Assisting with the SCIC Course

On 15th October 2023, SSI Anna Smith assisted the Cadet Training Team with running the Senior Cadet Intructor's Cadre (SCIC 4 Star Training). She tells us about the experience and what can be gained from taking part.

A loud ping indicated the arrival of another text from our chatty 2 Coy WhatsApp group. However, rather than event updates or the normal banter, this text was one with a difference, it was a last minute ‘call to arms’ for any Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) who might be available to support the Cadet Training Team (CTT) with the fast approaching SCIC at Cherry Tree Barracks in Colchester.

Taking up the rare opportunity to experience how the SCIC is delivered, I jumped on the band wagon- well, the next train - to Colchester. Arriving on a dark damp Friday evening, I felt excited but was unsure what to expect. To help with identification upon pick up from the station, I sent a selfie (BeReal) picture taken earlier of me being thrown onto the train with minutes to spare, bags and all.

I was in luck that Sgt McFarlane, a full-time Reservist with the CTT, was free to pick me up. It transpires that the CTT teams consist of 13 Reservists headed up by Captain Chris Wright. Some of the staff were as new to the team as a week, with others being ‘old hat’. The team I worked with over the weekend included WO2 Shane (Jim) Carey; Sgt Steve Balchin, Sgt John McFarlane and Sgt Del Fay. Meeting the CTT was a pleasure, as they were very welcoming and keen for me to learn more about SCIC instructional techniques, whilst at the same time being grateful for assistance with welfare, fault checking during lessons, and Weapon Handling Tests (WHTs).

For Senior Cadets, the SCIC course is not to be undertaken lightly, as it requires you to be 3-Star complete and competent in both knowledge and skills in the complete ACS syllabus, with the attitude needed to learn the well proven instructional techniques. Although there is an element of subject revision, the aim of the course is to ‘provide the senior cadet instructor with the knowledge, skills and attitude to deliver the best training possible to cadets’.

Following a briefing with twenty keen cadets on the Friday evening, lessons started early on the Saturday including:

 Cadet Force Instructional Techniques

 Planning and Preparing Training

 Assessment of Learning and Evaluation of Training

 Cadet Leadership and Management

Intertwined with these lessons were examples of good teaching practice for Drill, Fieldcraft, and Map & Compass, which also served as revision for the cadets.

The cadets were pleased to relax at the end of the day and enjoyed watching streamed boxing matches in the dark, whilst us Instructors searched, torches in hand, for the fuse box as the lights had tripped...the cadets assured us it wasn’t the toaster that blew the fuse!

As I leave camp today to return home and to work, the cadets have already received revision for and passed their Weapons Handling Test (WHT), ready for a 24hr field exercise. Over the next week the cadets will each prepare and deliver lessons in Drill and Turnout, Map & Compass and Fieldcraft to their fellow students for evaluation and learning. If the opportunities arises, I would recommend any CFAV support the CTT, as an opportunity to support them, but also gain and/or consolidate additional skills and knowledge on instructional techniques and subject knowledge.

I would also recommend that any Senior Cadets who are 3-Star complete bid at their earliest opportunity to complete their SCIC, where the CTT look forward to welcoming you at Colchester for a fun filled week. I’m sure detachments are looking forward to their cadets returning with the ability to competently and confidently instruct other cadets in lessons at Basic, 1-Star and 2-Star.

Many thanks to the CTT for all the high standard of training they offer to both cadet and adults of the ACF and Combined Cadet Force.

Text and photos by SSI Anna Smith.