Thirteen cadets from 1368 Sqn were joined by four from 2286 Sqn to have an evening of instructor-led training at Redpoint climbing centre in Birmingham on Tuesday night. Redpoint has long been a favourite with 1368 with staff with a really passion for the sport and a nice club vibe. Some great skills and confidence progression by all, and a bit of excitement with a how get stuck in a crack challenge for some. Thanks again to 1289 staff who helped us with staffing and transportation. A great evening of climbing facilitated by collaboration with others. With many of our GCSE and A Level cadets otherwise engaged it was a great evening for some of our mids to further develop their skills with new challenges and juniors to have their first visit.

Monday saw another session in our popular series of fieldcraft training nights. The goal is to get our juniors and mids through Blue fieldcraft training before school hols, by exploiting the qualifications of our RAFAC Junior Leader (JL) successful graduates from 2024 (1368 had 3 graduate from this national-led 6 weekend + 1 week course 2023-24, its last running in current form). Cadets will need to attend all the lessons to get their Blue fieldcraft signed off, which then opens up opportunities to bid on Wing and Region camps to do higher level training. As with most aspects of the progressive training syllabus the idea is that Sqn delivers Blue training and then Wing/Sectors do Bronze and Wing/Region do Silver (that's the theory, at least).

Monday's parade saw an elite team learn how to put up the new 1368 Sqn event shelter; recently acquired with Civ Comm's agreement to assist with shelter during events and more community duties.

Well done to 1368's CWO D who became the latest NCO inaugurated into the illustrious "Gnorman Knights of the Domino Pizza order" for his work over the last 6 months, esp. in admin and cadet coordination. He gets to wear the Gnorman the Gnome bucket hat till the next illustrious cadet leader steps forward with amazing NCO-ness. He got the NCO selfie treatment on 7 May 2025. A leader is necessary when a group of people have to achieve an objective. A leader, therefore, is expected to use a team to achieve results or get things done. Many leaders can get things done but some seem to do it quicker and with less fuss and frustration. The ability of the Corps to develop leaders is one of its core strengths. Since joining 1368 CWO D has demonstrated willingness and dedication to getting things done and has been a great asset to the squadron.

Cadet of the month for April 2025 was Cdt H. This is also a team win for cadet team that sorted uniform and packed him off to RAF Lossiemouth camp on a 10 hour coach journey but also for his demonstration that it doesn't hurt to throw yourself into things if they come up, esp. blues camps and high jump. Well done. 

3 Cadets and 1 Staff from 1368 attended a Gold practice expedition at Capel Curig. Really nice to see some smiles in the face of adversity. and friendships with other squadron cadets over what was an unusually wet week even for Wales.  From a 1368 perspective it also means we have enough cadets who've completed a practice to form an assessed expedition, hence July exped ambition a step closer.