Last weekend saw 1368 cadets attend a Sqn "end of summer" social at Vue Cinema to watch the F1 movie with Brad Pit. Sqn has lots of F1 fans and nice to see attendance from across the age ranges and return of some post GCSE faces.  Squadron has lots of cadets mad on F1 both the driver aspect but also the engineering aspect that ties in with STEM and Astra initiatives for the future RAF with science and technology at the fore. Great plot, somewhat mirroring the OC's return to the karting circuit last year.

Amazing thing happened when the OC is on holiday it seems, Sqn got a call on Monday parade that there were scratch places for flying the next day (we are on the list of unfulfilled allocations due to cancellations). Staff team managed to arrange transport to Cosford, get paperwork sorted, turn up and we had 5 cadets fly, 4 for first time. Many thanks to staff team for their superhero efforts (*legends*). In combination with doing the Part Task Trainer (PTT) flight simulation test and ground-based training, attending an AEF or VGS and flying for real, enables cadets to earn their blue aviation wings.

Last weekend saw 18 cadets undertake more Initial Expedition Training (IET) with camping, cooking and map reading. Aim was to get them ready so that stuff like providing forms, passing on JIs, kit checks and food shops are 2nd hat for unescorted Bronze DofE's in Aug or Sept (we will start enrolling current year 8's on Bronze on Aug 1st, when they technically go into year 9).  Adventure Training and DofE is one of the pillars of 1368 Sqn with our desire that every cadet completes their Bronze DofE and gets the opportunity to progress to Silver and Gold expeditions. The Initial Expedition Training that we do contributes to the Pre-DofE Blue Badge that was introduced by the progressive training syllabus to support pre-DofE aged cadets in year 8. IET provides a pathway for their safe introduction into cooking and campcraft and we like to do it for real.

Alongside IET kit check and map readiness, Cyber training gets into a groove with iDEA Bronze/Silver progression (Sqn is the Wing Cyber champions and team will be needed for end of Sept Wing Competition Day). Some Flight Sim PTT progression/finish off.  As a result of need to accelerate succession planning with older NCOs leaving or likely to move into staff roles, Instructor Cadet G was promoted to Cpl and Instructor-cadet Cpl B was promoted to Cdt Sgt to help bolster the SNCO team. Well done. The process for a FS opportunity will be advertised shortly.

5 of our cadets attended RAF Cosford on a new multi-activity format for Wing training, focused on Bronze+ badges. Well done to Cpl W on her Drill Instructor Course, Cdt K and Cdt F on Bronze Cyber, and two Cdt K's achieved their Youth First Aid (YFA).  Bronze badges are a step up from Sqn Blue-level training. It's great to see our cadets sign up. Attending RAF Cosford also adds to the experience to stay away on an RAF base and meet cadets and staff from other squadrons.

Fieldcraft training continued (half way through blue syllabus). Sqn made use of FS P's Uni break to deliver Bronze Cyber theory for mids. Sgt G got a Colin the Caterpillar cake and Master cadet badge for turning 15. Safety awareness drive included starting Entry Level Award (ELA) for Safety and stores team did a redistribution of kit. Operation "we love health & safety" continues despite lighting some little flames in the building.

Well done to 3 of 4 cadets who collected Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme certificates on Wed: Sgt G, Cdt F, and Cdt M (not down) achieved Silver badges/certificates. Cdt K received his Bronze certificate/badge. More soon, hopefully. 1 Silver is pending Region approval with 3 all awaiting an external assessor report for 1 section, hence more soon hopefully. 1368 Squadron has achieved the most DofE Awards in the Wing over the last 5 years and expects all cadets to do Bronze with the Squadron, if not doing at school. It's a lot cheaper doing the award through the squadron than most schools. Many activities done at cadets can also count towards the award in the Volunteering, Skills and Physical sections.

Thirteen cadets from 1368 Sqn were joined by four from 2286 Sqn to have an evening of instructor-led training at Redpoint climbing centre in Birmingham on Tuesday night. Redpoint has long been a favourite with 1368 with staff with a really passion for the sport and a nice club vibe. Some great skills and confidence progression by all, and a bit of excitement with a how get stuck in a crack challenge for some. Thanks again to 1289 staff who helped us with staffing and transportation. A great evening of climbing facilitated by collaboration with others. With many of our GCSE and A Level cadets otherwise engaged it was a great evening for some of our mids to further develop their skills with new challenges and juniors to have their first visit.

Monday's parade saw an elite team learn how to put up the new 1368 Sqn event shelter; recently acquired with Civ Comm's agreement to assist with shelter during events and more community duties.