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Building closure due to VIVO/RFCA contract change in 2024 now at 9 months

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Now 9 months since joint cadet centre building (shared with army cadets) was closed due to failure to perform legal building safety checks by RFCA West Midlands (after an MOD value for money review led to change to MOD's main estate VIVO Defence contractor in Aug 2024 involving the Defence Infrastructure Organisation). It has been parading at alternative venues since Oct 2025. Direct costs to parents/cadets, of the failure of MOD contract change to maintenance of volunteer estate buildings, now stands at £3185.75. Indirect costs on volunteer's time is significantly higher. Sqn has 76 enrolled cadets (2nd largest in Wing). It is current holder of the Wing Per Ardua trophy for best Sqn after overall win in Sept 2025 (a competition involving a wide range of activities, incl. Ensemble, STEM, Drill, Banner, Radio, First Aid etc). 1368 cadets/NCOs won the Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing Athletics Championships in May 2026. It is also current holder of all 3 Wing Sports trophies (Sqn...
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Birmingham Redpoint Climbing, 30 Jun 2026

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Tue saw 11 cadets from 1368 Sqn (and 4 from 1289) spend the night indoor climbing at Redpoint in Birmingham. A great venue with both climbing walls and bouldering. Great instructors, and some fantastic adventure training experience. Many thanks to Sgt M and 1289 Sqn for helping transport.
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Warwick and Leamington Spa Armed Forces Day, 27 Jun 2026

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Has been an exceptionally busy period despite 9 months without a building. Last Sat saw cadets from 1368 Sqn participate in Leamington & Warwick Armed Forces Day for 3rd year running, incl. annual drill & challenge competitions against the local Army and Sea Cadets. 1368 won the drill again, 2nd in "the challenge" to the Sea Cadets. Well done all. Also great engagement with the general public with cadets showing little kids first aid and drumming, and entertaining dignitaries, and some great shots with the tank. Another win for 1368 Community Duty pillar this year. Great staff team performance and also thanks to 1289's FS R for helping with drill prep and on the day.
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1368 Sqn visit to Shuttleworth Air Festival, 28 Jun 2026

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Busy weekend. 12 cadets from 1368 managed to realize CI M's dream of doing more 1368 Sqn air show visits. Although a lot of the really fragile older planes couldn't fly still a unique experience and CI M made a new friend (Richie, a US airline pilot on layover with a similar passion for war birds, it seems). There was also the rare Messerschmitt Bf 109 flies with Spitfire thing and the excitement of an old tractor pulling an old plane. It doesn't get more exciting for an air cadet, than this. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/28/rare-messerschmitt-flies-spitfire-first-time-this-century/
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Parade nights in pictures, 29 Jul 2026

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Post Athletics-win period has seen a return to Aylesford on Weds. 1369 Sqn now coming up to 9 months since building was closed due to MOD contract/VIVO problems in the maintenance of the volunteer estate by RFCA. As well as STEM lots of parallel things happening. Blue fieldcraft lessons ongoing. We have a group doing the Wing soccer challenge (diff one each week). NNAS pins/certificates for Cdt B-R and Cdt W. Lots of cadets also doing dry runs for MOI lanyard. Successful instructor lanyard pass by Cdt P on Mon 29 Jul (well done!), 2nd in batch (8 active cadets have done MOI training, so still looking for helping those that need it). It's a fair amount o effort but a significant milestone as can formally take on more of a teaching role, e.g. teach blue radio (if have bronze) and helps with bidding for higher level camps/courses.
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12 cadets from 1368 Sqn do Bronze/IET Expeditions, 13-14 Jun 2026

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Long term favourite this one. Normally we do as an IET/practice with NCOs helping, but tried this as assessed to get some through Bronze sooner. Was a step-up for sure, a few stories to tell about cows and getting lost, the DofE classics. New day 1 start route with canal/train route elements to seemed to flow well. First time anyone has tried making a cake/fishing. Slightly more challenging due to some footpath obfuscation around MOD Kineton on day 2 but they made in the end. Campsite was a stunning backdrop to fun in near perfect weather on the Sat and great comradery shown.
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More cake RAF roundel and MTP mini-poos, 8 Jun 2026

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We occasional miss the opportunity, but 2026 is turning out to the year of the cake. With Year 11 exams almost done, last week saw another cake creation battle as Sgt G reached the ripe old age of 16. FS R's sloppy RAF roundel was really tasty with a light sponge (no photo though/FS R jumped the gun). Cdt R's creation was an MTP-themed air cadet Chocolate cake with brown/green mini-poos being attacked by Spitfires. Bravo to both bakers. Both were very nice.
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