Many of our cadets have a passion for aircraft and some really want to become pilots themselves. As well as air cadet experiences such as Air Experience Flying and Gliding at Volunteer Gliding Schools, cadets are recommended to strive to take advantage of scholarship opportunities if they can, e.g, Closing date for applications to The Honourable Company Of Air Pilots for their Gliding Scholarships is 3rd February 2026 at 12 noon. Scholarships are residential and are offered to people aged between 16 and 25.  Successful candidates have the  opportunity to fly on a one-week course at a youth approved British Gliding Association centre. 

A catch-up from last year. Well done to Cdt G (Mk III) for achieving the COTM award for due diligence and effort in community duties in December. Last week saw us settle into classifications and cross country again. There was also chance to talk about exciting ideas for 2026 such as clay pigeon shooting, archery and an Adv Trng w/end camp.

Amazing really. 2nd year running that we've had a 1368 Sqn Panto, re-written with cadet jokes and performed by cadets and NCOs. Last year it was Sgt Cinderella not being about to go air experience flying due to the evil Cadet Warrant Officers, that included Babcock team that tried desperately to get flying happening and a Chinook flight. This year was Sgt Aladdin, a love story about a camp relationship, involving a magic carpet and a lamp and Sqn Ldr genie. Brilliant effort by all, but particularly our outgoing CWO C and every present CI M for the writing. Brilliant cast that including roped in review cadets.  We were corralled a bit on dates due to lack of building, hence sorry not all got to see or perform. People would pay good money for this, but it did make a fantastic start to Christmas week. The imaginative solution to the magic carpet was amazing, plus pulling off a play in play (very Shakespearian). Well done team 1368. Happy Xmas.

Monday saw 10 cadets complete the Blue Radio Basic Operator training at Aylesford School. A practical course, it teaches correct use of basic radio procedure in the air cadets, and includes a practical assessment. Blue badge training is core to Sqn's annual training programme. Blue badges make our cadets eligible for Bronze courses, typically run at Wing or Sector level. Radio training's particularly useful as we use them for community duties and nav exercises. They all passed the practical assessment, so well done, and thanks to all the staff, NCOs and cadets involved.  We also managed to get an MOI dry-run done for Cpl F, an added bonus. Getting yellow lanyards done is going to be a key focus in the new year.

Well done to Sgt R who was promoted to Flt Sgt on Wednesday as we continue to evolve the NCO structure to fill in gaps with older cadets aging out and Squadron increasing in size. FS is the the highest rank that can be appointed at Sqn level (CWO is a Wing appointment). Against tough competition it was recognition of his age and experience, reputation for strong values and helping others, successfully leading others to high levels of Drill and Ensemble in consecutive Wing Competitions, and aspirations for maintaining and improving squadron drill & discipline standards.

1368 traditionally starts blue badge training in Feb period (once Sqn is up and running from Christmas break). A big part of this has been layering in band practice pads and real instruments to stretch oldies further. Wed was a test to see how we could manage in classrooms. Adult Sgt B from 1289 visited to give older band members new skills & challenges, incl. new songs (another session on The Great Escape).  Also thanks to (now appointed) Adult Sgt F who ran a session on military selection process/OASC, e.g., planning exercises and debating. Newbies did some readiness on NATO phonetic alphabet ahead of blue radio badge course on Monday.