One of the Royal Navy’s most senior Admirals gave a newly formed Royal Marines Combined Cadet Force section the official seal of approval at Ernest Bevin College in Tooting. 

Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock OBE, Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff attended the Grand Opening ceremony of the college’s Royal Marines CCF Detachment, which was hosted by Rukhsana Sheikh, Principal of Ernest Bevin College.

“We are very excited to launch the Combined Cadet Force at Ernest Bevin College because of the opportunities it will provide for our students, particularly in gaining leadership skills and expanding their horizons,” said Rukhsana. “We are grateful for all the support we have received from both the Royal Marines and Royal Navy in preparing for our cadets’ first parade and look forward to the expansion of the unit and the opportunities this will bring.”

Parading in his honour, Admiral Woodcock inspected the Cadets before he took the salute and made a formal address to assembled VIPs, parents and the staff at the college. The creation of the new Unit makes Ernest Bevin’s cadets only the second CCF Royal Marines Detachment in London.

The Royal Marines CCF Contingent Commander, Captain Nick Mason, also doubles as one of the geography teachers. He has taught at Ernest Bevin since 2008 and served in the British Army as a platoon commander with the Mercian Regiment. “It’s been a fantastic day for the College and I‘m really proud of our cadets,” said Nick. “To launch something today that is so positive is very exciting. The way it’s all come together has been great; the cadets have really shown the leadership, teamwork and communication skills they have been learning. It’s also been a good experience for the parents, who’ve come along to see what we are doing and understand what we are trying to achieve with the cadet force.”

The New RM CCF unit is part of the Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP), which promotes military ethos in schools, to instill values in young people that aims to help them get the most out of their lives, and contribute to their communities across the country.

Values and qualities include self-discipline, loyalty and respect, strong leadership, teamwork and resilience. The programme focuses on CCF units ensuring that as many pupils from a state school have the chance to experience activities of military cadets as part of school life.

The CCF is a voluntary youth organisation that operates in state and independent schools across the country. Each section (Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or Air Force) is administered and sponsored by its respective service – in Ernest Bevin’s case the Royal Navy.

“I’ve been in the Cadets for about six months and it’s been interesting and really good,” said Lance Corporal Areeb Sheikh (17) and in year 12. “I like being part of a group like this and I’m gaining a lot of confidence, working together with others. I get a lot of pride being one of Ernest Bevin’s, Royal Marines Cadets.”