Thames Valley Wings Marching Teams have been in action at RAF Cosford qualifying in style for the Dutch Nijmegen Marches being held in July. Continue reading →

After a weekend swinging from ropes, navigating wire courses and crossing rope bridges Instructors from across the Thames Valley are now ready and qualified to work with cadets on Low Ropes Courses. The European Ropes Course Association accredited training was delivered by Vertex Training near Corfe Castle in Dorset.

The weekend started with the vital skill of safe operation before moving through some of different types of exercises and the positive methods of reviewing teams. The weekend concluded  with written and practical assessments of all of the course members by Vertex Training in order to qualify for the industry standard ERCA accreditation. Continue reading →

The Thames Valley Wing Marching Team have started their training with an aim of being selected for the world famous Nijmegen Marches held in Holland each July.  The team have a lot to live up to as they are past multiple winners of the prestigious Jon Ford Trophy for being the best Air Cadet team in the marches as well as having a reputation for marching at a strong pace, beating many regular service teams along the way! Continue reading →

RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire was the venue for one of the premier courses to be held in Thames Valley Wing as a group of cadets, drawn from across the Wing and identified by their Commanding Officers as having the potential for promotion to the rank of Cadet Corporal, were schooled in the basic skills required to perform this task.

The 22 candidates, guided by 4 extremely experienced members of Air Cadet staff and a senior staff cadet were put through their paces in a mixture of classroom instruction and practical exercises covering subjects such as drill and leadership. Every member of the course was given the opportunity to lead and all were closely observed from the time they arrived to the time they departed. Continue reading →

After almost 12 months of hard work, we are pleased to announce the launch of the new Thames Valley Wing website – www.aircadets.tv

A number of new and improved features are now available, including:

Perfect 10 Online Checker – Find out how you are progressing within the Air Training Corps by using our handy Perfect 10 Online Checker, you can even download your own personal report. Continue reading →

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 →

In temperatures of up 28^oC Oxfordshire Air Cadets have marched through the streets of Oxfordshire with Sea Cadets and Army Cadets to celebrate Cadet 150.

The cadets started the celebrations with a service at Christ Church Cathedral where following a welcome by the Bishop of Oxford, Right Reverend John Pritchard, the Lord Lieutenants Cadets read the lessons. The Lord Lieutenant, Nr Tim Stevenson OBE, also gave an address where he praised the work of all of the Cadet forces and thanked them for their valuable work they perform in their local communities throughout Oxfordshire. Continue reading →

The Duchess of Gloucester has officially opened the new, purpose built, headquarters for Thames Valley Wing as part of the recently completed Edward Brookes Barracks near Abingdon. The new barracks cost £4 million to build, and alongside the Air Cadets hub, also houses elements of the Territorial Army.

The site has been named after the Edward Brooks, a former Territorial Army hero, who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1917 and many of Sgt Major Brooks’ family attended the opening. His three grandchildren said they were extremely proud the barracks had been named in his honour. Continue reading →

Over 400 Cadets and staff from Thames Valley Wing helped the RAF celebrate its 90th anniversary in style, with a parade at RAF Halton.

The Reviewing Officer, who inspected all 400 cadets and 30 staff on parade, was Group Captain Richard Gammage, Station Commander RAF Halton. Other VIPs included Air Commodore John Lamont from MoD Abbey Wood and the Mayors of Witney and Abingdon. Continue reading →