Air Cadets from 2499 (Wokingham) & 1116 (Woodley) Squadron have successfully completed the Foundation Amateur Radio course at the HQ of 2499 Squadron. Joined by a candidate from Reading Sea Cadets the Cadets were tutored in a range of radio theory from antennas and transceivers to Electro-Magnetic Compatibility.
Practical training and assessments were also completed in preparing radio equipment for use, tuning antennas and operating on the air on both the VHF and HF bands. Additionally each candidate completed an appreciation of Morse code sending and receiving.
Following the training and practical assessments the cadets sat the Foundation Licence exam, with initial marking indicating all successfully made the grade. The papers will be verified by staff at the Radio Society of Great Britain and then the cadets will then be able to obtain their own radio amateur call sign.
The course was led by Flt Lt Martin Lines, himself a radio amateur of many years standing. Flt Lt Lines said “We’re really pleased the cadets have been successful this weekend. It opens up many aspect of radio, not just during their time with the cadet forces but also as a lifelong interest.”
The Foundation Licence also forms a module of the ATC Communicator syllabus, meaning the cadets have taken another step towards the coveted Communicator Badge.
The cadets will now hopefully be taking part in the Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society’s annual “Airfields on the Air” event in early April from the site of a former Royal Air Force station within the Thames Valley Wing area.
