Reflecting on the year 2023

-

1368 ended year with strong sense of togetherness and pride, an environment with both fun and discipline. Here's some things we did:

  • Sqn won the Wing Swimming championships in Jan 2023. The result of a great team effort across the different categories. 
  • Sqn won the Wing Athletics championships in May 2023 by considerable points margin, despite not being the biggest team.
  • Sqn did blue badge band for the first time in Feb-Apr 2023, investing in drums and pads.
  • Sqn repeated previous success in Blue Radio and Blue Leadership in Feb-Apr 2023, ensuring basic radio operator is done by all cadets in first year. 
  • Sqn ensured a focus presentation skills course. At least 5 cadets went on to attend Wing MOI courses, and at least 5 were assessed to get Instructor cadet lanyards. 
  • Cadets did Essential First Aid (EFA) and Activity First Aid (AFA) quals. First Aid team best in Wing on Wing comp day (by a considerable points margin)
  • We had a massive drop of Swimming Proficiency certificates in Feb - basic, intermediate and advanced - after running at least 7 swimming sessions leading up to Wing swimming comp.
  • 1368 cadets actively participated in Wing events including Road Marching and Cyber badge training. 1 NCO became road marching instructor.
  • Cadets progressed their classifications, with a solid classroom teaching by Instructor cadets of Senior/Master as well as Leading and First Class.
  • Strong crop of new cadets maturing into NCO roles with high attendance/interest levels on Wing JNCO courses.
  • Cadets were promoted after undergoing a formal selection process including boarding interviews.
  • Sqn was top 4 in Wing competition day for first time (2nd at one point). 
  • Drill massively improved on 2022, excellent foundation skills laid. Amazing display from some junior cadets, at Wing competition day.. 
  • We did 2 IET (basic exped) activities, including a camping weekend that acted as a Bronze practice for some. 
  • We did 2 Bronze DofE actual expeditions; a 1 grouper in March and a 2 grouper in September.
  • 4 cadets understook Silver practice with Wing
  • We did a 2 group Silver DofE in Shropshire, incl. 4 cadets doing actual. 11 cadets completed overall. 
  • 5 cadets achieved their Gold DofE Awards. 
  • Cadets participated in annual SENTA fieldcraft camp. One of our cadets won best in Cadre.
  • 1 of our NCOs achieve the Commandants Coin for Excellence.
  • 3 of our NCOs were accepted on national Junior Leaders (JL) training programme and continue progression.
  • 1 of our NCOs got Gliding scholarship, became a Gliding School Staff Cadet and achieved her Bronze, Silver and Gold flying wings.
  • 1 of our NCOS was accepted on national Qualified Aerospace Instructors Course (QAIC) and continues progression.
  • Sqn continued its community duties, incl. Warwick Bonfire, Kenilworth Show, Napton Horse Show, Lion's Christmas Food Parcels, Leamington Regency run.
  • New grant for band was found to help us expand band equipment in 2024 
  • New grant for DofE equipment to refresh equipment for expeditions; get better fitting rucksacs etc for juniors.
  • 1 of our NCOs performed 1368 Sqn banner duty at B'ham Royal Tattoo.
  • We did station visit to RAF Benson for an enginenering focused day learning about the RAF and Chinooks.
  • We did Sqn-run inter-flight STEM-focused competition after Wing competition day which added to the breath of experiences and focus on ASTRA initiative.
  • 9 cadets attended a range of Wing camps at RAF and forces bases, including 2 at RIAT 2023. 
  • 5 cadets did PPT flying in Nov. 4 NCOs achieved PTT instructor qual to deliver blue aviation synthetic flying.
  • We did adventure training including 2 kayaking sessions and 2 climbing sessions.
  • We did socials including ice skating, karting and lazer quest.
  • We had a lot of fun. Gnorman the Gnome joined.
  • Induction process continued. New cadets were integrated and made to feel welcome.
  • We had 46 cadets on Remembrance Parade in Nov. Other parades included ATC Sunday parade and a Dambuster pilot church parade.
  • 1 of our NCOs did Lowland Leader Training in Dec.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AP818 - RAF Drill and Ceremonial Manual for Air Cadets

-
Last week, the cadets did some drill practice, partly in readiness for parades that are coming up, partly to give new prospective NCOs some experience "at the front" and also to sharpen up Squadron discipline. Drill is a powerful aid to discipline. It develops a sense of corporate pride, alertness, precision and readiness to obey orders instantly. Good drill in aircraft is directly fostered by the habit of drilling smartly on parade. Thus, smartness on parade is not only a sign of good discipline, but a basic factor in raising the standard of performance in duties. Back in the (really) old days, the Air Cadets used to have its own Air Cadet drill manual. Nowadays this is all gone. The RAFAC aligns wholly to the RAF Drill manual called AP818 . To do it by the book, therefore, check out the book! (it's actually how the RAF teaches it).
Read more

DofE Enrolment Form link now in the Forms list

-
DofE enrolment: An  .doc enrolment form  or PDF  (link to form with some pre-filled info for Sqn) must be completed on first enrolment to eDofE. 1368 Sqn is passionate about the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. The DofE is open to young people and has 3 levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold.  Participants complete activities at each level over set periods in each of 4 sections - Volunteering, Expeditions, Skills, Physical; for Gold only, a Residential is added as a fifth section. For the Participant: The DofE is understood by those outside of the ATC. There is a greater expectation of involvement by the cadet in the planning stage of their DofE experience than in standard cadet syllabus, thus accelerating the process of personal development. The ATC syllabus offers an almost ‘off-the-shelf’ programme to gain an Award and there are ample opportunities for cadets and young volunteer staff to gain Awards by their work within the Corps. DofE generates success in areas of particular interest to t
Read more

The RAF Air Cadet's Astra initiative

-
Image
Air Commodore Anthony Keeling is a senior Royal Air Force officer and current Commandant Air Cadets. He's very keen to update the Air Cadets to align with the modern world and the type of skills that are important in the RAF. Astra is the name given to the initiative to modernize air cadet training to align with this future. RAF Air Cadet Purpose We are an Air, Space and Cyber focused uniformed youth organisation whose purpose is to grow young people’s potential while fostering an interest in the Royal Air Force. RAF Air Cadet Astra Ambition A leading, progressive and inclusive organisation delivering life-enhancing Air Cadet experiences that will equip our people to contribute to every aspect of the national Air, Space and Cyber enterprise. RAF Air Cadet Astra Vision To achieve this ambition, the Air Cadets will modernise and transform as an Air, Space and Cyber focussed uniformed youth organisation, providing innovative and inclusive life-enhancing experiences for young people, r
Read more