CCF
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Army and RAF sections, is hugely popular at Ampleforth. It offers an array of adventurous, challenging, and educational activities designed to develop self-discipline, personal responsibility, leadership, and a sense of service to the community. The CCF complements our Benedictine ethos, working to nurture individual traits and develop the resilience, confidence, and core life skills that help young people go on to reach their full potential.
Cadets train every Friday afternoon and also frequently train and undertake daytime and overnight exercises at weekends in our 2,000-acre valley and at local MOD training areas. The focus is on fieldcraft and self-reliance. We offer opportunities for adventure training (including skydiving, climbing, mountaineering, hiking and paddle sports), leadership courses, and summer camps, including expeditions to Borneo and Nepal. Regular range days allow cadets to experience full-bore shooting on different types of static ranges. RAF cadets also experience different types of flying at nearby RAF Leeming and have their own drones, flight simulator equipment and VR headsets.
Our CCF has high standards and a strong team spirit, comradeship, and trust. We focus on building courage, self-discipline, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and commitment, as well as developing effective communication skills, confidence, being part of a team with a winning spirit, and a sense of pride and achievement.
We give all cadets the opportunity to develop their abilities fully, whilst emphasising their responsibility to others and to the Corps. We expect all cadets to operate as members of a close-knit community, where trust, cohesion and teamwork are decisive factors in our success. We rely on leadership at all levels and the effective contribution of every cadet to achieve this. There are various promotion opportunities, culminating in our top cadets competing for selection of the Senior Under Officer (the best cadet) in the Nulli Secundus (Second to None) Competition.
Ampleforth has a long history of connection with the military and we are proud of our many alumni who have gone on to serve, some as very senior officers. Three of the last eight Directors of Special Forces were Amplefordians. Alumni include:
- Colonel Sir David Stirling, founder of the SAS
- Brigadier Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, (Shimi Lovat), pioneering leader of the British Army's Commandos
- Major General Lord Michael Fitzalan-Howard, Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps
- Major General Christopher Ghika, Major-General commanding the Household Division
- Major-General Sir Freddie de Guingand, Chief of Staff to Field Marshal Montgomery
- Lieutenant-Colonel Sir John Johnston, Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's office
- Wing Commander Tony Lovell, flying ace of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War
- Captain Robert Nairac, George Cross, intelligence officer murdered by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
- Major-General Peter Grant Peterkin, Sergeant at Arms of the House of Commons
- Major General Sir Sebastian Roberts, GOC The Household Division
- Major Gus March-Phillipps, founder of No. 62 Commando
The chance to experience the rhythm of military life, especially with such exceptional soldiers, was one which will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Alex, CCF Cadet, expedition to Borneo
