CCF
JUNIOR LEADERS COURSE
ZACK FAJA (YEAR 13)
sleep more than perhaps one or two hours a day and soon we found ourselves exhausted. For the period of my own lead, I found myself without sleep for nearly 50 hours and I can honestly say that this was an experience I do not want to go through again any time soon! On the penultimate day, we found out that our section would be hosting the Commandant of the Air Cadet Organisation, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, for the penultimate day of the Test. Upon arrival the Air Commodore was introduced to our section and came out on patrol with us. She left at 2100 but informed us she would return for the graduation dinner in just two days’ time. With the end in sight, we gave it one final push and began marching to a new location. Approximately halfway there we were intercepted by staff who informed us that the enemy position had been cleared and we were no longer required. Test Week was over. The whole squadron boarded the minibuses and returned to base, where we quickly showered and welcomed a warm meal and a relatively comfy bed. We enjoyed our enforced rest and we awoke the next day ready for the graduation dinner, which took place at RAF Honington in the Officer’s Mess and was one of the best meals of my life. With dinner over, we made our way to the bar in high spirits, where we mingled with the staff and where everyone of us enjoyed being a QJL (Qualified Junior Leader). Of the 100 that started the course, only 58 were given the Tactical Drop Zone (DZ) flashes. After eight months of hard work I was told that I had passed the course with Distinction, being one of the top three to do so. Never have I felt that I had worked so hard to achieve something and so I proudly boarded the bus back to the train station, DZ flash and lanyard in hand.
A dvertised as the toughest training the Cadets have to offer, the Junior Leaders Course began back in September 2013. In taking up the challenge, I embarked on a journey that would last the next eight months and change me forever. We would take part in nine training weekends in preparation for the final Test Week. These weekends – with lessons in leadership theory, Air Power, presentations, field craft and teamwork – helped us to hone our skills in preparation for what would be the longest and most gruelling week of our lives. Before I knew it, the seven months since we had started the course were over and I was both excited and anxious as Test Week loomed. Finally, Junior Leaders Course 15 disembarked from the coaches one final time and moved into rooms on West Tofts Base, near the Stanford Army training area in Norfolk. Our Section Commanders had already been given orders and we began to march to find our Harbour Area. Known as Pegasus, this had fallen into hostile hands and our task was to secure the village. So, at 0400 flares lit up the sky and the training area rang with the sound of fully automatic fire as we assaulted and successfully captured the village. This set the tone for the upcoming week. The next six days were the toughest of our lives so far: rarely did we even get an opportunity to “OUR HARBOUR AREA , KNOWN AS PEGASUS , HAD FALLEN INTO HOSTILE HANDS AND OUR TASK WAS TO SECURE THE VILLAGE.”
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