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.
An Aldermaston cadet has been on a once in a lifetime visit to Hong Kong as part of the International Air Cadet Exchange programme.
Cadet Flight Sergeant Gibbons from 2403 (Aldermaston) Squadron was selected from hundreds of hopeful candidates to take part in the IACE visit to Hong Kong. Flight Sergeant Gibbons says “although I have been a cadet for many years I never thought I would end up in a different country with cadets from all over the world. It has been an experience of a life time and I have made friends from many countries and from different cultures. Knowing how few spaces there are when applying I still never thought I would be in with a chance of going”. Continue reading
211 (Newbury) Squadron reigned supreme at the Thames Valley Wing Field Weekend held at Bicester.
The activities held over the two day competition were designed to test all of the cadets skills. Together with drill, aircraft recognition, the cadets from 26 different Squadrons also had to undertake outdoor activities on the nearby Piddington Training Area such as a first aid scenario, patrol lane and a Duke of Edinburgh Award challenge. Continue reading
Almost 50 years to the day 8 ex-Air Cadets from 211 (Newbury) Squadron have reunited to celebrate a famous win. The win in question was a success in the Berkshire Wing Drill Competition, held at Brock Barracks in Reading where the Newbury Cadets won their 5 trophy in a row.
Knowing the 50th anniversary was coming up one of the winning team, Clive Newton, undertook to find as many of the team as possible and bring them and their staff (Sqn Ldr John Boulton DFM and Warrant Officer Cheeseborough) together. Continue reading
Cadet Sergeant Alipio Reis of 2211 (Bracknell) Squadron has been appointed the Lord Lieutenants Cadet at a sparkling ceremony held at Reading University. During the coming year he will attend high profile events to support the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mrs Mary Bayliss JP.
Although he has only been a cadet since July 2007 he is a good all rounder undertaking all the ATC has to offer including his Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award, the Young Lifesaver Plus first Aid Qualification as well as training to fly solo in military motor gliders. Continue reading
The 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain has been commemorated in Burghfield by a parade of over 40 Air Cadets and their staff.
Under clearing skies the immaculately turned out parade, formed by cadets of 2402 (Burghfield), 2403 (Aldermaston) and 381 (Reading) Squadrons headed off with the Union Flag in the lead, closely followed by the banners of the Royal British Legion, the Air Cadets and the Army Cadets. After a short march the formation arrived at St Mary’s church where wreaths were laid at the war memorial and also at the grave of a Battle of Britain pilot, Pilot Officer Eric Burgoyne of 19 Squadron who was killed when his Spitfire aircraft was shot down on the 27th September 1940. Continue reading
Brunswick Adventure Training Camp 2010 had the almighty task of following many successful years at Browndown Training Camp and after a strenuous and exhausting eleven days, it is evident that the year’s work of preparation has delivered a camp that cadets and staff alike will remember for a very, very long time. Thames Valley Wing, Middlesex Wing and Dorset and Wiltshire Wing combined to produce 269 cadets along with 49 members of staff. We also had the pleasure of hosting 29 Canadian Air Cadets and staff from 62 Grimsby Phantom Squadron. Continue reading