Cadets from 2403 (Aldermaston) and 1391 (Romsey) Squadrons, Air Training Corps have spent the weekend experiencing life in the Royal Navy and seeing the work of the police elements of both the Royal Air Force and the Army.
The 14 cadets and 4 staff were accommodated aboard the National Cadet Forces Training and Accommodation Ship HMS Bristol and from there undertook a series of visits which encompassed all three of the UK armed forces. The first of these visits was to the Historic Dockyard complex in Portsmouth where the cadets were able to see the equipment and role of the modern Royal Navy through their interactive “Action Stations” exhibit. They then traveled back in time as they boarded HMS Victory and experienced naval life as Admiral Lord Nelson would have known it. The day was completed with an overview of the entire naval history courtesy of the Royal Navy museum.
The following day the staff and cadets were up bright and early and came under the watchful eye of the police as they visited the home of military police training at Southwick Park. The first part of their visit was an awe inspiring look at the map which was used to plan and co-ordinate the D-day landings, a role which was performed at Southwick Park. The cadets then moved on to the museums of both the RAF Police and the Royal Military Police where they saw the history of each organisation as well as the similarities and differences between them in respect to their current roles.
The weekend wasn’t all work though as the group enjoyed an evening of bowling where certain members of staff showed a hitherto unknown talent for the game and a session of scuba diving at a local indoor dive centre.
Flight Lieutenant Robert Westerberg who organised the weekend said “for many of the cadets this was their first experience of a residential activity with the Air Cadets and I am pleased to say that they all had a great time, learned a lot about the UK armed forces and did the Corps proud with their impeccable behaviour for the entire weekend”.