Sun 26 Mar: Wing Sports officer genuinely over the moon with the competitive effort you put in to beat many of the larger Wings and to achieve 3rd overall (out of 7 Wings). More medals for 1368 cadets competing at this higher level. Really fantastic effort achieving your Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing Blues on a cold and windy day.

... finally came in. Well done to the 17 cadets that achieved the Air Cadet Basic Swimming Proficiency for first time, plus 4 that did it for the first time. We also had 5 Intermediate first timers, and 5 second timers, and 1 that achieved Advanced (Well done to Cdt K-M!).

After extensive application and selection process, very pleased to say this week that both of our Flight Sergeants at 1368 Sqn have managed to get offers of Gliding Scholarships by undertaking various tests in a regional selection process. Fingers-crossed that they get weather that enables them to fly solo by the end of it.

Due to impending exams after Easter, six of our more senior cadets choose to undertake an early-in-season Bronze expedition in March. Aspects such as map reading, packing and cooking were right up there and they came together as a team to meet all the Expedition Section requirements for the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, a self-sufficient expedition for 2 days and 1 night. Weather was kind and the expedition assessor was very impressed by their teamwork, politeness, enthusiasm, and - quite frankly - and amazing ability to talk to each other without a single phone being present. 

Well done to the 10 cadets successfully achieved expedition walk starting and ending in Henley-in-Arden led by 2 of their cadet NCOs. Expedition walk involved field cooking on camping stoves, working out what to with a 1kg of raisins, a muddy field and an electric fence. We also tested everyone's radio procedure using the Squadron radios with long antennas. Surprisingly good range. Some fantastic map reading and teamwork, all polished off with a Henley-in-Arden Ice Cream.

Seems to be resonating and the level of enthusiasm from cadets is palpable. 1368 continued its embrace of teaching cadets blue badge band with practice pads and regular Wednesdays during Feb (a bit of lie, they seem to be teaching themselves, to be honest). We also had a focused Sunday band day where we borrowed some real instruments from colleagues at 1289 (thanks!). Amazing how close they're getting to sounding like a real band.   Very impressed with musical talent in the Squadron to be able to get to this level within 3 weeks of training. Need to get a grant to buy some Snares/Tenor drums and Lyres now so we can target an actual parade!

... at the recent Central and East Region Swimming Competition at RAF Cranwell. This is where the best cadets from the 19 Squadron's in Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing compete against cadets from the other 5 Wings in the region hence even taking part shows a massive achievement. This is what our cadets got: Silver Medals in Junior Boys Breaststroke Relay and Junior Boys Freestyle Relay for 1368's Cdt KM Bronze Medals in Junior Girls Breaststroke Relay and  Junior Girls Freestyle Relay for 1368's Cdt W Bronze Medals in Senior Boys Breaststroke Relay and Senior Boys Freestyle Relay for 1368's Cdt S Bronze Medal in Senior Girls Backstroke for 1368's Sgt M You will also win the prestige of a Wing Blue for representing the Wing at a major sports competition. You represented the Wing at our last competition with C & E as Wing is now becoming part of the Air Cadet's Wales and West Region.

Fantastic representation of 1368 Squadron banner was done at the recent Birmingham International Tattoo, 23 Feb was done by Sgt M. Looking very smart and well presented as always. The Birmingham International Tattoo 2023 was Britain's biggest indoor tattoo (a type of military type tournament) featuring marching bands, pipes & drums, field gun racing, dog racing and much more including a spectacular Grand Finale with over 1,000 performers.

Well done to 3 cadets from 1368 Sqn on stepping up to learn about what it takes to be a Cadet Corporal on the Wings Junior NCO course, 24-27 Feb 2023 at RAF Cosford. This included Bronze Leadership Award consolidation; further experience for selection tests like Gliding or Flying Scholarships they might undertake in the future, plus how to deliver and lead aspects of drill. A Cadet holding the rank of Corporal can be referred to as a Junior NCO (JNCO), and acts as the liaison between the Cadets and the SNCOs. Promotion to Corporal is made by individual Squadron Commanding Officers, and selection is based purely on merit and leadership potential. Promotion to the rank of Corporal is usually after 2 to 3 years in the Air Cadets, by which point potential Junior NCOs (JNCOs) will be at least a Leading Classification Cadet and showing the maturity and leadership skills to carry out duties such as registering cadets, teaching drill and running the Squadron stores.