On Saturday 13th of December, 14 Army Cadets left Royal Russell CCF to go to the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT) Range at the barracks of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.
The day started with first parade at 0800hrs and the cadets left school swiftly at 0830hrs travelling down to the barracks. When the cadets arrived they were briefed about the weapon system they would be using throughout the day. Due to it being a regular Army barracks, the cadets had the opportunity to use the SA80 A2 Rifle. This Rifle was fitted with the Light Day Sight (LDS), which is a fixed 4x magnification sight designed for rifles that fire 5.56mm ammunition – this was a welcomed change to the Iron sights. The SA80 Rifle was also fitted with a front Bi-pod.
The Cadets were split into two groups and took it in turns of firing on the range. Whilst no ammunition was used, the rifles uses Bluetooth & Infra Red technology to communicate with the computer system to generate accurate scores. The Rifle is also fitted with a lot of sensors, which allows for accurate debriefs after each shoot, allowing for feedback and improvement throughout the day.
The cadets fired at a variety of ranges, from 25 meters up to 300 meters using prone, sitting and kneeling positions. A massive shout out to Lance Corporal Edward Carr, who achieved the best shot of the day! He scored an average of 17mm for 4 X 5 round groupings at 25 meters – Congratulations! All 14 cadets has a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I want to thank all the Officers and Instructors that could make the experience possible.
Written by: Lance Corporal A Main
