Before going to the UK, I had never heard of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). Many Hong Kong students may not have either, yet it became one of the most fruitful parts of my five years of British school life. Offered by many schools in the UK, CCF is a youth organisation combining outdoor adventure, firearm training and community service, giving students opportunities to develop a wide range of skills which otherwise cannot be learnt in classrooms.
What surprised me
I joined out of curiosity, expecting something similar to the Hong Kong Boys’ Scouts. Instead, I was surprised by how popular CCF was, with a large proportion of students in my year turning up. Even on the first assembly, I noticed the discipline among the then-14-year-olds before any training had even begun.
Our first ever lesson was parade training: standing at attention, doing left-right turns and marching in a strict formation. Until then did I know, each CCF is an educational partnership between the school and the British Ministry of Defence, as I was astonished that our drill instructor was in fact a WO2 Officer. This sparked my interest in staying with the CCF, as I could hear about and learn from the many interesting experiences of serving personnel, which are most likely unavailable from school teachers.
Field training
During field exercises, our team had to navigate unfamiliar countryside while completing different tasks in a swift manner. As I became more experienced, I was gradually entrusted with greater responsibility, eventually helping with organising activities and supporting younger cadets.
As I progressed through the programme, I took part in multiple overnight exercises at military training bases across the UK. During one Easter Camp in Lower Sixth, I led a team of recruits as a section commander through attack-and-defense exercises in woodland areas and a disused training building. This experience challenged me to make decisions under time pressure, keep the junior group members motivated and adapt to dynamic plans simultaneously.
More than a visitor: experiencing British culture first-hand
Outside of the physical work, taking part in remembrance parades and formal events helped me understand traditions which I had previously only read about. Although I was an international student, I never felt like an outsider simply observing. Instead, I was encouraged to participate alongside everyone else, giving me a genuine appreciation of British culture. Rather than spending five years simply studying in a British local school, CCF allowed me to immersively experience what it felt like to be part of a British community. This organisation taught me confidence, communication and responsibility — qualities which have continued to help me at university and beyond.
Closing: Why should a prospective HK student care that UK schools have CCF?
Looking back, CCF became much more than an extra-curricular activity or club. It introduced me to parts of British culture which I would never have experienced in the classroom, as well as helped me grow alongside students from many different backgrounds who would eventually become my friends for life. For anyone considering studying at a UK boarding school, I would encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and embrace opportunities like this. They may become some of your most memorable and gratifying experiences.
Some of the most valuable lessons I learned in the UK came not from the classroom, but from the experiences I chose to take part in outside it.
