A heap of achievements tonight:

Congratulations to FS Fisher on his promotion!

Congratulations to Cpl Payne and Cdt Brown (f) for passing Aircraft Handling tonight and achieving Senior Cadet!

Congratulations to Cpl Naito and Cpl Brimming for passing Aircraft Handling tonight and achieving Master Air Cadet!

Congratulations to Cdt Taylor E for passing No 8 Weapons Handling Test!

Congratulations to Cdt Harris and Brown (m) for passing GIC1!

Congratulations to Cdt Walter for passing GIC2!

Congratulations to Cdt Pallett for passing GIC3!

Last but by no means least, the 35 Mile Ten Tors team were presented with their certificates!

Well done to all!

Over the last weekend 8 cadets participated in a training session on Dartmoor starting at Okehampton and walking down on to the South Moor camping at South Hessary and then walking again on Sunday to Combestone Tor.

The cadets were met a different points on their route by the staff to see how they were getting on. The first day went well with poor weather from midday onwards. Luckily the rain stopped in time for the cadets to put up their tents at South Hessary. Overnight was cold with the tents freezing!

After the camp was collapsed the team continued going to Fox Tor and Pupers Hill before finishing at Combestone Tor at 1400 allowing plenty of time to get back and clear up before finishing the training session for the weekend.

Only one more training weekend to go!

There were 4 first aid scenarios covering trips and falls, unconsciousness, amputation of fingers and shock.

The cadets had to think fast, taking into account any existing danger and treat the casualties fast and effectively.

The exercise went well with the cadets receiving feedback on areas for development.

Many thanks to the Sqn staff who played the injured parties.

Cdt Vaughan, Cdt Austwick and Cdt Webster were presented with first class badges.

Cdt Roach and Walter were presented with their GIC 1 certificates, and Cdt Pallett was awarded his GIC2 certificate.

Cdt Brown was presented with her Leading Classification certificate and badge.

Cdt R Harris was enrolled in to the Squadron.

Sgt Webb was awarded his Junior Leaders landyard and certificate

Cdt Miller and Cpl Fisher were presented with the Master Air Cadet badges.

FS Steel was presented with his full UHF and VHF radio operators certificate.

Cdt Taylor R, Cdt Turner, Cdt Austwick, Cdt Yarmohamed, Cdt Jenkins, Cdt Smith, Cdt Winter, Cdt Stenner and Cdt Vaughan attended the ATC Ten Tors weekend over the last weekend representing the squadron’s 35 mile Ten Tors team.

Cpl Naito and Cdt Key attended to represent the squadron’s 45 mile team, they joined up with a team from the North of the Wing so that they could complete the ATC Ten Tors weekend.

Both teams arrived at Willsworthy at 2045 and had to put up tents for the evening, have their equipment checked and the navigators for the teams had to attend a navigational assessment.

The cadets got up at 0500 on Saturday morning so that they had enough time to eat breakfast and clear up camp before having to get on a minibus to Okehampton Camp at 0615.

The 35 team started at Okehampton Camp at 0700 and visited OP15, Watern, Sittaford, Lower White, Conies Down, Lynch, Hare Tor and then went on to Willsworthy to camp for the night. The team completed day 1 in good time.

The 45 team also started at 0700 from Okehampton Camp and they visited OP 15, Watern, Sittaford, Lower White, Conies Down, Great Mis, Hare Tor and then Willsworthy Camp.

Both teams had to be up and ready to leave Willsworthy for 0645 which they managed.

The 35 mile team went from Willsworthy to Chat, Kitty, High Willhayes and then back to Okehampton they completed the route in good time and were the first team back!

The 45 mile team went from Willsworthy to chat, Grat Link, Kitty, Sourton and then back to Okehampton Camp.

All of the teams finished at a good time so we were able to get back to the squadron for 1630.

With the games being on 20 minutes a half, the pressure was on to score quickly. With all of the players still half asleep in the first half of the first game, Wales and West gained a 4 goal lead and a further 1 in the second half.

South West were more determined in the second game and won 1-0 which put us in the running for third or fourth place.

After lunch we had our final game. It was a dramatic play with both teams pushing hard in defence and attack but in the end the final whistle went with the scores tied at 0-0. This meant it was time for penalties which South West did not practice at all in training and failed to succeed in the game.

After a great day out full of ups and downs South West finished in 4th position.

It was a great experience for both cadets to participate in and allowed them both to meet new people from across the South West and the chance to see and look around the grounds at RAFC Cranwell

Cpl Payne says “As well as the football being good fun, it was also nice as it allowed me to meet new people and make new friends. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot and look forward to competing again in the future”.

GIC 2 – Cdt J Taylor, Cdt Stenner
GIC 3 – Cdt Vaughan
BTEC Music Diploma – CI Wright
Certificate of Appointment – CI Wright

4 cadets attended an L98A2 shoot hosted by the SCC on the gallery range at Yoxter. FS Steel, Sgt Fisher, Cpl Naito and Cdt Miller were able to conduct LFMT from the 100 metre point, and having achieved satisfactory scores hope to progress to different practices at different ranges next time.

Cdt Taylor R, Cdt Turner, Cdt Vaughan, Cdt Austwick, Cdt Stenner, Cdt Yarmohamed, Cdt Smith and Cdt Winter attended the training session on Dartmoor over the weekend. The cadets started their training session at the Four Winds Car Park, from here they walked to Black tor then Nuns Cross Farm and Hartor Tors where the group stopped for a small break. Next to be visited was Trowlesworthy Tors, the trig at Shell Top and then Grim’s Grave. After lunch at Trowlesworthy the weather deteriorated a little with a bit of rain and wind. After Grim’s Grave the challenge was to find Broad Rock a large flat rock that you can only see when you are stood next to it due to long grass. The cadets tried a few strategies to find the rock but without success leading to the search for the rock being abandoned to make sure that the route was completed in daylight. The route continued on the Abbot’s Way towards Nuns Cross Farm but before reaching Nuns Cross farm the route took the cadets East to a cross and then a cairn on the way to the Whiteworks. After passing through the Whiteworks the group continued on to South Hessary, Hart Tor and then Black Tor to camp for the night.

Overall Day 1 was rather wet underfoot but good weather. The cadets progressed well getting to the wild campsite before dark fall.

Day 2 saw the cadets leaving a campsite a little late at 0845. Day 2 started at Princetown and headed out towards South Hessary. Once through South Hessary the cadets headed to Nuns Cross Farm, Fox Tor and then a ford to cross the River Swincombe. Once over the river a footpath was followed to a Crock of Gold and then onwards back to Princetown. The cadets completed day 2 by 1400 so we all managed to get back to the squadron at a good time.

Well done to all of the cadets who attended a good training session was had by all.

The cadets left the squadron at 1800 on Friday to travel down to Okehampton camp. Following arrival at 2045 accommodation was allocated and cadets settled in and went to bed ready for breakfast at 0700 the next day.

After breakfast on Saturday the cadets joined up with those participating in Ten Tors from the North of the Wing and 4 teams were formed. 2 teams spent the first day on Darmoor and 2 teams went around the edge of the moor. Both teams worked hard navigating and managing any problems for themselves, with the staff there for guidance. The teams returned for 1700 in time for dinner at 1730. On Saturday night the cadets were given free time to prepare themselves for the next day.

Sunday breakfast was again at 0700. The groups swapped over so that everyone had the opportunity to walk on the moor. All of the groups sucessfully returned to Okehampton camp for 1600 so that we could get back to the squadron for 1930.

During the walks the teams experienced fog, rain, hail, wind and even a little bit of sunshine.

A good training session was had by all resulting in all of the cadets now having first hand experience of the moor and the changeable weather conditions.