Exercise Apollo Venture: Mission Report – Jack Hussey, St. John’s School Leatherhead

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 As part of an extension over half-term for the most able cadets of the St. Johns School Combined Cadet Force, fourteen cadets embarked on a three-day trip to Bramley Training Area with the purpose of carrying out an exercise synonymous with a professional military exercise. With the aim of developing of leadership and team building skills, two facets key to the makeup of an effective soldier, these fourteen cadets were fortunate enough to receive unprecedented resources and freedoms; one of which being the opportunity to carry out the exercise at a complex which houses not only training facilities for the army but also for the UK’s Special Air Service.

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17:00 hrs. Now equipped with bergens containing equipment – excluding food and water – which replicated that which is given to an infantry soldier in the British Army; enabling survival in the field, the cadets received a briefing from the Contingent Commander outlining the three days of activity which lay ahead.

18:00 hrs. Dressed like bushes and now looking, as well as feeling, like soldiers, whilst also harbouring a semi-automatic L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle with two magazines each containing 30 rounds, the troops engaged in three crash course lessons each of which explored field craft skills essential to the upcoming mission. Following these three lessons, which drew upon previous knowledge and experience of the cadets, the troops were prepared for what lay ahead.

21:00 hrs, marked the commencement of the first phase of the mission. With no food or water, the cadets were ravenous. However, the retrieval of such luxuries encompassed a three-kilometre hike, in the pitch black in which an undetected approach was imperative, to a crashed Apache helicopter at which point lay two jerry cans of water and fourteen ration packs. Despite an uncoordinated approach and an ambush at arrival of the helicopter, fourteen happy, but in reality probably dead, troops returned with two jerry cans and fourteen ration packs.

23:00 hrs. Bashers were built under the stars. Food, illuminated by red-light, was eaten. The sentry rota was drawn up surrounded fourteen pallid faces. Sleep ensued. (With rifles in the sleeping bags)!

Thursday 27th October. 07:00 hrs. The troops were awoken and very much startled by the sound of gunshots. A short firefight followed and, concurrently, the rest of the cadets scrambled to pack up the campsite. Breakfast was certainly a welcome respite.

The majority of day two consisted of two close target reconnaissance operations (recces), the purpose of which was to gather data on the enemy forces; in preparation of an ambush at nightfall. The cadets took into consideration the terrain on the approach, the condition of the enemy forces and the resources at the disposal of the enemy. Day two climaxed with the ambush at 22:00 hrs in which 420 blank rounds were fired at the two enemy forces who impressively limped off in their transport having received only the one injury. From this ambush the objective of the final day was erected; overcome the Bramley Freedom Force.

Friday 28th October. Invigorated by the weakening blow dealt to the enemy the previous night, the cadets set off on the final day of the exercise with confidence and the resemblance of an actual team. Hunting the enemy at this point, the cadets engaged in a section attack which consisted of section battle drills being put into action down a path which was tricky to navigate due to its funnelling towards enemy sentry positions. However, following over an hour of close quarters combat the enemy were eliminated and a jubilant exhaustion descended upon the cadets.

Although the road to success looked precipitous following the disappointment which resided upon the camp as a result of the disarray of the first night’s mission, the troops recovered very well and improved immensely; as the Contingent Commander, Major James Hewitt, pointed out. Developing as a team and as an individual was something emphasised by the Major when he spoke following the completion of the exercise, “The exercise was fantastic success and enabled cadets to push themselves and evaluate their skills.”

When speaking with a selection of the cadets involved, other than their emphasis on the palliative effect of the KFC on the return journey, most shared the belief that the trip developed their leadership and team building skills. Cadet Sergeant, Will McDonald, summarised the trip with his statement, “I enjoyed developing my confidence and team building skills in a challenging environment.” An excellent summary of the trip. Great thanks was awarded to the staff who ran the trip for their hard work and dedication in providing such a valuable and enjoyable experience.