Arriving late on Friday night to a wind and rain swept spit of land stretching into the solent, the 10-strong team of cadets began attempting to set up camp and unpack. High winds, driving rain and exposure to the elements made this an impossible task, however, and with midnight approaching the decision was made to sleep indoors for the night and try again in the light.

A 0500 hours wake up call (after another squadron had kindly rescued the team’s tents from blowing into the sea!) and a lot of packing later, the cadets were up, dressed and ready to start the day’s activities. Continue reading →

Thames Valley Air Cadets from Windsor, Didcot, Wantage and Abingdon Squadrons have just returned from taking part in the 66^th Annual Airborne “Wandeltocht” or March in Arnhem.

Each year around 35 thousand people from all backgrounds honour the men of the UK 1^st Airborne Division who lost their lives during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Continue reading →

What do you get if you take 100 Air Cadets, a confidence course, the RAF Outreach Team and a choice of field craft training areas – well you get the most successful  greens camp offered by Thames Valley Wing to date!

The camp, now in its third year at Pirbright Camp in Surrey, was aimed at the Wing’s younger cadets with a three day “Blue Phase” which was followed by a two day “Green Phase” field craft exercise.  Also in the mix were a VIP engagement day and a myriad of evening social activity. Continue reading →

Cadets from Thames Valley Wing have been putting themselves in the news at their first weeklong Media Camp held at Pirbright Camp in Surrey.

The cadets learnt lots of new skills including photography, copy writing, newsletters, film making and presentation skills during the week as they provided media cover for the Wing’s annual greens camp. Continue reading →

Cadet Paul Neale of 1116 (Woodley) squadron is jumping for joy after smashing the Air Cadet high jump record at the recent 2012 Inter Region Athletics championship held at RAF Cosford.

Cadet Neale, 15, impressed the crowds with his huge jump of 1.97m which not only broke the previous Air Training Corps record (which had stood for over 30 years) by seven centimetres, it also would have won the RAF Senior Men’s competition held the week before. Continue reading →

Once again the mighty Thames Valley Marching Team has been in force in Holland for another year.  Training started back in January with nearly 70 cadets, who were gradually whittled down to 34 across three teams. After battling through the rain for two days at RAF Cosford’s qualifying event, 12 cadets and 2 staff were selected to represent the Wing as the 2012 team for Nijmegen. Continue reading →

76 uniformed members of staff from Thames Valley Wing have been awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

The members of staff were presented with the medal by Air Commodore Paul Lyall OBE of the Joint Services Defence College during a high profile parade at Dalton Barracks; in front of family, friends and guests. Continue reading →

Five cadets from 1460 (Banbury) Squadron are tired but in celebratory mood having successfully completed their Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition.

As one of the final stages in their overall award training the cadets were extremely keen to ensure that their expedition was one to remember. This they achieved, partially through their topical and environmentally aware purpose which was to investigate and deliver a presentation on the habitat of the Red Kites which are prevalent in the area, and partially through their assessor who was none other than Thames Valley’s own torch bearer, Civilian Instructor Mo Merchant. Continue reading →

Flight Lieutenant Mike Kidley, Commanding Officer of 594 Squadron has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to his local community by receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at an awards ceremony hosted by Thame Town Council.

Having devoted a huge part of his life to the Air Cadet Organisation, Mike has been instrumental in ensuring that 594 (Thame) Squadron has become a visible and prominent part of Thame life and that his cadets are able to enjoy some amazing opportunities. Continue reading →