are some ideas of other activities you can do in this section:-

 

Performance Arts: Ballet appreciation Ceremonial drill Circus skills Conjuring and magic Dance appreciation Majorettes Puppetry Theatre appreciation   Science & Technology: Information technology Young engineers   Care of Animals: Agriculture (Keeping livestock) Aquarium keeping Beekeeping Budgerigars & canaries Dog training & handling Horses - handling and care Insects Keeping of pets Pigeon breeding & racing Reptiles   Music: Church Bell Ringing Disc jockey Jazz - playing a musical instrument Music appreciation Music - playing an instrument Singing   Natural World: Agriculture Cacti growing Conservation Groundsmanship Forestry Gardening Natural world Orchid growing Plant growing Transport restoration   Games & Sports: Snooker, pool and billiards Cards (Bridge) Chess Clay target shooting Cycle maintenance Darts Fantasy games Fishing/Fly Fishing Flying Gliding Historical period re-enacting Karting Kite construction & flying Marksmanship Model construction & racing Motor sports Power boating Sports appreciation Sports officiating Table games War games

Life Skills: Cookery Digital Lifestyle Driving - car maintenance Driving - car road skills Driving - motorcycle maintenance Driving - motorcycle road skills Life skills Money management Navigation Young enterprise Casualty simulation Committee skills Cyclist training Democracy in action Event planning First Aid Malta First Aid St Andrews First Aid St Johns Learning about Civil Aid Learning about Lifesaving Learning about the Ambulance service Learning about the Coastguard Learning about the Emergency services Learning about the Fire service Learning about the Police service Learning about the RNLI (Lifeboats) Library & information skills Public speaking & debating Skills for Employment   Learning & Collecting: Aeronautics Aircraft recognition Archaeology Astronautics Astronomy Bird watching Coastal navigation Collections, studies & surveys Costume study Criminology Fashion Forces insignia Gemstones Genealogy Heraldry History of art Military history Reading Religious studies Ship recognition Stamp collecting Weather/meteorology Zoology

Media & Communication: Amateur radio Communicating with people who have a hearing impairment Communicating with people who are visually impaired Film and video making Journalism Languages Newsletter & magazine production Signalling Writing Creative Arts: Basket making Boat work Brass rubbing Cake decoration Camping gear making Candle making Canoe building Canvas work Carnival/Festival float construction Ceramics Clay modelling Cookery Corn dollies and straw work Creative embroidery Crocheting Cross stitch DIY Dough craft Drawing Dressmaking Egg decorating Enamelling Fabric printing Floral decoration French polishing Furniture restoration Glass painting Glass work Interior design Jewellery Knitting Lace making Leatherwork Lettering & calligraphy Marquetry Model construction Mosaic Painting & Design Papercraft Patchwork Pewter working Photography Pottery Quilting Rope work Rug making Soft furnishing Soft toy making Tatting Taxidermy Textiles Weaving & spinning Wine making Woodwork

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