Amazing really. 2nd year running that we've had a 1368 Sqn Panto, re-written with cadet jokes and performed by cadets and NCOs. Last year it was Sgt Cinderella not being about to go air experience flying due to the evil Cadet Warrant Officers, that included Babcock team that tried desperately to get flying happening and a Chinook flight. This year was Sgt Aladdin, a love story about a camp relationship, involving a magic carpet and a lamp and Sqn Ldr genie. Brilliant effort by all, but particularly our outgoing CWO C and every present CI M for the writing. Brilliant cast that including roped in review cadets.  We were corralled a bit on dates due to lack of building, hence sorry not all got to see or perform. People would pay good money for this, but it did make a fantastic start to Christmas week. The imaginative solution to the magic carpet was amazing, plus pulling off a play in play (very Shakespearian). Well done team 1368. Happy Xmas.

Monday saw 10 cadets complete the Blue Radio Basic Operator training at Aylesford School. A practical course, it teaches correct use of basic radio procedure in the air cadets, and includes a practical assessment. Blue badge training is core to Sqn's annual training programme. Blue badges make our cadets eligible for Bronze courses, typically run at Wing or Sector level. Radio training's particularly useful as we use them for community duties and nav exercises. They all passed the practical assessment, so well done, and thanks to all the staff, NCOs and cadets involved.  We also managed to get an MOI dry-run done for Cpl F, an added bonus. Getting yellow lanyards done is going to be a key focus in the new year.

Well done to Sgt R who was promoted to Flt Sgt on Wednesday as we continue to evolve the NCO structure to fill in gaps with older cadets aging out and Squadron increasing in size. FS is the the highest rank that can be appointed at Sqn level (CWO is a Wing appointment). Against tough competition it was recognition of his age and experience, reputation for strong values and helping others, successfully leading others to high levels of Drill and Ensemble in consecutive Wing Competitions, and aspirations for maintaining and improving squadron drill & discipline standards.

1368 traditionally starts blue badge training in Feb period (once Sqn is up and running from Christmas break). A big part of this has been layering in band practice pads and real instruments to stretch oldies further. Wed was a test to see how we could manage in classrooms. Adult Sgt B from 1289 visited to give older band members new skills & challenges, incl. new songs (another session on The Great Escape).  Also thanks to (now appointed) Adult Sgt F who ran a session on military selection process/OASC, e.g., planning exercises and debating. Newbies did some readiness on NATO phonetic alphabet ahead of blue radio badge course on Monday.

Monday saw teams completing in a creative challenge of building festive Gingerbread trains. 0925 intake integrating well with main cohort adding icing to the cake. Some great creative thought, e.g., why build a train when you can build an F1 car? Winning team's melted snowman was a stand-out this year, which had a larger than normal snow dump. Well done. Well done also for the clean-up team.

Well done to all the cadets (and staff) from 1368 sqn that supported the annual Lion's Charity Food Parcels duty on Sunday in Chase Meadow. Usual feedback from Lion's about how much they value the hard work cadets put in. We bring a degree of military precision to the sorting process, apparently. Did seem to run like clockwork. Great to have first timers also, getting into one of 1368's traditional annual events.

Wednesday saw 31 cadets and 5 staff from 1368 Sqn at Planet Ice in Cov once again. Good mix of old and new. We coincidentally chose the same night as 29F again enabling a bit of inter-Sqn catch-up. Just about got the obligatory 1368 Sqn group photo on the ice, as we go into our cavalcade of festive nights leading up to Christmas. Doing the parade also helped in lieu of us still awaiting for building maintenance work (presumably by VIVO Defence subcontractor) to be started. Over 8 weeks and still waiting.

Great evening session  at Redpoint in Birmingham on Tuesday. Nice to see a mix of newbies and spread across ages. Real enthusiasm for a challenge. Nice venue, with strong climbing enthusiast vibe. Turned out fastest route back involves putting the wrong postcode into the sat nav so you avoid the M42. Many thanks to Sgt M from 1289 for providing their minibus though (couldn't do it without their help).

Building still closed (8 weeks now) as we await work by MOD contractors. Squadron is still running but utilising alternative venues. Monday saw cadets do the Human Shapes game 1st half, as NCOs and Review Cadets did rehearsals for upcoming NCO Air-Cadet themed Panto.  Last year it was Cinderella based on going to AEF Cosford. This year is an air cadet themed Aladdin, apparently, although the script is being kept secret. No doubt this will include a Air Cadet magic carpet. Oh, no it doesn't. Oh, yes it does (more realistically, it may contain one, if anybody can find an appropriate prop, apparently).  It appears the annual 1368 Panto is becoming "a thing". The count down is on.

Congratulations to the 3 cadets who were promoted to Cadet Corporal rank on Monday: (now) Cpl K, Cpl R and Cpl F. The hard work starts now as they switch from looking after themselves to more formally looking after other cadets and getting things done. 9 cadets applied. Well done to all that applied. It's not to say they won't be Cpl's in the future. Selection was based on 12 criteria, a lot related to accumulated experience, hence keep putting effort in, take as many opportunities as you can, esp. outside of Sqn on Wing and above, and getting a reputation for helping others. The criteria for comparing cadets for JNCO promotion at 1368 Sqn are: Attendance record (12 months, excl. gcse/A level exam period, if year 11 or 13) Motivation and desire (relative scoring) Leadership demeanor (relative scoring). Parade In-Command Test (locally assessed) Personal Drill standards (locally assessed) Uniform standards (locally assessed) Classification Badge Level / Speed of completion (o...

Well done to all the cadets and staff who supported the festive family day in Chase Meadow on Sunday, as part of 1368's re-evolving community duty pillar. "Your young people are wonderful!" was feedback. No mention of old people being wonderful but the OC did win the 9+ colouring competition.  Cadets also got to experience the Christmas Tractor run as well, hence starting to feel ready for Christmas jumpers now.

Well done to Cdt S who was OC's CotM for last month, for finding another level after sterling effort on DofE Silver days 2/3 in October and sterling attendance to prepare and deliver Prize Giving presentation.

This Monday parade night saw cadets and staff welcome the OC Wing and Wing Staff Officers to our annual prize giving and enrolment ceremony.  Big thanks to cadets for preparing their presentations and being prepared to stand up and speak about their things they've done in the last year (incl. a couple of short notice additions), staff for standing in the rain sorting parking, and civ comm & helpers. Some feedback from Wing Staff included: "I wanted to extend my heartfelt thanks to you and your team for the invitation. It was an exceptionally rewarding experience, not just because of the event itself, but also due to the outstanding content you provided.... the evening was a testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved. The Cadets' enthusiasm and pride in their achievements were evident throughout, making the event all the more rewarding. Overall, it was a most enjoyable evening, placing the Cadets at the forefront to showcase their successes in front ...

Monday saw CWO C's last night as a cadet. He's aged out at 20 and starts his next challenge. These are some last night photos, starting with Sgt R's heartfelt 'CWO Cox, you are a legend of some description' speech 😉. Also no better way than thanking him for bringing the hokey hokey to 1368 than to do it. 1368 Squadron is now over 6 weeks of waiting for maintenance on the joint cadet centre in Warwick to be started. Maybe thanks to Chase Meadow Community Centre and its joint owners and management for their help.