On Remembrance Day, we take a moment to honour the dedication and sacrifices of those who have served in the armed forces. This day holds particular significance for our Combined Cadet Force (CCF) cadets, who participate in the Brooke Weston Trust's Annual Remembrance Parade. As we reflect on the contributions of past generations, we are proud to recognise the commitment of our young cadets, who embody the values of service and responsibility.

At Brooke Weston Trust, four of our secondary schools (Corby Business Academy, Corby Technical School, Brooke Weston Academy and Kettering Science Academy) proudly participate in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) programme, under the leadership of Captain Edward Brown, CCF Contingent Commander. Through this programme, students embrace our core value of "Contributing to Society" while building essential qualities such as self-confidence and resilience.

Captain Brown began his journey at 16, enlisting in the British Army as a Royal Signals Linguist Apprentice, where he studied Russian before transitioning to Radio Telegraphy. He later retrained as a Movement Controller in the Royal Logistics Corps, serving for 12 years with deployments across Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Falkland Islands. After a successful 15-year career in the Oil and Gas industry, he joined Brooke Weston Trust as an Exams Officer at Corby Business Academy, which opened the door to his involvement in the CCF.

Reflecting on his own time as a cadet, Captain Brown recalls how the experience helped develop his confidence, courage and self-belief – qualities he now helps cultivate in today’s students. When the opportunity arose to lead as Contingent Commander, he was excited to contribute to the programme that meant so much to him as a young man.

As Contingent Commander, Captain Brown has a wide array of responsibilities to ensure cadets receive a rewarding and well-organised "Cadet Experience." This includes delivering structured and disciplined activities rooted in the traditions, values, and standards of the armed forces. His key duties involve developing the yearly training program, deciding and planning the activities, developing relationships with Cadet stakeholders and supporting the growth of both cadets and staff.

In his own words, Captain Brown describes the role as, “challenging, but immensely rewarding.” He shares, “Due to the nature of some of the activities we provide, like shooting, there is a considerable amount of paperwork and legal responsibility. Recruiting dedicated CCF staff can be demanding due to the time commitment, but when it all comes together and the cadets get to do activities that are not normally available to them, seeing the sense of achievement on their faces, makes it all worthwhile.”

“One memorable cadet joined our CCF barely able to speak above a whisper and was uncomfortable with dirt on their hands. Over time, this cadet became the RSM, the most senior cadet, confidently leading parades in front of VIPs, parents, and fellow cadets. The increase in their confidence and leadership has been amazing and embodies what the CCF is all about. Though this cadet has left BWT, they plan to return next year as an adult member of staff.

The benefits of the CCF programme are well-documented. An independent report commissioned by the Ministry of Defence and conducted by the University of Northampton highlighted the positive impacts of cadet participation. The findings indicate that “participation in the Cadet Forces has significant positive impacts on young people, boosting school performance and enhancing employment and career prospects, particularly for those facing economic or other disadvantages.”

Looking to the future, Captain Brown envisions expanding the CCF across Brooke Weston Trust. “Once we have additional qualified staff, we plan to introduce more activities, such as live shooting, and blank fire exercises. These activities require high expectations, teamwork, and excellent instruction from the adult staff.

For students or staff considering joining the CCF, Captain Brown invites you to: “Talk to an adult staff member of the CCF or a current Cadet. I can guarantee you will not get the same experience, activities or sense of achievement anywhere else.”