MOD St Athan Autumn Camp 2018

MOD St Athan Autumn Camp 2018

This past week has seen 40 cadets from squadrons all over No.1 Welsh Wing came together for the 2018 Autumn camp at MOD St Athan, tailored towards those cadet that are new into the organisation (Up to/ just over a years service)

Marching Drill

Marching to and from the mess hall saw the cadets practicing their drill ahead of the Remembrance Day Parades happening across the wing on Remembrance Sunday. The cadets then undertook a mini drill sequence called the Magic Circle, which incorporates all the basic static and marching drill into a short display which looked fantastic by the end of the afternoon. 

Blue Badge Training Syllabus 

Over the week all cadets undertook the training and assessments to gain their blue Heart Start, radio comms and leadership badges as the staff delivered the training for those yet to receive badges or as valuable refresher training to those working towards the next level bronze stage. Using a wide variety of weird and wonderful scenarios across the three badges in the staff delivery,  a whole host of cadets successfully passed and now will be receiving their blue Heart Start, radio communications and leadership badges that will be taking pride of place on their brassards. 

Fire Section Visit

During the week the cadets got to head over to the fire section on base where they were shown all the different types of equipment they use there. They then got the opportunity to try on the equipment for themselves as well as being able to climb aboard the fire trucks and get to operate the water canon on top along with external hoses so they could see exactly how they would go about fighting fires.

Terra Firma Challenge Course

Midweek staff from Central & Eastern Region were kind enough to bring down the Terra Firma Challenge Course trailer and running a fantastic day session filled with fantastic team building exercises with the cadets loving every minute of problem solving, team building and clambering over obstacles. 

Halloween Party

A fun filled evening of party games and food which saw the cadets getting involved with many challenges from pumpkin carving,  creating live mummies, broom stick races, apple bobbing and finding items within the spookey bowl.

S.T.E.M

As part of an afternoon of rotational activities the cadets had the chance to use the some of the wing STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) kits to undertake challenges such as the largest free standing structure, making a crane to lift an item, creating wheel barrows to transport water and cargo containers to transport various items around the group. 

Metal Workshop Station Visit

The on base workshop was place of creation for the RAF 100 Baton that has been on tour in this centenary celebration year. The cadets got the opportunity to take a look at the whole creation process from design to concept and the final button with many of the cadets truly fascinated as many of the cadets on camp had actually help the RAF100 baton themselves when it came to Cardiff earlier on in the year.

Quest Day

On the last full day of camp the cadets were busy questing as they headed to Techniquest for a fun filled morning of science and exploring before heading of to Laser Quest in the afternoon for some very competitive team battles.

The very last night the entire camp got together for an evening of singing and dancing where the 'Camps Got Talent' performances were done. Alongside this no camp is complete until paper plate awards have been presented to all members of the camp.

The camp staff team then crowned Cdt Walton from 2300 St Athan squadron as most improved cadet of the camp as well as Cpl Wiggers from 1367 Caerleon Squadron who was crowned best NCO of the camp.

CVQO Cadet Forces Adult Volunteer Graduation 2018

CVQO Cadet Forces Adult Volunteer Graduation 2018 at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

On Friday 19th October 2018, Flight Sergeant Anderson was one of the guest speakers at the CVQO Cadet Forces Adult Volunteer graduation ceremony 2018 at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Earlier on in the year Flight Sergeant Anderson was himself crowned the winner of the 2018 CVQO Westminster award, so was invited to this special event as a guest speaker talking about the amazing dedication, commitment and sacrifices made by the cadet forces adult volunteers speaking personally from a cadets perspective drawing on his own experiences from being a Royal Air Force Air Cadet. 

It was such an inspiring speech that we wanted to share it with you all. Please find below the speech that Flight Sergeant Anderson gave the graduation candidates of that day.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Sir’s and Ma’am 

My name is Flight Sergeant Alex Anderson and I am the 2018 CVQO Westminster Award winner. Today is not a day about me but it is a day in celebration of the crucial roles you all preform within your respective cadet forces. 

Without all of you giving your time, effort, commitment and experience to develop the next generation of cadets many young adults wouldn’t have the opportunities available to them offered through joining cadets. 

This could be something as simple as having a reason to go outdoors, try something new, make friends, develop skills and becoming better citizens. I can’t even begin to tell you how I have developed in confidence and self-esteem since joining cadets. I have personally struggled with managing my Asperger Syndrome as making friends was very hard for me and socially I felt awkward interacting with people. 

When I joined the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, I was petrified as it was a complete change for me and a completely new environment. I had inspirational members of staff around me, always there to support me and offer me guidance if I had any queries. I have earned the nickname of one question Anderson because I was the one cadet who would have a list of questions by the end of the night to pose to staff. I think my staff enjoyed Q and A at the end of the night when they weren’t running away. 

Having someone to go to and motivate you to achieve your goals is a gift which volunteer staff give freely. My adult Sergeant in squadron has always been there for me and always has time for me no matter what I needed to talk about. My adult Sergeant is my role model and inspires me to take on anything. 

Adult volunteers are role models who many cadets look up to and the impact you have on their lives is extraordinary. The next generation is the future and you all have a vital part in shaping the future Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Army, Fire and Rescue, Police and Ambulance Personnel. As well as this you all help to develop the traits of good citizenship within young people. 

Education is fundamental in developing knowledge and skills within any job role. This is why I think it is so important that you all take qualifications to better yourselves but also offer qualifications to cadets such as the CVQO BTEC level 2 Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community, BTEC level 2 Music for Practical Performance and ILM level 2 Young Leaders Award. 

There are many more amazing qualifications offered to young people through CVQO but just think that these qualifications could be the only qualifications some young people will attain while in school. They can also be the difference between cadets getting into a job and not. 

All of the additional opportunities offered through cadets because of adult volunteers has allowed many cadets to achieve and develop their skills as part of a team. Adult volunteers are the unsung heroes across the UK who will give their time freely, transport cadets here, there and anywhere, make sacrifices, fill out the never ending pile of paperwork, organise camps, events, support cadets and teach young people from your own experiences while also having to hold down full time jobs, pay bills and go to sleep at some point. 

Without you, cadet forces wouldn’t be able to run and many young people of today would be stuck indoors shooting tanks or zombies on the latest video games. Without joining the Royal Air Force Air Cadets I wouldn’t be the person I am today and I wouldn’t have achieved anywhere near what I have throughout my cadet career. 

As well as this, I wouldn’t have gained the CVQO BTEC level 2 TPD, ILM level 3 in Leadership and Management and work towards completing the BTEC level 2 MPP. Within cadets we are a team, within CVQO we are a team and if we work together we can achieve amazing things. CVQO changes lives through vocational qualifications and with your help we will for many years to come! 

Thank you for listening 

Wales and West Region Junior Hockey Representation

Wales and West Region Junior Hockey Representation 

Photographed here is the No.1 Welsh Wing junior girls hockey team who went to RAF Cosford over the weekend to represent the wing in the inter-wing competitions for the Wales and West region.

The squad was made up of girls in the junior age category from squadrons all over No.1 Welsh Wing,  which included 3 of our own cadets, Cadet Salter, Corporal Roderick and Corporal Wiggers. Our cadets and the rest of their team put in a truly fantastic performance with the team securing 3rd position.

We are so proud to announce that Corporal Wiggers after that amazing team performance has now not only been selected to represent 1367 (Caerleon) Sqn and No.1 Welsh Wing but has now been selected to go and represent the Wales and West region at the inter-region competitions.

Corporal Wiggers pictured here in the back row, 4th in from the left, has been a Royal Air Force Air Cadet for just over a year now and is shaping up to be quite the sportswomen on squadron with this being her second regional representation she has been selected for after her successful selection in the Athletics in the junior women javelin earlier in the year. 

With all this sporting success from the members of the squadron we will have to start clearing some shelves so we have room to put all these medals.

Sandhurst / RAF Centenary Tour / L144 Shooting / Wing Sport Competition

This weekend has been very busy and action packed to say the least, with cadets of 1367 (Caerleon) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets attending a variety country wide events.

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

On Friday 19th October 2018 Flight Sergeant (FS) Anderson attended the CVQO graduation for cadet forces adult volunteers at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. FS Anderson was himself crowned the winner of the CVQO Westminster Award for 2018 earlier in the year and was invited to the graduation ceremony to give an inspiring speech about the commitment, sacrifices and dedication of cadet forces adult volunteers of organisations across the UK.

Royal Air Force in Concert Centenary Tour

On the evening 19th October 2018, Cadet Jenkins, Corporal Wiggers and Corporal Roderick attended the Royal Air Force in Concert Centenary Tour at the Wales Millennium Centre alongside other cadets from squadrons around No.1 Welsh Wing. 

Before the performance they were busy meeting and greeting people, selling various RAF100 Appeal merchandise and programmes for the show before getting to watch the performance and enjoying the fantastic music coming from the RAF band.

During the evening they were greeted by a gentleman who took great pleasure in telling our three cadets that he was himself a cadet of 1367 Squadron when it was based in Usk in the 1950's. He did not hesitate to start telling the cadets all about his adventures he got up to when he was a cadet, and then in turn loved hearing all about what our cadets get up to in their own careers.

L144 Riffle Wing Shooting Weekend

On the weekend of the 20th October 2018, Cadet Jenkins, Cadet Rosser and Cpl Cocking attended an L144 Riffle training and shooting weekend where they were introduced to the riffle as first time firers with other cadets from squadrons around No.1 Welsh Wing.  On the Saturday the cadets undertook their safety training and drills on the L144 riffle concluding with them successfully passing their weapons handling test (WHT).

After passing their WHT's on Saturday they were cleared and deemed competent to go forward to shooting at actual targets on the 20m range on the Sunday. Through their firing details they had on the day they began to home in their marksmanship skills with there eyes set on the target of achieving their L144 riffle trained shot badge.  Unfortunately this time around they narrowly missed out on achieving the badge by a matter of millimetres, but now have the experience and knowledge to call open the next time they go shooting.

Inter-Wing Sporting Competitions 

Earlier in the month we had cadets attend inter-squadron senior 5 a side football, junior hockey and junior football competitions with 6 of our cadets being selected to go forward and represent No.1 Welsh Wing on Sunday 21st October 2018 in the inter-wing competitions within the Wales and West Regional at RAF Cosford. 

Our cadets alongside others from around the wing put in a truly phenominal performance.

Cpl Hamblen and his senior 5-a-side football team securing 2nd place.

Cdt Salter, Cpl Wiggers and Cpl Roderick and their junior hockey team securing 3rd place.

Cdt Kaartick and Cdt Pugh and their junior football team then putting in a sterling effort securing 6th place.