Appleton Academy’s newly formed Combined Cadet Force (CCF) officially paraded for the first time on Wednesday 22 April, marking a major milestone for the school following a rigorous selection process and intensive staff training.
Twenty-one Year 8 cadets, supported by three cadets from local army cadet and air cadet units, attended the first parade evening. The parade was led by Contingent Commander, Flight Lieutenant David Bell, who brings nearly 20 years of experience as a cadet force adult volunteer within the air cadets.
He was supported by Sergeant’s Ronan Murphy and Stefan Sroka, both of whom have previous military experience, alongside Probationary Instructor Neil Williams. Additional support was provided by Staff Sergeant Instructor Ian Corcoran and Cadet Training Team Sergeant Martin Hehir, whose expertise proved invaluable during both the set-up process and the launch of the new contingent.
Activities on the first parade night
During the evening, cadets completed a carousel of activities including a leadership challenge, learning about badges of rank, an introduction to field cooking, and receiving their initial uniform issue. One cadet commented on how quickly the two-hour session had passed.
Working with the Royal Signals
As an Army contingent attached to the Royal Signals, the CCF is looking forward to working closely with local Signals units and learning more about the specialist skills and trades they offer.
Flight Lieutenant David Bell said:
“It has been a long road, but thanks to the support of our leadership team, RFCA, the HQ North Cadet Training Team and the school staff involved, we have successfully held our first parade night and look forward to many more.
“We have been given a unique opportunity to deliver the cadet experience, which aligns closely with our school values of Inspire, Nurture and Develop, and the team is excited to build on this initial success.”
Looking ahead, the staff team is preparing a wide range of activities for the coming term and planning an open evening for the next intake of cadets.
About the CCF
The Combined Cadet Force provides young people with opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, confidence and resilience through a wide range of challenging and rewarding activities. Students and families interested in learning more about cadet opportunities can click here to visit the CCF section of our website and find out more about the cadet experience and future opportunities to get involved.