Another successful Wing first aid weekend for 1368 Sqn. 3 x Silver AFA badges for Cdt K, Cdt L and Cpl M. And Bronze YFA for Cdt P. Reports show 43 of our cadets have current St John's Youth First Aid qual with 6 now having the full 2 day St John's Activity First Aid. Well done to those who signed up, and also thanks to staff from across the Wing and our own Plt Off D for keeping 1368's First Aid qual snowball rolling.

Next intake for 1368 Sqn will be post Easter (probably a small one 5-6). Sqn operates 3 intakes a year, roughly aligned to school term starts (Sep, Jan/Feb, Apr). The intake system works to ensure that cadets join with peers in same boat which helps with nerves/building friendships. It also eases training by keeping similar trained in a group. This means they can avoid doing the same thing twice. April gives us last opportunity to get new starters into the pipe for DofE/Initial Expedition training in May and June 2026, and clear their First Class classification training before July (at a push).

Pleased that we managed to get 2 more first time flyers from 1368 Sqn up on Sunday with the Air Experience Flying School (AEF8). With the nice clear weather Cdt D and Cdt S got to take control of flying a Grob 109 (Tutor T1) for the first time, plus a trip round the museum. Clear day also gave option for a bit of aerobatics.  Cdt D passed his Leading cadet exams as well, hence two new badges are coming his way (Blue Aviation badge and Leading cadet).

3 groups running in parallel most of Wednesdays with marching band, practice pads and ensemble groups. Great NCO work spinning plates (with leadership for junior's also running) while FS R focused on drumming rudiments and Sgt H energized the rock ensemble, and others took real band. Taking on some good suggestions we've tried rotating to real instruments a lot earlier to bang the real drums sooner. Blue badge band is one of the hardest, so we will see what the gap is when Fg Off D visits. Ensemble has been eye opening.  It appears we have an usually high level of musical talent in the up and coming cadets (singers, guitar, and keyboard). It was like Bryan May turned up.

Well done to first batch of 0925/0226 intake to get their Blue badge Foundation Leadership having passed 2 success leads. Cdt B, Cdt P, Cdt P, Cdt R, Cdt S, Cdt S, and Cdt K. 4 nights done so far, more to come. Putting our new intakes through extended leadership training has two goals for us. Firstly, it gets cadets the blue badge which opens up ability to bid for Bronze leadership at sector or Wing level. Secondly, it's actually a really good and fun way of getting cadets to interact with their peers to build friendships, teamwork and mutual understanding, i.e. it bonds them together so that when we get to things like expedition training they already feel part of a team.

Cadets and staff from 1368 paraded the Sqn and Wing banners at the funeral of Frederick John Dawe today, attended by Wing Commanders and OCs of 1368 past and present. John was the first OC of 1368 (1971-1980), a Wing Staff Officer (1980-1988), and OC Wing (1988-1995). It was a very poignant ceremony with senior guests and strong RBL attendance. Very proud of Sgt G, Cpl R, Cpl K and Cdt B who stepped up to attend. They representing the Sqn and the Air Cadets with distinction, incl. banner and slow marching elements. You did a very good thing. Thanks also to Sgt B for help in training banner to those going on Wednesday.