CCF American Exchange 2022
This year saw our CCF exchange trip with Georgia Military College (GMC) once again commence after a two-year hiatus due to COVID. Four American pupils joined us for 10 days and 12 of our own pupils will be flying out to join them in July for 5 weeks. The exchange first began in 2018 with three RHS pupils attending, and in the subsequent year six pupils attended.
The programme introduces cadets from both US and UK to the global nature of youth programmes sponsored by national defence organisations. ‘The scheme provides cadets an insight into the essential interdependence of nations, in particular the strong and special relationship between the US/UK military.
Lt Col Jonathan Pooley Contingent Commander and event organiser, added, ‘This experience fosters international understanding, goodwill, and friendship among those involved as they discover shared values and life experiences. This is not only an immediate effect but also a long lasting one and builds rapport between the partners.’
During their time here GMC pupils' experienced cultural visits as well as taking part in CCF training and experiencing boarding life at RHS.
During their trips they visited the Suffolk Coast, London and Cambridge where they attended the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, for American soldiers who lost their life in battle in Northwest Europe.
Over the course of the 10 days the American pupils visited local military units in Suffolk and Essex, attended CCF parade, visited ranges and finally participated in CCF field day, a 48-hour exercise in Thetford Forest.
Morgan Thomas, former pupil and current marketing intern who attended GMC in 2019, said, ‘this truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I am very grateful I was able to attend, not only have I made lifelong friendships but developed and learnt new interpersonal skills. Our hosts at GMC were absolutely fantastic, treating us as one of their own and I look forward to seeing them again in my American endeavors next year!’
We hope that our friends from across the pond enjoyed their stay and we look forward to welcoming cadets from the Riverside Military Academy (RMA) in Autumn.
