Ex: Rolling Thunder 2026

The competition aims to help cadets gain valuable technical skills in communication and IT that are highly relevant to modern, technology-driven military operations. Ex Rolling Thunder is open to 1-star cadets and above, with a focus on testing the skills taught through the progressive CIS training syllabus. The competition is supported by the Cadet CIS Training Team, and by participating, cadets can earn qualifications that count towards their CCF syllabus (and potentially their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award too).

Representing the CCF were Chichester High School CCF, who successfully completed six challenges ranging from voice procedures, building antennas (such as constructing a 12m mast), cyber security, tactical communication and theoretical knowledge of Battle Code (BATCO) and a virtual reality exercise.

The Chichester High School CCF came tenth overall in the competition, priding themselves on their BATCO skills and voice procedure’s knowledge.

Working Together as One Team

Speaking at the event were Chichester High School CCF’s Lance Corporal Freya Schultz, Lance Corporal George Nemeth and Lance Corporal Joe Proudlock. We caught up with the contingent to find out how they work together during challenging tasks, what they’re looking forward to most during the competition and the weirdest thing they’ve heard over radio.

There are six challenges today – how does your team divide up the responsibilities during these complicated tasks?

Lance Corporal Schultz: We divide it up based on everyone’s strengths and what people feel more confident in doing. This morning, I led the mast challenge as I have recently completed training in it and felt confident in leading our group. But we have a great decoder, and they led us on the BATCO task that we’ve just completed. We also share the leadership throughout the day so that we all get a turn in leading the team.

What task are you looking forward to the most? 

Lance Corporal Schultz: I think the voice procedure! I find it interesting and I feel that I am quite good at it and want to learn more.

What is the biggest challenge ahead of your team today? 

Lance Corporal Schultz: I would say probably the Communication Centre (COMCEN) task – we do work together well and we’re very close as a team, however there will be some things that might knock us off our feet but hopefully we should be stable enough to get through this challenge.  

How do you keep morale up when your task might not go the way you planned? 

Lance Corporal George Nemeth: A good sense of humour!  

Lance Corporal Joe Proudlock: If you want to keep morale up then a good sense of humour helps a lot and you just have to keep talking to one another.  

Lance Corporal George Nemeth: We keep going, trying different things out and finding a new way to work but organisation and planning is key. Have a straightforward idea and go for it.  

How do you apply the skills that you learnt in the competition in to other areas of your life – what skills do you think you can take away from today? 

Lance Corporal Schultz: Radio, CIS and Cyber – there a definitely elements where social media and technology is becoming more prominent nowadays and this will be useful within that area. People who want to do physics etc can also benefit from the skills we get from this competition. My Physics teacher was speaking about how there are people within their field who won’t know what me, as a 4* Signaller knows about this subject. Being a cadet and a teenager and being able to get experience in this type of stuff is incredible.  

What is the weirdest thing you have ever heard or had to transmit over radio? 

Lance Corporal Schultz: I’m not sure actually! There is nothing particularly weird but ‘snowglobe’ was said to me once and that stuck with me! 

We’d like to say congratulations to Chichester High School CCF on their hard work and for letting us join them throughout the day.

Congratulations to Leicestershire Northamptonshire and Rutland ACF for winning the competition overall!