CCF Events & Activities

Ex. Spring Lamb 2026 - 15^th - 17^th May 2026

Over the weekend of 15th-17th May, 30 cadets from Ash Manor and Court Moor CCF travelled to Bramshott Training Area, near Liss, to take part in Exercise Spring Lamb 2026: a weekend focused on developing and testing their fieldcraft skills in a realistic training environment.

Throughout the weekend, the cadets experienced a wide range of conditions, with warm and sunny mornings quickly turning into wet and cold afternoons. Despite the changing and challenging weather, all cadets adapted exceptionally well and showed resilience and determination throughout the exercise.

Our junior cadets, under the supervision of Capt. Cumner from Court Moor School and Sgt Sisson, focused on completing their 1-Star Fieldcraft training syllabus. Across the weekend, cadets learned how to occupy a harbour area, and construct and live under bashas. They experienced first-hand that fieldcraft training continues regardless of rain, and occasionally hail.

The juniors were also introduced to the responsibilities of a sentry, learning how to remain alert, challenge approaching patrols and potential threats, and understand the importance of security within the field environment. Additional training covered stalking techniques, camouflage and concealment, and understanding how both light and sound discipline become increasingly important during night operations.

There are 10 cadets in this picture – can you spot them all?

Meanwhile, the senior cadets were challenged to operate at a higher level under the supervision of Lt Rodgers, WO2 Chalmers, and Sgt Gurung from the Cadet Training Team.

Building upon the same core fieldcraft skills as the junior cadets, the seniors carried and operated with the Cadet GP Rifle throughout the exercise, conducted patrols of the surrounding training area, and established observation posts to gather information on unknown activity. Unknown to the junior cadets at the time, they themselves became part of the training scenario and observation tasks.

The senior’s exercise culminated in a final tactical scenario requiring cadets to conduct an ambush before carrying out section battle drills to recover a simulated downed parachutist and safely extract from enemy territory. The scenario challenged cadets to combine leadership, communication, navigation, and fieldcraft skills developed throughout the training year.

Ex. Spring Lamb continues to be one of the highlights of the AMS Cadet calendar and provides an opportunity for cadets to put into practice the skills and knowledge they develop during weekly parade nights. Experiences such as these allow cadets to build confidence, resilience, and teamwork in a way that cannot be replicated in a classroom environment.

A huge thank you goes to all the staff and volunteers who continue to give up their weekends to provide these opportunities. Their dedication and commitment allow our cadets to achieve more, develop further, and experience training beyond the routine of parade nights and to Churcher’s College, who very kindly provided our cadets with the Cadet GP rifles for the weekend. If you are interested in supporting Ash Manor and Court Moor CCF, please contact CCF@ashmanorschool.com for more information.