Lancaster Royal Grammar School - Combined Cadet Force

Combined Cadet Force

The School has had its own Combined Cadet Force (CCF) since 1914, although it was as that time known as the Officer Training Corps. Its roots, however, can be traced back further still, with "references to the existence at Lancaster of a Cadet Volunteer Battalion in the early nineteenth century". By 1861, this Battalion was seventy strong, "when a silver bugle was presented to the contingent by Mrs Lee, wife of the Headmaster".

The CCF at LRGS comprises Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force sections. Pupils in the Third Form and above are allowed to join. It parades on Tuesday afternoons after school and is voluntary. All sections participate in camps throughout the year, including an annual summer camp during the summer holidays, and an Easter camp involving adventurous training in which all three sections can participate.

The Army Section is approximately 40 boys strong. They participate in camps throughout the year including an annual camp that lasts in excess of one week, and an Easter Camp where they take part in adventure training activities. Annual Camp 2007 was at a CCF Central Camp at Wathgill, in North Yorkshire.

The Royal Air Force section comprises approximately 75 cadets including the girls from Lancaster Girls' Grammar School who were allowed to participate in the RAF Section from September 2011. Cadets in the RAF section receive flying lessons in the Grob Tutor T.1 aircraft at least once a term, and gliding lessons in the Grob Vigilant G 109 glider at least once a term. Other opportunites for flying and gliding scholarships, as well as various leadership courses, are available to those cadets who are keen and who meet the minimum requirements. As with the Army and Navy sections, the RAF cadets have the option of attending Easter and summer camps, which are always greatly enjoyed. The most recent RAF Easter camp was held at RAF Valley, with the summer camp being held at RAF Halton.

The Royal Navy Section consists of 20 boys and girls.

All three sections of the CCF learn how to use the L98-A2 Cadet GP Rifle. In order for the cadet to fire the rifle, the cadet must pass the test on the GP Rifle, which is why the Army section places particular emphasis on the training of the GP Rifle. The new recruits in the Army section are tested on the GP Rifle at a camp in Halton.