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National Marching Band Camp

The Air Cadets offers a number of national camps throughout the year where cadets from across the country are invited to apply to attend. One such camp is the National Marching Band camp, which this year, saw 216′s Cdt Cpl Keme attend.

“The week 13th April to the 20th April I went to the National Marching Band Easter Camp, this year held at DTE Beckingham. At the start of the week we would be checked by an instructor that we knew all the rudiments, as I play the snare, after this we would progress onto learning the songs which comprised of Aces High, RAF March Past, Holyrood, and many others.

About halfway into the week we would meet up with the brass and the woodwind section to start rehearsing outside. In between rehearsing we would also practise the drill routine for the parade. On the penultimate day we travelled to RAF Cranwell to practise on the parade square with our instruments and uniform on. We also got presented with our gold band badges. Finally it was the Friday and after a hard week of practising and rehearsing it all came down to 30 minutes of playing. It went very well! We got an applause as we marched on and an even bigger one as we marched back. And finally the last thing to do was to get our bags and go home! 

This week long camp has been the best learning experience I’ve had throughout my cadet career and I cannot wait to get back to drumming again when we have the summer camp!”

Cdt Cpl Keme

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Exercise Saxon Warrior

Leadership training is an important part of what we do at 216 Squadron. The Air Cadets follows a rank structure like our parent service, the RAF, and with that cadets fill junior and senior cadet NCO positions from Corporal to Cadet Warrant Officer. With the Squadron growing in size we recently held Exercise Saxon Warrior at DTE Nesscliff. The weekend focused on leadership skills at all levels, and will be used to consider any future promotions.

Cadets undertook initiative exericises, navigation tasks and more, monitored and mentored by the current cadet Junior and Senior NCOs and staff. With cadets taking the roles of JNCO's and the current Squadron NCO's getting more experience at senior managment roles, the weekend was a great success.

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Simulator Training

The first step for most of our cadets in their theory and practical flight training is a visit to the Part Task Trainers. On the 3rd November a number of cadets were up early to travel to MoD St Athan in Wales to undertake either their Blue or Bronze ATP. This involved the cadets visiting the gliding squadrons and undertaking instruction on the simulators with qualified pilots. They also cover basic principles of flight in classroom lessons. 2 cadets undertook their first steps, completing the Blue ATP which introduces the basics. Once they complete a follow on flight they are awarded their blue wings. Another 2 cadets undertook their bronze ATP, which follows blue. Once they complete two flights they are eligible for their bronze wings.

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RAF 100 Tour Birmingham

On August 26th, 11 cadets visited the RAF 100 Aircraft tour in Birmingham City Centre. The cadets where lucky enough to be part of the VIP tour right at the start of the event. They got to look around the F35, Typhoon, Spitfire and Sopwith Snipe, as well as the STEM tent. Cadets got a chance to ask questions of the pilots, along with trying out the activities in the STEM tent. These including engineering stands, quizes and more, all supported by industry partners icnluding Fujitsu, DSTL and Birmingham University. Cadets also got a chance to chat with Air Vice-Marshal Mayhew, Assistant Chief of Staff and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Yvonne Mosquito.

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Presentation Evening 2018

As a Squadron, our staff and cadets have had a very busy year, and what better way to celebrate than our annual Presentation Evening. Cadets, with their parents, guardians and friends visited the Squadron on 2nd July to see the cadets presented with their certificates and trophies they have achieved over the year since July 2017.

The night started with the cadets and Squadron band taking part in a march past and inspection by the OC and our visiting guest, Councillor Jane Potter. Following this some of the Cadet NCO’s delivered a presentation on all the activities the Squadron has taken part in, along with some of their highlights.

The Squadron then welcomed 4 of our new cadets formally, followed by a presentation from our Squadron Padre, Rev Stephen Levitt. Cdt Grace Sherwood was then the first to receive her award, decided upon by the cadet NCO’s, she was awarded the Padres’ Civil Air Patrol Medal for Endeavour.

Next saw the cadets awarded their classification certificates, achieved by progressing through the First Class, Leading, Senior and Master Classifications. This was followed by awards for specific training, including HeartStart, First Aid, Blue Aviation Wings, BTEC’s and more.

Cadets where also presented their certificates for fundraising by the civilian committee, with Cdt Cpl Samantha Rist winning the Chairman’s Award for raising the most money in 2017/18.

We then moved onto the main awards of the night, starting with OC Commendations. These are awarded to recognise outstanding achievement and effort within the Squadron, with both Cdt Sgt George Marshall, and Cdt Cpl Ryan Phipps awarded OC Commendations.

The Squadron is split into 3 flights, blue flight for our pre-uniformed cadets, and then the main Squadron is split between Red and Green flight. These two flights compete throughout the year against each other in everything from attendance and inspection scores to representation at sporting events. This year saw Red flight taking the trophy.

Cdt Cpl Samantha Rist was then presented with the Best Bandsman award to recognise her work with the Squadron band, representing the Wing at our RAF100 parade in Worcester, and also her part with the Air Cadet National Marching Band.

Cdt Sgt George Marshall was awarded the Sports trophy, in recognition of his role representing the Squadron in a number of events, and Wing representation at the Regional Cross Country competition.

Cdt Cpl Joseph Clark was also awarded the William Mussen Marksmanship trophy.

Acknowledging Cdt Sgt Jack Birch having achieved his Level 2 BTEC this year, he was awarded the Academic Achievement award.

Cdt Sgt Rowan Rodriguez-Mitchell was awarded the Beacon Adventure Training Trophy to recognise him achieving his Gold D of E award, and also helping out with Adventure Training on the Squadron with the new first class cadets.

Cdt Molly Biggs was award the trophy for Best Newcomer, awarded to the best cadet with less than 12 months service with the Squadron.

Cdt Robert Burne was then awarded the trophy for Best Cadet 2017/18, presented to the best cadet with more than 1 year service. Acknowledging his continuing effort on and off the Squadron, his participation in events and his professional attitude on the Squadron, Cdt Burne was a worthy winner.

The final award was that of Best NCO, another highly sought after award. This year, it went to Cdt FS Benjamin Hudson, the senior NCO on the Squadron. This recognises his commitment to the Squadron and it’s cadets, his attendance and contribution not just with 216 Squadron, but also with the wider Wing, most recently having led the band and the parade of over 200 personnel in the centre of Worcester celebrating the RAFs centenary.

Well done to all the cadets, for what has proven to be another fantastic year for 216 (Redditch) Squadron.

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Wing and Regional Cross Country

On Sunday 11th of February the Squadron took part in Wing Cross Country. There were four different age categories that the squadron entered; under 15 males, under 15 females, under 17 males and under 17 females. Overall the Squadron did well and everybody put in as much effort as they could. It was a very cold and windy day which made the track quite muddy but we still persevered as we wanted to win. Each category we entered we could see that there was some tough competition but that didn’t stop us. Everyone came in a good place and that is all we could ask for. I (Cdt Sgt Marshall) came second in the under 17 males category which came as a shock as I wasn’t expecting to do so well. This meant that I would go to the next competition leve, Regional Cross Country.

On Sunday 18th of February the top four in each race from Wing Cross Country were entered into Regional competition. This means that all of the Squadrons from West Mercian Wing were now competing against the other wings in our Region, spanning Wales, Merseyside and Staffordshire. These races were much tougher as we were against the best people in each race, luckily the weather had cleared up a little bit for us so it wasn’t as cold. We had a winner from West Mercia in the under 15 male’s category which is amazing, especially as there were some really good runners to beat. Unfortunately, I did not qualify for Corps Cross Country as I came 10th but I was still very proud to be able to represent my Wing and my Squadron.

I believe that if we put as much effort in as we did this year we can get a few more people from our Squadron through to Regional. It is very hard to run a Cross Country course and I cannot fault anyone who turned up and gave it their all. Well done 216 Redditch Squadron!

Cdt Sgt Marshall

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Inter-Squadron 5-a-side

Sports is taken very seriously throughout the ATC as it adds a great deal of competition between Squadrons, inspires team work, and instills a esprit de’corps.

On Sunday 25th of February, 216 Redditch Squadron had two male 5-a-side teams compete against other squadrons. The Squadron had two junior cadets compete in a scratch team with other cadets, and we also had 5 senior cadets compete as a full team.

The junior scratch team played three rounds against two other full teams, unfortunately they lost both these games, but none less they came into the matches with a full motivation of winning.

The seniors also played three rounds, playing against a full squadron team and a scratch team. The senior team came 2nd out of three teams overall with a senior scratch team coming first. However, due to the winning team being a scratch team made up of cadets from across the Wing rather than one specific Squadron. they couldn’t win the overall competition. This meant that 216s senior team came first overall. Some of the senior cadets from our Squadron now have the opportunity to compete for the wing team, the reserve team is full of seniors from our squadron too.

Well done too all cadets who competed on the day, hopefully we have another good win at the next inter squadron football tournament.

Cpl McMullan

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Wing Skills Camp

The Wing Skills Camp is a brilliant opportunity, organised by the Wing Training Officer, to get cadets from all parts of the Wing qualifications and badges.

Held at DTE Nesscliff over 19th to 21st Jan, with the presence of regulars, reserves, cadets from Greater Manchester Wing and Army Cadets, the camp was nearing capacity.

I took part in the Method of Instruction Course in order to further my ability in teaching cadets in academic subjects to help advance their own qualifications. Other cadets took part in their BTEC workbooks whilst others completed their Youth First Aid Course. There was also Bronze Radio courses and Bronze Cyber courses where the cadets where taught about cyber security and more.

The camp was a great success, with over 70 cadets gaining important qualifications and those all-important badges for their brassards! After an enjoyable weekend I now look forward to the chance to practise the skills I learnt teaching our next intake of cadets.

Cdt Sgt Mitchell

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Marksman Training

Shooting is one of the many exhilarating activities in which the RAF Air Cadets offers. On the 10th of February I got to the chance to participate in one of the many Wing Live Firing Marksmen Training events at RAF Cosford shooting the L98A2. All cadets are given the opportunity to take part in target shooting with under 14's shooting the L144A1 .22 Rifle and over 14's shooting the L98A2. Cadets can currently progress up to L81 target rifle or get a chance to fire the L86A2 LSW. Cadets are taught how to use and maintain the weapons systems learning the different parts and completing weapon handing tests every 6 months to ensure safety is forefront. 

Not only do cadets get to shoot for fun, which in the civilian world is sometimes expensive and hard to come across. we get to take part in competitions competing for the smallest grouping and win badges which are displayed on our uniform to showcase individual's skill and ability in this field. On this occasion I attended the activity as practise to improve my accuracy. I was able to shoot a total of 40 rounds with guidance from one of the many helpful supervisors to improve my technique. While not shooting I was able to interact with many other cadets from our Wing making new friends and catching up with others I had met before. These are friends that I will see on other activities overall allowing me to feel more comfortable when trying new things. Target shooting is an important military skill, but it can be difficult to take part in without spending a lot, so as the RAFAC offers it as a regular activity it's something everyone should give ago as it's extremely enjoyable and memorable.

Sgt. Hudson

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Aerospace camp 2017

There is a variety of summer camps that the RAF Air Cadets offer and last year I was able to get myself the National Aerospace Camp, held over 19th to 26th August. On this camp I was able to take part in a variety of fun, interesting and challenging activities that have improved my knowledge and solidified my love for aviation and aerospace. All these activities and visits engaged me in different ways as some were practical, listening based, presenting and group work and it was this that I really enjoyed.

Upon arrival at RAF Syerston on the first day I was immediately given a choice of STEM activities to take part in which was a perfect introduction to the camp as well as an opportunity to make new friends. After the welcoming brief I was put into a flight consisting of cadets from Surrey and Kent wing so I didn’t know any of them, however it wasn’t long before I had already established a friendship group for the camp. We stayed at Prince William of Gloucestershire Barracks and the accommodation was as expected with about 16 cadets per room and the food was great. Every night there were a variety of optional activities such as sport and flight competitions where flights would compete against each other to complete tasks.

On the first day I was at RAF Syerston taking part in some more STEM activities in the morning building a rocket out of a bottle which had to meet certain requirements for it than to be tested and launched, I also assisted in some building kits they had which I found fun. In the afternoon I had the Basic drones class, where I had to fly small drones through a course of hoops gaining points in a small competition which was interesting to say the least due to the sensitive controls and short battery life.

The second day I was at RAF Scampton learning about Aerospace Battle Management. After the initial briefing we as small groups we given a scenario and we hand to plan and execute appropriate counter measures taking cost and effectiveness into mind, it was this plan that we presented to our peers to get critical feedback so we could improve it. After this each group was assigned a specific role such as Counter attack, attack, master controller and a patrol group, and we had to come up with an effective plan to defend the country in a simulated event in the actual Ops room. I was a member of the Counter attack group on the simulator, we got to use and experience the technology they use on a daily basis while having RAF personnel talk me through the steps. My time on the simulator consisted of me communicating with the pilots and master control via frequencies to scramble and guide them to a target which was challenging and also so much fun. Overall the mission was a success in some ways and it has given me a great insight into what an Aerospace Battle Manager does. At Scampton we also had a talk from RAF Career officers on more about the role and how to join it so it gave all cadets a good understanding on that topic.

On the third day I was at the National Space Centre taking part in a rather advanced and practical physics and math's based lesson learning about different topics regarding to space. we also made more rockets experimenting with design and distribution of weight and watched a variety of demonstrations, the main one being the creation of an asteroid. After lunch we watched a long video in the planetarium and were left to our own devices to wonder the centre and experience all the workshops it had to offer.

The Fourth day was VIP day at RAF Syerston where many representatives from aerospace based companies came to experience what we did on the camp so they could help make the camp even better next year. During the morning I was took part in an air navigation lesson using flight charts and other equipment to plot and work out the time and distance of a route. We then used this information to fly the route on a simulator which was really interesting and has really benefitted me. Then after lunch I was able to look around a vast amount of stands that had been set up promoting certain trades in the RAF such as the Red Arrows Engineers, RAF police, Loadmasters, BBMF and Air crew, this gave me a chance to ask serving personnel about their job and its requirements as well as getting a group picture with Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty. After this I was able to get an air experience flight in a chinook, which was amazing as it was a new experience flying in a helicopter, the flight lasted about 20 minutes and I think it's safe to say we would all do it again.

On the Fifth day I was at RAF Waddington learning about the roles and statistics of the RAF's reconnaissance aircrafts such as the E3-D Sentry, Sentinel R1, RC-135 Rivet Joint, MQ-9 Reaper and the Shadow R1. This has expanded my knowledge on what aircraft the RAF uses and how they are used to gain an upper hand in combat. In the afternoon was able to go inside a Sentry learning all about its capabilities learning from those who fly it, work on it and fix it, we also made a visit to the air ambulance station there, looking at the aircraft learning about what they do.

On the final day of activities, I was selected to take part in the Aviation Skills Masterclass at RAF Syerston. This course was designed to give those interested in aviation a chance to experience how to plan a response to a disaster. There were 6 groups of 8 and each group was given a role being Pilots, engineers, cabin crew, ATC, Ground Operations and Emergency services. Being part of the Cabin crew, we were tasked with coming up with a plan to fit our needs taking cost and safety into consideration. This plan would then be presented to the rest our peers and the best plan would be awarded with a certificate. Our plan consisted of a route, aircraft and its crew as well as a plan for refuelling with accurate timings using safety and effectiveness as our main priority and surprisingly it was our group that had the best plan. After this I was the given the chance to go gliding in the Viking which is a rarity for all cadets so I consider myself extremely lucky as I got a total of 2 launches.

Over all the camp was amazing and I have experienced and learnt so much that I can pass onto the cadets at my squadron. Furthermore, I am certain that my confidence has improved even more as I left the camp with a group of new friends that I made during my time there and it's this interaction with cadets from all over the corps that made it so good. This camp is something I would highly suggest for all who are interested in aviation or aerospace and its perfect for expanding your knowledge while having leads of fun

Cdt Sgt. Hudson

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Presentation Evening 2017

There are some fantastic opportunities and training available in the Air Cadets, and it’s important to recognise these achievements. The Squadron does this through the annual presentation and awards evening, this year held on the 31st July. It is the time of the year when all the cadets are presented with their certificates of training and awards from the course of the year.

The cadets where presented with their classification training certificates, showing their progression through the theory training. Cadets where also presented with their HeartStart and Youth First Aid Awards, along with some cadets presented the first Blue Aviation Wings after having completed simulator training and their first flights with 8AEF at RAF Cosford.

Cdt Sgt Mitchell and Cdt S Rist where the first presentations of awards with cadet of the quarter. This takes into account attendance both on a parade night and at activities, participation in public events, inspection scores and more. Cdt Sgt Mitchell won the for the first quarter of 2017 and Cdt Rist for the second quarter.

Secondly, Cdt Cpl Jones was awarded with the Chairpersons Trophy from the Civilian Committee. This goes to the cadet who has fund raised the most money for the Squadron over the year.

The night then saw the enrolment of some of the Squadrons newest cadets, formally welcoming them into the Squadron. Some of the Cadet NCO’s then took the parents and visitors through some of their highlights of 2016-17 in a presentation

More awards then followed, with Cdt Cpl Jones awarded the William Mussen Shield for Marksmanship, having also recently been awarded best shot in the Wing at the recent Wing Field Day competition.

Cdt S Rist was awarded the Best Bandsman shield, after having taken a leading part within the Squadron band, and taken it upon herself to practice and then perform a solo at a recent Squadron engagement,.

Cdt Harris-Pernet received the shield for best Newcomer, awarded to the best cadet with under 12 months service with the Squadron.

Cdt J Clark was then presented with our largest trophy, that for Best Cadet. Awarded to the cadet who has shone within the Squadron for their attendance, fantastic attitude to training, and more.

Cdt FS Osborne who unfortunately could not be at the presentation evening, and is due to leave the Air Cadets soon for a career also received a number of awards. The first being for Adventure Training, with Cdt FS Osborne having completed his Gold D of E this year, and also taken part in a parachute camp, completing his jump and being awarded his parachute badge. He was also awarded the trophy for academic achievement for completing his classification training and achieving Master Air Cadet.

Cdt A Smith was also awarded the trophy for best Sports Cadet in absence for her outstanding performance in Inter-Sqn 5-A-Side and then representing the Wing in the Regional competitions.

Cdt R Burne, also unfortunately absent was awarded the Civil Air Patrol Medal, given to the Squadron by the American version of the Air Cadets. It is awarded to recognise outstanding endeavour.

Cdt T Barratt was also presented in absence with an OC’s commendation. Cdt Barratt took on a leading role in the Squadrons Continuity Drill Squad this year at the Wing Field Day competition, a first for the Squadron. Cdt Barratt is a regular face at mostly every Squadron activity and is well deserved of the award.

To round off the evening, Cdt Sgt Mitchell was awarded the final trophy of the night, that for Best NCO. Cdt Sgt Mitchell has played a major role in the Squadron this year, attending nearly everything the Squadron runs, and being brilliant and dependable Cdt NCO.

The last thing left to do for the night was to recognise continued personal development and promote Cdt Cpl Marshall to Cdt Sgt. He now joins the Senior NCO team in a more senior role.

Well done to all the cadets, for what has proven to be another fantastic year for 216 (Redditch) Squadron.

View all the photos on our Facebook page

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Air Experience Flying

Flying. A staple of the Air Training Corp. On the 7th May 2017 we took six cadets to the Eight AEF flying squadron at RAF Cosford. There they experienced the joys of professional aerobatics and for the first-timers; learning the basics with hands on practical flying.

Kept safe by the experienced and knowledgeable pilots, our cadets went through the well versed safety protocols with great enthusiasm. Safe in the knowledge that not a single cadet has ever had to abandon an aircraft and deploy his parachute.

The six cadets who included; Cdt Burne; Cdt Clark; Cpl McMullan; Cpl Birch; Cpl Jones; and me, Sgt Mitchell. All six deeply enjoyed the experience and took from it a part towards a new progressive syllabus award in which the cadet can gain a pair of blue wings that can be put onto the shoulder pad of their jumpers.

This new award system allows them to progress towards flying scholarships allowing longer and longer flight times and more and more independence.

Sgt Mitchell.

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Wing Field Day Training

Over the first weekend of April, 216 Redditch Squadron undertook a training weekend to prepare for the annual Wing Field Day Competition where all Squadrons from the Wing compete against each other in ceremonial and other disciplines.

On the Saturday we all had a refresher on drill so we could perfect any weaknesses we had. Over the course of the day our drill got better and better which meant that we could then progress onto our individual teams for the competition.

On the Sunday we were all put into different groups based on our abilities. These teams were; the continuity team which is where you do drill without orders. This makes it exceptionally hard, but they did well given it was the first time they were doing it. There was the drill team which is where you show off your foot drill as a squad and finally, there is the banner team which is where a small squad shows off the squadron banner with impeccable drill.

There was also a modelling team which is coming along really well, they have put in a lot of effort to get as far as they have. It looks great!

Overall this weekend was very helpful and has put us in a strong position so we can carry on getting better. This year I believe we can get the trophy back and make 216 a force to be reckoned with. We can do it!!!

Cpl. Marshall

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West Mercian Wing Athletics

On the 7th May 2017 cadets from 216 Redditch Squadron took part in the annual wing athletics competition held at RAF Cosford. The aim of the competition was to compete in a variety of track events such as 100m to 1500m and relay, and field events such as high jump ,long jump, javelin, and shot put against other squadrons in the wing. Cadets were scored in there event and these score would determine which squadron had the most points overall, and the most successful squadron would win medals or trophies.  As well as taking part the competition the event allowed the cadets to meet up with others in the wing, before the camp season.

This year being true wing athletics tradition the weather was beautiful and sprits where incredibly high. All cadets competing put maximum effort in, and it all resulted in a tired mini bus journey home. This year we were able to walk away with 2 bronze medals, one from Cdt. Birch who came 3rd in the under 15 girls shot put event and myself, Sgt. Hudson, who came 3rd in the under 17 long jump event. On top of these medals, a huge well done is in order to all the cadets who attended for their outstanding effort overall.

Next year we will keep our fingers crossed that the weather is just as good for the 4th time in a row and that the effort given by the cadets is just as good as it was today, but hopefully we return home with more medals and maybe even some trophies.

Sgt. Hudson

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RAF Northolt Camp

At the end of October we had the opportunity to visit RAF Northolt in London, the home of number 32 (The Royal) Squadron. The visit was organised by Sgt McIntosh, Aircrew on 32TR Squadron RAF, but previously part of 216 Squadron RAF. 10 cadets and 2 staff had the chance to visit, based our of RAF Halton for the week, traveling into London each day. The visit was a fantastic opportunity, including visits to sections at RAF Northolt, and a flight for the day on the aircraft, a BAE146.

Cdt Andrews kept a diary of the weeks activities, covering each day.

Monday 24th

Monday started off with a long journey from Redditch to London. When we finally got to RAF Halton everyone was about how close we were, even if some of them were half-asleep. We were to be accommodated at RAF Halton for the week, traveling in to RAF Northolt each day.

Once we had changed into our uniform and put all our stuff away, we got back in the minibus and were on our final little ride to RAF Northolt. After we arrived we waited for Sgt McIntosh to meet us, whilst enjoying a chat about the difference between Gurkhas and Gherkins, and one you wouldn’t want to mix up.

After our first visit to the mess we had a heath and safety briefing. After this we did a bit more research into RAF Northolt, the Squadrons there and also into Sir Keith Park; more on him later. We then went to the gym to do some initiative exercise. Our first task was to pass a bouncy ball around a circle without dropping it. Sounds simple but we weren’t allowed the pass it to the person standing next to us, and needed to do it as quick as possible. After a few attempts at doing it we finally figured out a good system. Then we were all blindfolded... That made it a lot more difficult but we managed to complete it in the end.

Our next task was that we had to cross a part of the gym which had turned into quicksand. We had some metal poles and some ropes, also half way through we found some hooks in a bag that we had completely forgot. With these it became much easier as we soon built two pairs of skis, managed to get the hang of it and were across this patch of quicksand. After dinner we headed back to RAF Halton, where we prepared our uniform for the next couple of days.

Tuesday 25th

Well, what didn’t we do on Tuesday? This was a flying day. We headed over to 32 Squadron with Sgt McIntosh, cleared security and boarded the aircraft, a BaE146 aircraft. We flew to the Isle of Man, where we met a cute little Westie dog in a real fancy VIP terminal. We then flew over to Wick in Scotland and had some fish and chips, which I must say was very nice indeed. After that we flew back to RAF Northolt.

We then got ready to go out to central London by tube to watch Wicked at the Apollo Victoria. This was great and was really fun to go out and watch, even though it did mean that we were back by half past midnight!

Wednesay 26th

We started off the day with a talk to the engineers about the BaE146 and how its DIRCM system stops anything hitting it. After a couple of question from everyone, and a lot from Sgt Osborne, we went onto one of the 146’s used by VIP’s and previously, the Queens plane. We were able to sit in the cockpit, sit in the principles chair which is used by the VIP or Queen.

After lunch we headed over to the RAF Regiment. After changing into our greens we looked at the DCCT (Dismounted Close Combat Trainer). We were also shown all the weapons used by the RAF Regiment, from the L85’s of which our cadet rifle is based on, through to Long Range sniper rifles, .50 cal heavy machine guns, and the Grenade machine gun.

Thursday 27th

We visited the MET office to see how they figured everything out and what the kit was that they used to do so. It was interesting to learn about all of the stuff that goes on in their section of the base.

We then had the opportunity to visit the RAF Band, where we had a tour of the facilities they have available to them and had a chance to watch the Band of the RAF Regiment practise. They were excellent and it was a great chance to see the inner workings of one of the more visible parts of the RAF.

We then headed over to the Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park building which was under restoration. This is an important building on the station as it is where the world's first Integrated air defence system was created. This was started at RAF Northolt and eventually moved to RAF Uxbridge and further afield, forming the operations rooms of the Battle of Britain. After talking about all the work and effort that was being put into this restoration we headed over to Air Traffic Control Tower. Here we saw all of the inside workings of the tower and all of the communication that goes on between them and the pilots. We also saw an amazing view of the airfield from the top of the tower. We also got to see the RAF Fire Station and all of their amazing kit like the ‘Jaws of Life’.

Friday 28th

We went to RAF Uxbridge, the Battle of Britain bunker, on our way back to see an ops room that had already been restored and set up to look like the real thing. This was a really cool place and was definitely a good place to visit. Along with the fact that going down 76 steps meant that you had to come back up 76 steps, we learnt some other interesting things about how the bunker operates.

We then showed Sgt McIntosh our presentations which we had prepared throughout the week and thanked her for such an amazing opportunity and come back home again.

View all the photos here: https://goo.gl/photos/g6aePwt7hq3Ak2QKA

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Leaders of tomorrow

Leadership training is an important part of being an Air Cadet. As a military organisation a chain of command and a rank structure is important to how we run. Over the weekend of the 14th to 16th October 35 cadets from our Squadron and other got a chance to learn the skills necessary for positions and Non Commissioned officers in the cadet ranks.

With cadets from units across the Wing arriving at DTE Nesscliff in Shropshire on Friday night, training started immediately. The groups where split into 2 cadres, those attending the Junior NCO course and those attending the Senior NCO course. The cadres where briefed on the weekend attend, expectations and standards. With course leaders assigned it was time for a bit of uniform preparation and then some sleep.

The junior cadre where those aspiring to the promotion of Corporal, the first step up from cadet. The training focused on low level management, execution of tasks, uniform standards and maintenance and other elements. The JNCO cadre on the Sunday also undertook a practical leadership exercise teaching the cadets how to plan, do and review tasks.

The senior cadre focused more on a management role, again with classroom based lessons on things such as drill, leadership styles and mentoring junior cadets. This course was for cadets who were already Corporals, or junior Sergeants moving into the Senior Non Commissioned officer role.

The weekend culminated with a final parade and march past in front of Cpt M Smith from 37 Signals Regiment as reviewing officer. Individual course reports were then delivered to every cadet from the Directing Staff, with points the cadets need to work on, along with the positives from the course. Overall the course was a success, with all cadets completing a challenging yet rewarding course.

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Under Canvas

The Duke of Edinburgh award is an important activity offered by the ATC, and the first bank holiday of May saw our cadets tackle the Peak District.

13 cadets from the Squadron travelled to the Dark Peak area of the Peak District to complete their practise D of E expeditions. For the 2 bronze level groups it was the start of their expeditions for the year. Having completed navigation training and already spent 1 night under canvas in the local area on a training weekend the cadets where ready to go.

The Silver group set off as soon as we arrived on the Saturday, with the Bronze groups heading to the camp site, and then off on a navigation walk up to Kinder Scout. The first day saw the Silver group head over Broomfield Moors and down to Derwent Resevoir, the place where 617 (Dambuster) Squadron trained for its raids in WW2. All the groups finally met up at the campsite in Edale for the night.

Sunday saw the Bronze groups heading out for their first day of their practise expedition, to be only remotely supervised and carrying all their equipment and food required for the 2 day expedition. This took them over Mam Tor and eventually down into Hayfield to the second campsite. The Silver group had a more challenging route which took them over Kinder Scout, made worse by a few navigation errors, which where successfully rectified by the group.

The third and final day saw all 3 groups head for the finish at Chisworth near Glossop, for the Squadron to have returned home in the evening. All groups did extremely well considering the weather was very challenging, ranging from hail and freezing conditions, to wet but relatively warm and sunny throughout.

The weekend will have provided fantastic training and insight for all groups so they are ready for their qualifiers at the end of May.