St Dunstan’s cadets get a taste of Navy life

A group of Combined Cadet Force (CCF) pupils from St Dunstan’s College, South London, recently visited HMS Collingwood in Fareham.

The Year 9 pupils, aged 14, have been in the CCF for just three months and visited the Base for an introduction to service life and an insight into the training offered by the Royal Navy (RN).

During their visit the Cadets braved the cold to participate in leadership activities at the Royal Navy Leadership Academy that aims to teach core skills of communication, leadership and teamwork. Senior rates from the Base were on hand to guide the Cadets and offer encouragement for their efforts.

Later, they visited HMS Collingwood’s Close Range Training Simulator where they were instructed in the Navy’s latest Close Range Weaponry, before viewing the Base’s state-of-the-art Bridge Simulator which is used to train Bridge Crews from across the Navy in a variety of vessels.

The Cadets learned how it recently played an important role in training the Queen Elizabeth Bridge crews to negotiate the huge aircraft carrier into and out of Portsmouth Harbour.

Officer in Charge of the RN Section of the CCF, Commander Ted Main RN (Rtd), accompanied the cadets on their visit and said, “This is the Cadets’ first time out meeting the Royal Navy and we spent the night on HMS Bristol which gave them experience of living aboard.

"HMS Collingwood is our parent establishment and the Senior Rates here are superb with the Cadets. It’s lovely for the Cadets to experience this, wearing their uniforms out for the first time!”

Cadet Oscar Johnson added, “I’m really enjoying this, despite the cold! I really like sailing and being on the sea and this is my first time on a proper Naval Base.”

Photo courtesy of Keith Woodland, Crown Copyright.