Suffolk Cadets Take on CIS Competition

Ex Rolling Thunder

A team of five cadets from Suffolk recently travelled to Blandford to take part in ex Rolling Thunder, the annual national Communications and Information Systems (CIS) competition. The event brings together cadets from across the country to test their knowledge, teamwork and practical skills in military communications.

The competition was held at Blandford Camp, which is home to the headquarters of the Royal Signals Corps and serves as the main training establishment for signals within both the British Army and the Royal Air Force. This made it the perfect location for cadets to experience the world of military communications first-hand.

Throughout the day, cadets rotated through a variety of engaging and educational stands designed to challenge their CIS knowledge and introduce them to modern communications technology. Activities included radio and mast set-up, voice procedure exercises, and working with BATCO message encryption systems. Cadets also explored areas such as cyber warfare and communications centre (CommCen) operations, gaining a deeper understanding of how communication systems support military operations.

Future STEM careers

In addition to the competitive stands, there were several demonstrations from organisations involved in communications and technology. Representatives from University of Southampton showcased opportunities for further study in communications and engineering, highlighting the strong link between CIS skills and STEM careers. Cadets also had the opportunity to try out a virtual reality training system, which is expected to replace the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT) in the coming years.

The VR experience proved to be both immersive and entertaining. In one memorable moment, a cadet became so engaged in the simulation that they attempted to take up a fire position against a wall—only to remember that in virtual reality, the wall wasn’t actually there! The result was a harmless but amusing tumble that brought plenty of laughter from the group.

Another interesting demonstration came from Martin Lynch & Sons, who introduced cadets to Software Defined Radio (SDR), showing how modern radio technology can be adapted and programmed for a wide range of communication purposes.

The cadets thoroughly enjoyed the experience, with some even having the opportunity to stay overnight in the Officers’ Mess due to limited accommodation space. Overall, the trip provided a fantastic insight into the world of military communications and the STEM subjects that support it.

Events like ex Rolling Thunder not only develop valuable skills in teamwork, problem-solving and communication, but also inspire cadets to explore future opportunities in technology and engineering. Suffolk’s team returned with new knowledge, great memories and hopefully the enthusiasm to encourage more cadets across the county to take an interest in CIS.