To mark the culmination the national Cadet 150 event, the Thames Valley Wing band joined forces with their counterparts from the Sea Cadet Corps and the Army Cadet Force plus staff and cadets from 150 (City of Oxford) Squadron to perform a traditional Beating the Retreat. Continue reading
A group of newly promoted and potential cadet NCOs have completed the first steps in what hopefully will be long and successful careers within the Air Training Corps by attending a preparation for Corporal course.
Over the training weekend at RAF Brize Norton the students, who ranged in age from 14 to 16 were taken through a range of activities, from drill instruction and discipline through to leadership techniques and welfare obligations, all of which are skills necessary to successfully perform the function of a Non Commissioned Officer. Continue reading
A team of cadets representing Thames Valley have been narrowly beaten in a competition to find the best Wing in the South West loosing out by a mere 2 points after a day of competitions.
The cadets from across Berkshire and Oxfordshire were drawn from Windsor, Woodley, Burghfield, Kidlington, Abingdon and Reading. The individual competitions were held for Drill, Aircraft Recognition, Art, Photography, Banner Drill and Public Speaking. Continue reading
Woodley Squadrons drill squad has triumphed at Region Activities Day by beating 5 other teams to be crowned the best drill team in South West Region.
The annual drill competition, held at RAF Lyneham in Wilshire is a hotly fought contest with each Wing putting forward its finest drill team to compete for the drill shield and the chance to represent the South West at the inter-Region drill competition at RAF Halton.
In Woodley’s case the team that was fielded was relatively young and inexperienced but, according to Squadron Warrant Officer Dan Twigg this was a good choice as the cadets “were all keen and willing to be taught and therefore picked up the points made by their instructing staff much more readily than perhaps their more experienced older colleagues would have done”.
The cadets themselves were keen to do well and were extremely pleased with their success as evidenced by the many smiles and shouts of joy when the final results were announced during the final presentation parade. There is however a down side to the success insofar as work must now commence to prepare for the inter-Region competition in November where they will carry the hopes of the entire South West Region onto the parade square.