Fieldcraft and Shooting

Cadets in the ATC can learn to fire two different rifles – the .22 and L98 A1.  As part of their basic training, cadets learn about the .22, how it works and how to fire it safely.  They also learn marksmanship principles, so that they can actually hit the target!  Once the cadet has passed a ‘Weapons Handling Test’ they can fire, usually on a 15 meter indoor or 25 meter outdoor range.  After the age of 14, a cadet can be trained on the L98 A1, which is a bit more complicated but uses many of the same principles as the .22. 

Marksmanship badges are awarded for good shots, but the cadet must fire four different practices – ‘Grouping’ (getting their rounds close together on the target), ‘Deliberate’ (getting a good score on a bulls eye-type target), ‘Snap’ (hitting targets as they pop up and down) and ‘Rapid’ (getting all the rounds on the target in a limited time).  Depending on their overall score, cadets can get Squadron, Wing, Region or Corps Marksman.

Fieldcraft can cover all sorts of different activities, but mostly involves wearing camouflage clothing and green and brown face paint!  Cadets can learn army skills like section attacks or survival skills like bivvie building.  We can also run ‘Night Exercises’ where teams compete against each other to capture flags, or rescue a downed pilot.