381 (Reading) Squadron

Reading Air Cadets provides opportunities for you to get airborne, meet new people, learn new skills, develop in character and ability and have fun doing it.

Latest News for: 381

Thames Valley In The Swim

The annual Inter Squadron Swimming Competition was held recently at Temple Cowley Pool and saw 21 Squadrons from across Oxfordshire and Berkshire in fierce battle for the awards on offer.

The competition itself was spread across four classes (Junior Boys, Senior Boys, Junior Girls and Senior Girls) and comprised both individual and team events in all four main disciplines, namely Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly and Freestyle. In addition there were further categories including the individual medley, one cadet completing all four strokes in one race, the medley relay (4 cadets 4 strokes) and the freestyle relay (4 cadets any stroke). Continue reading

Green Camps – Bigger, Better & Great Fun!

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

Lights, Camera, Action!

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

Air Cadet Diamond Jubilee Awards

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

Britwell Shine in the Sun

Britwell Air Cadets were in the silverware after winning the lions share of the medals and trophies at the Thames Valley Wing Athletics Championships held at Abingdon’s Tilsey Park.

Over 200 cadets and 50 staff took part in glorious sunshine; battling it out to be crowned champions. 11 events were on offer across 5 age categories headed up by Flight Sergeant Barry Tweddle, the Wing Sports Officer. Continue reading

Canoeing and Climbing Taster for Thames Valley Wing

On a very soggy Sunday in April, cadets and staff from across Thames Valley Wing took to the water and the wall at Adventure Dolphin in Pangbourne.

Despite the torrential rain, several cadets and staff made the trip to Adventure Dolphin in Pangbourne for a day of taster sessions in canoeing and climbing. Organised by FS Chris Harding (ATC), the cadets spent half the day learning some basic skills in a canoe on the river Thames, and the other half on the indoor climbing wall at the centre testing their climbing skills. Continue reading

Opposites Attract in a Classic 5-a-Side Battle

Cadets from Chipping Norton, based in North Oxfordshire, and cadets from Earley in Berkshire have proved themselves best of the bunch in a thrilling 5-a-side tournament held at RAF Benson.

28 teams from across the Thames Valley started the day with a series of league competitions for the male and female trophies before being narrowed down to the top 12 teams for the nail biting play off stage. Continue reading

Merlin Magic for Reading

Reading Air Cadets have taken to the skies in a Merlin Helicopter from RAF Benson which was organised by ex-Reading cadet, Flt Lt Nathaniel Roberts, who is now a pilot at the Oxfordshire base.

The cadets were busy on a field craft training weekend at Bramley Training Area with Burghfield Air Cadets  when their staff told them the news that they were take to the air. Continue reading