CCF Inspection 2025

Our annual CCF Inspection took place in School last Friday afternoon, carried out by Lt Col Olivia McBride RAMS (OW 1997-1999).

Thank you to friends, family and all the OWs who joined us to watch the Inspection, which included a parade and various displays from all sections of our over 200-strong Combined Cadet Force including Army, RAF and Navy. With afternoon tea and cake following the final Inter Section Competition and parade, it was an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their skill and commitment to their chosen section, and a super opportunity for friends and family to see exactly what being part of the CCF involves and means to everyone.

Year 13’s Oscar W, Head of Contingent shared his report from the afternoon.

Oscar W, Year 13

“Our annual CCF Inspection, which is one of the CCF highlights of the year, took place on Friday as we welcomed back Lt Col Olivia McBride who used to be a cadet at Woodbridge School herself. It was a proud moment for everyone to showcase the amazing activities we have access to and the skills we all have as cadets.

The afternoon started with a full parade complete with Quarter Guard. Each section stood together as I took our Inspecting Officer around and introduced her to each of our Heads of Section, as well as some individual cadets. Lt Col Olivia McBride took time to talk to students about their experience in the CCF and the different things they enjoyed and hoped to go on to do. This was followed by three displays, one from the RAF Drill Team, one from the Navy Drum Corps and one from the Army Combat Cadet Team who re-enacted a section attack drill from the recent competition we attended where we took top school and second place overall.

I then proceeded to escort Lt Col Olivia McBride around the Woodbridge School grounds where groups of cadets were demonstrating a huge range of activities; from the confidence course to zip wiring, climbing, paintballing, low ropes, first aid, flight simulator, command task, fieldcraft and raft building.

Our Tower Trophy Competition has been running throughout the year and the gun run was the final exciting event. Students from all years, friends and family lined the Dome Pitch where five teams – Army 1 Platoon, Army 2 Platoon, RAF A Flight, RAF B Flight, Navy – all lined up to support their chosen team. Dismantling the mock guns, carrying them across an obstacle course and back again where we had to reassemble them, was certainly something that got the crowd going! The RAF’s B Flight won the event but Army’s 2 Platoon took the Tower Trophy overall. Congratulations to them!

The final parade rounded off the day where Lt Col Olivia McBride congratulated us all on the effort and time that goes into the planning and execution of the Inspection Day. She also spoke to us about how she had once stood in our shoes and the many paths that you can go down where the experience and lessons learned in the CCF are invaluable.

My personal thank you to the Heads of Section Oliver (Army), Hugh (RAF) and Ewan (Navy) for all of their input and congratulations to every cadet involved, we really showed Woodbridge School CCF at its best!