“From a young age I was always captivated by stories told to me by my great-grandfather who served as a tank commander in the second world war. I was proud to be in attendance in 2015 when he received the Legion d’honneur – the highest (French) military honour. It’s given by France to veterans as a way of honouring and thanking those who fought and risked their lives to secure France’s liberation in WWII. This truly sparked my interest in the military.
“Fundamentally, I chose The Read School for the sole reasons that it had a Combined Cadet Force Contingent (CCF) and for its association with the military, which spans over 100 years. So at 13 years old I joined Read and on my first day I was introduced to the first ever taste of military education/life, from then on I was hooked!
Living my dream life
“Within three months I decided to join the RAF section and by then I was eligible to go on my first Air Experience Flight (AEF). To say I enjoyed it was an understatement, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I was literally living my dream life, having a go at flying a plane (under supervision), doing loop the loops, barrel rolls and low flying over beautiful scenery of the North York Moors. I don’t think I would have ever had the chance to experience that if it wasn’t for the CCF, something I’ll always be grateful for.
“The CCF has allowed me to go on so many fun, outdoor adventures in beautiful locations such as the Lake District, the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales. These expeditions were tough and challenging but it taught us determination to succeed and also allowed us to have the best of times and create everlasting memories.
BTEC in leadership and management
“I’m so grateful to the cadets and the whole staff at Read School CCF for giving me the opportunity to gain so many useful qualifications that I would never have thought would be achievable. I have just recently gained a BTEC in leadership and management which has really aided my CV and is an attractive quality to have for future employers. The cadets has also allowed me to obtain other useful qualifications such as First aid which is also attractive for employers and a useful life skill to have in the case of an emergency.
“The CCF has given me a sense of purpose and the ability to obtain a level of discipline and determination in my life. It’s taught me not to just stand still on a cold wet parade square but to persevere when times are a little tough. I’m now of the mind-set where I can aspire to aim high and to always look on the horizon for the next thing, it is achievable with hard work and determination.”
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