The Air Cadet Charity approved 1368 Sqns bid to supplement existing Flight Sims with something different, a laptop plus Virtual Reality (VR) headset. This would complement rather than replace our existing, enabling us to run Lockheed Prepar3D flight sim as well (once we get the building back that is). Many thanks for Civ Comm for navigating the ACC process and volunteers for assisting. The ACC is a new entity designed to distribute funds independently to the RAF. The grant represents our first attempt at funding and the lessons learnt/info collection done should make future grants easier (e.g. we probably need new tents in 2027-2028). 

Four of our review cadets (aspiring for NCO ranks) achieved their instructor cadet lanyards over the last 3-4 weeks. They developed lesson plans, dry runs, and progressed to delivery of a assessed lesson over many months, having done Wing Methods of Instruction training. Also thanks to the array of assessor's for making time and the classroom participants for being attentive. It looks great on their record, and shoulders, and helps unlock doors, esp. if they continue to higher ranks and older cadet opportunities at Wing/Region/Corps level. We have been more successful at getting Yr 10's to achieve it than Yr 11's hence good to get it them bagged. They can feel proud at their achievement.

As well as a First Aid night (sorry, no pictures) Sqn tried to remember how to do drill (half the Sqn actually looks pretty good, the other half, umm). Meanwhile the Sqn ensemble (aka next gen band) has been knocking out The Cure songs, Sqn watched the Eclipse ahead of Archery night last Wed (partly a STEM exercise), Cdt A finally got her Blue Aviation badge, and rock-paper-scissors decided who got the one Road Marching badge in the badge box.

Band equipment grant arrived awarded to 1368 Sqn to supplement band equipment with boxes for transporting drums plus cymbals so we can do some "crash," "ding," "zing," "shhh" sounds. The Wing band competition is likely to be around Nov to align with when bands that might prepare for Remembrance Day parade with Sea Cadets (some musical or already Master-cadet A Team-ers who're interested), a desire if cadet building issues do not prevent us from participating in remembrance parade this year. Many thanks for Leamington Town Council for helping to keep young people engaged and enriched with music.

Last weekend saw a misty start to this minimum duration remote wild camp, Gold practice expedition for 2 groups of senior cadets from 1368 Sqn. Focus was to give 9 cadets from 1368 Sqn more nav training in wild country plus the more rarer experience of the joys of wild camping. This mountain range is known for its quieter hillwalking and industrial slate heritage. Some stunning scenery with practically no-one else there. Watching sunset going down over panorama of the Yr Wyddfa massif was a highlight, plus the electricity when the whole group came together.  If improving mountain nav was the goal then Sunday didn't disappoint with an early start in clag and teams navigating themselves back from the wild camp via a route through remnants of industrial slate heritage. Hill fog kept temperatures/sun exposure down, hence we were pretty lucky with weather. Seems odd given the heat wave to see cadets in waterproofs with waterfalls. Wales doesn't disappoint. They successfully navigate...

In line with the Air Training Corp's Venture Adventure moto, cadets from 1368 Sqn climbed this iconic Welsh Mtn last week, in build up ready for Gold practice exped. The mountain offers classic glacial scenery, a majestic 893-metre (2,930-foot) mountain in southern Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Wales, near Dolgellau. Translating to "Idris's Chair,". As Google tells us it is famed for dramatic glacial cwms like Llyn Cau, rich giant mythology, strenuous hiking trails taking 5 to 6 hour. What google doesn't tell us is that it has interesting sheep, F-15 fly-pasts, and Mexican wave performances in the shelter. 

Cdt P received his Instructor cadet lanyard, 4 cadets get their blue aviation badges, 4 cadets/NCOs get basic swimming certificates, 6 cadets/NCOs get their intermediate swimming proficiency certificates, and 5 get their advanced swimming certificates. Also Cdt H passed his First Class classification (still a bit of catch up to do, as we want to get 0226/0426 to complete their First Class workbooks before Sept).