Well done to one of our staff members on achieving his Gold DofE, 28 Jul 2026. An amazing achievement, it takes a lot of commitment to complete all 5 Gold sections (volunteering, skills, physical, expedition and residential).  He did lot of sections through cadet activities in 1368 Sqn as a cadet SNCO/Staff Cadet and had just the expedition section to go, so he undertook an amazing expedition with a difference experience (sailing with the morning star trust ), highlighting that there are some more varied Authorised Activity Provider (AAP) options out there, if that's what floats your boat. DofE Gold is a journey, not a sprint.

1368 Squadron operates an induction programme for new cadets with the main induction being in September (typically 12-14 cadets). With intakes the young people join at same time as others and go through the same induction programme before being integrated into the squadron. It avoids repeating training, enables squadron to cope with larger numbers, and leads to stronger friendships among new recruits. We have  a 5 stage process to joining: Initial contact/register interest (ideally via form). Tour/visit to see Sqn where young person can learn more about what cadet experience is. Parent/guardian formally asks to join. Forms are sent out, returned prior to intake date. Young person starts. We have added a new cadet interest form to the website  Join Us  page to work around issues with the form on the RAF page (e.g. doesn't always work and now doesn't allow Year 7's to apply for intakes which start when they go into Year 8).

Last Saturday saw team 1368 organise and conduct another Sqn road march. Special mention to staff team on their motivation and fortitude to get admin sorted for new routes. Great mix of experience and newbies (on their way to the blue badge). Blue badges = opportunity for Bronze= opportunity for Silver etc, with Gold normally (if you're lucky) being Nijmegen.

His performance in first 6 months of the year has been exceptional. The first to attain MOI out of the 8 who applied, attendance on NCO Dev course attained, strong accumulated community duties, leadership and host of other badges no-one is going to catch him in terms of qualifications/badges/participation. so decided to call this one now. As Albert Einstein is quoted: "Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others, it is the only means.". Well done.

Well done everyone that attended Monday's session. Was a little worried about holiday time numbers drop but attendance was reasonable in the end, and it was definitely worth it. Attitude was amazing. So often we hold ourselves back from what we can achieve, but there was none of that. You were fire. Never had this many of the higher awards (8 Advanced, 10 Intermediate, 4 Basic). Having the extra half hour really helped. Bonus from Wing. They have agreed to help fund costs as 1368 Sqn has been denied use of its building for coming up to 10 months now due to the DIO/.RFCA/VIVO maintenance contract failures (still no news on opening date). 

Well done to the April Silver's in their effort to pull together photos and info to deliver their presentation last night to the newbies (who have their own adventures to come). A pres/report is required to complete the Expedition section at Silver (and Gold).  There was genuine appreciation of the landscape/flora/fauna and, of course, mention of red kites (which I've passed on to Sgt M, who was unable to attend, but seemed pleased). Did also sense that they got a lot of joy from the shared adventure with "the Nugget", just the unexpected things that happen and how the team reacts. All passes, of course. We can start to finish sign-offs and get certificates, hopefully. Well done team.