Tuesday 19 Nov saw an evening trip to Redpoint Climbing Centre in Birmingham, a much loved venue by 1368 Sqn cadets due to the friendliness of their staff, ease of booking, and their love of climbing. A great night was had with a balance of ages from 12-19 year old including our newbies getting involved. Great mix of bouldering and climbing with ropes including belaying practice. Adventure training is one of the pillars of 1368's training programme. As well as allowing people to develop outside of their comfort zone, the shared experiences help to gel friendships which is really what the cadet experience is really about.  

Well done to Cpl B who became first NCO gnominated to wear the new Sqn Gnoman Bucket hat in  recognition of his banner duty work during Wing comp and remembrance parades plus strong leadership and map reading in the Silver expeditions in September. This new award, is just for NCOs to balance with the OC's Cadet of Month award which continues alongside. Bad news is that there's only one. It's only custodianship. He gets to keep it having gained a place a "Gnorman Knight of the Domino's (Pizza) Order" until a different NCO earns the right to wear it, and he has to hand it over.

Next intake will be January 2025 hence Sqn is doing remaining tours for this, booked in advance, for those cadets interested (join as a cadet ). You need to be in Year 8/9/10 (not 7) though. Meanwhile we continue with team building and badge gaining, including 3 radio badges and 2 blue aviation badges (for those having done ground training, simulator/PTT and real flight at VGS or AEF).

Well done to the 13 cadets who undertook course passed the practical assessment in RAFAC basic radio operator course, esp. those that got their first significant badge (other than than the 1368 Sqn).

Well done to the  Leam Spa parade contingent on Sunday. Personal thanks for effort put into uniforms and drill practice. You looked amazingly good on the day. Special mention to Cdt K who was 1st time Wreath layer, and Cpl B, 1st time Banner bearer on a remembrance parade. This year we had 20 cadets at Warwick and 25 cadets at Leamington, one less than last couple of years but still 45 cadets is a pretty good number for a single Sqn. 

This year saw 1368 Sqn continue to split Squadron across both Warwick and Leamington Spa parades concurrently. Really well done to Warwick contingent (which we fixed at 20 due to staff ratios) and special mention to first time Wreath layer, Cdt F. 

Well done to team supporting the revived concert in Leamington Spa on Sat evening. A really strong group who didn't need any encouragement to volunteer and turned up immaculately presented. Duty included a ceremony building a drum head, presenting the banner, escorting in dignitaries, a guard of honour, and a reading. Somber at times but also some fun, including run rabbit run singalong and the impromptu competition with Sea Cadets on the opposite top row as to who could get most engaged in the 40's sing along.

This training which was delivered over a weekend includes a practical assessment, is valid for 3-years. Great step up in our training to get 19 cadets through. First Aid is an important part of what is a quite rich and varied training programme that the RAF Air Cadets offers to young people. YFA gives them a Bronze Level badge and can be done before they are 16 years old. As well as a useful life skill, it plays an important role in preparing them to be self-sufficient when they do things like Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions.

Team looking very pro on this community duty in new 1368/Lion's donated High Vis. Great to see new faces incl. some 0924 intake. The force awakens. It didn't rain. Bonfire got lit (eventually) and lots of thanks for Sgt J who built a little rapport with catering vans (who to be fair were very generous and much appreciated).

30 Oct saw cadets from 1368 coming up with some amazing inventive takes on Halloween fancy dress and yes, at times staff were scared. Nice to do something completely different after a few weeks of intensive band, banner and music prep for Wing Competition. Domino's Pizza was consumed to celebrate our 3rd place at WFD 24 despite music events not counting. There was a period there was a 1 remaining veggie pizza untouched but eventually they went for it.

Air Cadets wear poppy's with their uniform in the lead up to the Remembrance Parades each year. This information was taken from the 20231026-RAFAC_Poppy_With_Pride_Poster_SCO_V5-O.pdf From: The onset of sales each year. Until: The end of national and local observation of remembrance. Always: On remembrance parades/events by all RAFAC personnel involved. Never: Worn with flying clothing, GPJ, wet weather clothing or on head dress. For ceremonial dress and parades the conventional paper poppy is to be worn. On working dress and combat uniform a plain enamel poppy badge not exceeding 2.5cm (1”) may be worn. The plain enamel badge may be worn with Mess dress at the discretion of the PMC or CMC. When worn it is to be positioned immediately above the right breast pocket (preferably inserted in the button hole) of the No 1 SD jacket and in the corresponding position on female jackets, No2, No3 and Mess dress. Drummers and banner bearers only may wear it on the left side. Full details can ...