Combined Cadet Force

The Combined Cadet Force at the City of London Academy Islington was formed in 2012 under the Cadet Expansion Programme. The cadets is voluntary and provides unique opportunities and experiences for students in Year 9 and above.

The CCF is a unique educational partnership that operates in schools across the UK. Through enjoyable military themed and adventurous activities, cadets have the opportunity to take responsibility, develop skills such as leadership, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance. Some contingents have Naval and Air Force sections. However our CCF contingent has only an Army section, of which we promote the aims and values of the service it represents.

The CCF has one of the longest histories of all the cadet forces sponsored by the MOD, dating back to the 1850s. Since the 1950s, however, the CCF has been recognised as a voluntary youth organisation, the aim of which is to provide an opportunity for young people to exercise responsibility and leadership in a disciplined environment.

Today the CCF contingents form a vibrant, inclusive youth organisation for pupils aged between 13 and 18, offering significant developmental opportunities in a unique educational partnership with the schools in which they are based. Through the use of military-orientated and adventurous training, cadets also have the opportunity to develop their sense of responsibility and the qualities of self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance, perseverance and a sense of service to the community. The acquisition of these personal attributes at a formative stage will remain of value throughout the cadets’ lives and will be relevant in whatever career they pursue.

We are incredibly proud of the support we receive from our affiliated Regiment, The Honourable Artillery Company. As well as the support given by the Honourable Artillery Company charity.

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CCF 2024 Events

HAC CCFs Dinner

In October the HAC Regimental Secretary invited the academy Principal as well as staff and cadet representatives to a dinner with His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, for all the HAC affiliated cadet contingents. The Regimental Colonel presented the contingent with a special silver cartridge case fired by the Regiment on the occasion of the passing of HRH Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh.

Recruits Camp

In December, we ran training days from the HAC, our sponsor regiment. This weekend was the culmination of our term of training for the new Year 9 cadets (Haine Troop). Despite the cold, we kept active and suitably warm. We started doing a round-robin of activities. First was Military Knowledge. We learnt about our sponsor regiment, the Honourable Artillery Company, as well as cadet badges of rank. Next, we refreshed our map and compass skills, learning how to walk on a compass bearing, as well as using the length of our strides to measure distance (pacing). We then confirmed our drill knowledge, making sure we could march and halt smartly and in time. Finally, we learned some basic Fieldcraft, how to leopard crawl and camouflage ourselves.

The Year 10 cadets (Pollard Troop) completed the assessment for their advanced subject of Artillery, learning firing drills on the 105mm light gun in a ceremonial role. This also meant these cadets can now wear the RA Gun qualification badge.

Skill at Arms Training Days

In February and March we trained at the HAC with Haine Troop conducting a course in skill at arms. They learned how to safely use the Cadet GP rifle. This will allow them to use the rifle and fire on both a live range and blank exercise scenario on our Easter Camp.

Easter Camp

We are looking forward to taking cadets from COLAI and our Highbury Grove partnership to Easter Camp during the holidays.

CCF 2023 Events

Deputy Lieutenant’s Award goes to COLAI Cadet

The CCF is delighted to announce that our former cadet Regimental Sergeant Major, Kelvin Mustafa, was awarded a DL certificate from Islington’s Representative Deputy Lieutenant.  The Deputy Lieutenant is the King’s representative in the Borough of Islington and the certificates are awarded to the young people who volunteer their time freely to participate in extra-curricular activities, and who work with other young people in the Borough.  Kelvin’s award represents his tireless commitment to the cadets and to bettering his peers.  The award was presented in conjunction with the Mayor of Islington and Kelvin was delighted that his family was available to attend the event to celebrate his achievement.  Kelvin, having also achieved excellent A-Level grades at the Academy, has gone on to study Journalism at City, University of London. The contingent is proud to have had such an upstanding cadet within its ranks and we salute Kelvin’s achievement.

First Aid Training Saves Cadet Family Member’s Life

As part of the Cadet Basic Training Syllabus, all cadets complete a basic First Aid training course. This covers what to do in an emergency from initial response to specific responses to injury, to CPR.  All cadets are expected to have a basic understanding of how to deal with a casualty and it is one of the most satisfying parts of Basic Training.  While we hope the cadets will never have to use their training in this way, it is reassuring to know that they can be competent in a casualty situation. 

During half term, a current Year 11 cadet, Leon Acord, used his training to save his little brother’s life. When his brother was choking on Lego, Leon calmly went up behind him and started abdominal thrusts, having realised his little brother’s life was at risk from choking.  He did this without panic or alarm, relying on his basic training to tell him what to do in this situation. We are delighted to report that he cleared the blockage, and his little brother was able to breathe freely again.  After a subsequent assessment from a doctor, he was deemed to be in good health. The family got in touch to express their pride in their son but also to attribute his CCF First Aid training to saving the life of his family member.

National Service of Remembrance

Every year, St Paul’s Cathedral holds the National Service of Remembrance with The Commemoration of the Fallen.  This special service, televised for the whole country to see, is a part of the National Day of Remembrance and it specifically remembers those who have lived and died in defence of justice and freedom in the service of humankind.  Every year a cadet from the COLAI (HAC) CCF is chosen to give a reading at this service.  It is an honour to be chosen and a great responsibility.  This year, Cadet Derin Ciba, also the winner of our Yager Award for the best cadet from Haine Troop, delivered a reading to over three thousand guests. Cadet Derin Ciba’s reading was positively commented on by all those in attendance, with his clarity and enunciation particularly noted.  Cadet Derin Ciba is pictured here with his family who were also in attendance.

January Training Days 

We trained at the HAC for the weekend. Haine Troop did skill at arms, learning to safely use the Cadet GP rifle. This will allow them to use the rifle and fire blank on Easter Camp. 

Pollard Troop did the Advanced subject of Royal Artillery, learning how to fire the 105mm light gun in a ceremonial role. This also meant the cadets completed their Cadet Advanced Proficiency Certificate. 

December Camp 

This camp was the culmination of training for the new Year 9 cadets and their first residential cadet camp. If you remember back to the beginning of December of 2022, it was just as the weather had taken a turn and it became a lot colder. This meant that the camp was glazed with a lovely frost. Despite the frost, it was mild and did not rain, we kept active and suitably warm. We started by doing a round-robin of activities. First was Military Knowledge. We learnt about our sponsor regiment, the Honourable Artillery Company, as well as cadet badges of rank. Next, we refreshed our map and compass skills, learning how to walk on a compass bearing as well as using the length of our strides to measure distance (pacing). After a nice warm lunch in the cookhouse we moved onto Air Rifle skill-at-arms, learning how to safely fire the rifle. Then was the Obstacle course, as a section we travelled over obstacles including a 30ft A-Frame scramble net and an 8-foot wall! After dinner, we put our fresh navigation skills to test, as the evening activity was walking a route, at night, using only our pacings and compass bearings. We did this in our sections. Navigating across the dark countryside with your friends in the moonlight so bright it cast a shadow, was fun. On Sunday we were able to fire the air rifle and were tested on our skills towards the Cadet Basic Proficiency Certificate. We then returned home, exhausted!

The Year 10 cadets (Pollard Troop) completed the assessment for their advanced subject of Engineering. Following training throughout the term, this was a chance to demonstrate our knowledge. On Friday night we made a small model of the project, to use as a reference for the build on Saturday. We made A-frame structures utilising knots and lashings. Attached pulleys to the a-frames and tensioned the structure to create an aerial walk-way. All cadets went over the obstacle, as a confidence check! In the evening we even found time to watch the England vs France football world cup match. All cadets passed their Engineering assessment and earned a new badge to wear on their uniforms.

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CCF 2022 Events

Garden of Remembrance, St Pauls Cathedral Churchyard 

We were invited for the second time to St Pauls for the launch of the garden of remembrance. We were the group of Army Cadets on parade, alongside Royal Navy and RAF cadets from the City of London School. 6 of our cadets also read prayers in the service. The City Livery companies and Lord Mayor led the service, and spoke with the cadets afterwards. The organisers were grateful for our attendance and gave each cadet a £10 gift card for Greggs bakery, as a token of thanks. For the recently promoted cadet Regimental Sergeant Major, this was the first time they wore their newly issued “Barrack Dress” uniform, as ever, their turnout was immaculate. 

Armistice Day, Islington Town Hall

The lady Mayoress of Islington invited the contingent to join her acknowledgment of Armistice day from the Town Hall. A small number of cadets attended, alongside members of the Honourable Artillery Company, our sponsor regiment, and Islington’s veteran community.

The Lord Mayor’s Show, London

Remembrance Sunday, Islington Green & Spa Green 

Remembrance Sunday, St Pauls Cathedral  

HAC Exercise