Crazy thunderstorm risks meant that Monday saw cadets compete at building a rubber band car out of pencils, cardboard and sellotape, run by CI M. Photo-finish between Cdt F's CD wheeled machine and Cdt G's& co's rubber band gripped hot rod. Lots of new ideas to harvest for the design of the Wing Competition car, helped by a competition. Plan is that two teams will continue to compete, to see who can improve their design next time.

Sqn managed to get a few flying in July plus delivery of PTT flight sim tests hence blue aviation badges go to Cdt A, Cdt B-R, Cdt B, and Cdt G. 2 other cadets went to Cosford. Didn't fly in end due to cloud base too low but they did get to blag a seat in a Nimrod and look around the museum.

Last couple of weeks have seen the Banner and band both back in step as we start training for Wing competition. Wed saw Fg Off D, the Wing band master down with Cdt R achieving his Blue band badge (assessed primarily by performing 3 songs in band while marching). Well done. Banner team was out on the parade square on 16 July 2025. Drill and uniform is one of the pillars of 1368 Squadron and cadets are expected to maintain high dress standards and maintain their uniform as well as understand of ceremonial and performance drill. Squadron was 3rd out of 18 in last year's Wing competition at Drill against stiff competition, which was made more impressive by many of the cadets having to focus on 1368's first ever entry into the Wing band competition. 

Monday saw Sgt H, one of our older cadets in the NCO team, promoted to Flight Sergeant rank. This was in recognition of high standards of discipline and dress, strong engagement with community duties and parades including representing Sqn as Warwick Mayor's cadet, and outstanding and highly competent feedback from recent Wing Leadership course. Well done. Very deserved.

Summer hols programme kicked off with more one-off parade nights. Flight C won the Inter-flight team building race. 2nd was Flight B and last was Flight A.  Other news: Cpl H was inaugurated into the Gnorman Knights of the Domino Pizza Order as NCO of the month for June and gets to wear the Gnorman bucket hat and Cdt M collected his Silver DofE certificate and badge.

Last week saw 6 older cadets from 1368 undertake an assessed Gold DofE expedition in Wales. A self-sufficient 4 day Gold expedition is a unique experience and challenge and it was nice that some got to finish off their cadet career with friends they've known since joining. It was an old school, 4 day Gold in wild country. Route was created from scratch by FS R and then tweaked encompassing Rhinog's and Cadair Idris in Eryri National Park. Sqn Ldr W from Staff Wings assessed them and was very impressed by their strong teamwork, fitness and nav skills. New route made it interesting for staff. Well done.

Well done to the 5 cadets from 1368 Sqn (Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa) who attended the last Wing training weekend at RAF Cosford. Cpl G and Cpl W both attended the new NCO Development Course. Sgt G, Cdt F and Sgt H achieved the rare Silver Leadership badge.  The Progressive Training Syllabus has 4 levels: Blue (Usually Sqn-level) -> Bronze (Sector/Wing) -> Silver (Wing/Region) -> Gold (Corps), hence we rely on Wing to give these great opportunities to our cadets throughout the year, and focus on ensuring 1368 cadets can attend them via bidding on cadet portal and having the necessary pre-requisites delivered at Sqn level. Silver is a great achievement, only one off the top.

Well done to the 4 cadets who got their Bronze DofE certificates (and remaining badges), Cpl H who got his Silver DofE badge, and the 3 cadets who completed their First Class classification badges.  We also gave out first batch of Blue Pre-DofE badges for the 6 cadets who all did recent IET events to finish off pre-DofE exped (more Pre-DofE blue badges to follow). Next challenge is to get them sewn on to your brassards in the right place! (there are new instructions on this that give more flexibility to cope with different size brassards).

Bumper end of month with 4 cadets getting to go to mid-week Gliding for first time on super hot Monday. All looking very super cool. These slots were to replace some that were cancelled in last quarter. Not many clouds, hence less thermals, but they got to pull plenty of G on takeoff.  Many thanks to Volunteer Gliding School staff for keeping slots alive to give air cadets the experience of flying for real.

Well done to the staff and cadets that helped support this year's AFD. It's the 2nd consecutive year we've done this and it has been a catalyst for building good relations with the local Army and Sea Cadet units, who's energy and enthusiasm is acknowledged. This year we beat them at Drill though, a useful habit (Sea Cadets won Drill last year, would you believe it?). Did I mention  there is a Wing Competition Day is coming up in Sept? Anyway, a hot day, by all accounts, leading to cadet challenge race being cancelled but the flypast by the Lancaster was a nice addition.  Many thanks to staff and cadets for their efforts and achievement in presenting the youth of today and the RAF Air Cadet organisation in such a positive light.

Confidence, composure and excellent radio confidence stood out on recent IET. Only a year in and Cdt C has already got two Wing Blues for competing in region competitions in Sports. top tier 97% attendance over last 6 months. Well done!