The Royal Navy section of the Combined Cadet Force is well represented at Calday.
For many years the section has been very active with its varied activities which include the ever-popular sail training in the summer months at West Kirby Marine Lake.
Royal Navy sections of CCF contingents are administered from Royal Navy HQ in the HM Naval Base in Portsmouth. All Royal Navy sections are assigned an Area Instructor. This role is normally undertaken by a highly-experienced ex-Chief Petty Officer who keeps a friendly eye on the week-to-week activities of the section, checking that the official teaching syllabus is followed and offering expert help and advice when needed.
All Royal Navy sections are affiliated to a parent establishment, usually shore-based – the Calday PE is HMS Eaglet in Liverpool. Eaglet is from where we get various stores and equipment, including our uniforms.
The jewel in the crown of the Royal Navy division of the CCF is the extensive programme of residential courses. Cadets and adult instructors can attend courses set in various naval bases, especially Portsmouth, HMS Raleigh in Plymouth and at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. There is a huge range of courses available, many of them carrying nationally-recognised qualifications. These include dinghy and yacht sailing, powerboating, diving, leadership, kayaking, windsurfing, military band and many others.
Most courses are free of charge to cadets, there is even a return rail ticket as part of the deal!
Following their time in the Royal Navy section, cadets going on to university have the option of applying for a place in the URNU (University Royal Naval Unit) which most universities have. While in the URNU, the members follow a similar training programme to that which regular officer cadets do at BRNC Dartmouth. There are also opportunities to go to sea on various training deployments – recent ex-cadets have travelled with their URNU to Gibraltar and the Baltic.
The weekly programme usually consists of an initial parade in which naval drill is practised. Naval drill is subtly different from the other two services – this can cause the odd interesting moment during tri-service events! Following drill, there is the training programme, most of the lectures being delivered by the cadets themselves. Subjects covered include navigation, meteorology, communications, naval history and first aid. For some light relief, in milder weather, the cadets enjoy an archery session on the main field.