For the past two years, Abingdon Squadron has been the winner of Aircraft Recognition at both Wing and Regional Activities Days. However, on both occasions, we have not been successful at Corps level. This year preparation to retain our titles began at the start of summer with three new recruits – Cdt Spratt, Cdt Irwin and Cdt Warrick – adding to the current members being myself (Sgt Flavin), Sgt North and Cpl Plows. At all levels of the competition there are two categories: Under 16 and Open. In the Under 16 category, only cadets who are under the age of 16 can take part, however, in the Open category, any cadet of any age can take part. Continue reading →

Twenty-five Air Cadets scaled new heights last weekend when they took part in their first climbing lessons at Reading Climbing Centre thanks to a Sportivate grant.

Sportivate is a Lottery funded London 2012 legacy project that gives young people opportunities to discover new sports and, from the reactions of the cadets from Woodley and Earley, climbing seems to have really taken off! Continue reading →

October half term week saw 18 Cadets and 9 Staff travel from all over Thames Valley Wing (TVW) to the National Air Cadet Adventure Training Centre (NACATC), Windermere for a week of Adventure Training in the spectacular landscape of the Lake District.

The primary aim of the Centre is to provide facilities for cadets to participate in adventure training in terrain more demanding than that normally found in their local area.  Taking full advantage of the facilities and equipment available from the centre, the TVW cadets were able to have a go at mountain walking, wild camping, canoeing, indoor wall climbing and outdoor rock climbing, orienteering, geocaching and mountain biking. Continue reading →