DALE REACHES FOR THE SKIES
A cadet from the Squadron has spent a week in the clouds after attending a paragliding course at Cwrt-y-Gollen near Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales.
Cadet Sergeant Dale Webb (17) attended the course at the Joint Services Hang Gliding and Paragliding Centre (JSHPC) with the aim of achieving the Elementary Pilot Certificate (EPC) standard of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA). The course content included how to setup a paraglider, ground handling, taking off, in-flight control and most important, how to land!
Sergeant Webb takes to the air over the Brecon Beacons (notice the Squadron colours!)
When the course suffered at the hands of the inclement weather, Sergeant Webb and his fellow cadets made the most of the local terrain by trying their hands at mountain biking and climbing along with completing teambuilding exercises and a high ropes course. At the end of the course Sergeant Webb was presented with his Elementary Pilot Certificate.
Sergeant Webb gives the thumbs up to paragliding
Sergeant Webb can add this to completing his gliding scholarship in 2009 in which he flew solo in a Vigilant motor glider. Some other things that he has also achieved are his Youth First Aid Award, Two Star British Canoe Union award and his BTEC First Diploma in Public Services, in which he gained a distinction* (star) grade.
ADVENTURE TRAINING WEEKEND
Cadets from the Squadron have developed their fieldcraft skills with an overnight exercise held on the airfield at ATR Bassingbourn.
The twenty seven cadets were accompanied by instructors from both the Squadron and the British Army to put into practice skills that they have developed on parade nights at the Squadron headquarters over the past three months. This training has been led by WO2 Tom Kerr, who is a service instructor at the Squadron. In his ‘day job’ he is based at ATR Bassingbourn with the Small Arms School Corps (SASC).
Cadets have been acquiring skills such as shelter building, cooking in the field, camouflage and concealment and movement in the field. Alongside these skills they have been learning observation techniques such as why things are seen, range finding and judging distances. All of these were put into practice with cadets living and surviving outside, eating military rations and sleeping under bashas. The word basha is a Malaysian word meaning shelter and is constructed using a waterproof plastic sheet held up with string and bungee chord.
During the exercise Cadets also had an opportunity to put into practice first aid skills that they have learnt on the Squadron whilst undertaking the Youth First Aid award. This was in the form of a mock vehicle accident involving the Squadron minibus and some very realistic make up.
Cadet Sergeant Alex Springall plays the first aid victim Cadet Corporal Tom Jeffries 'cammed up'
The weekend had a competition element with two section ending up as winners and become the first winners of the Squadron fieldcraft trophy.
Cadet Flight Sergeant Adam Kelly receives the Squadron fieldcraft trophy for two section from WO2 Tom Kerr.
ATC SUNDAY
On Sunday 7th February, Bassingbourn cadets were joined by cadets from Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wings western sector for the annual ATC Sunday Parade to mark the anniversary of the formation of the Air Training Corps. Approximately 160 cadets and staff from across the local area were on parade of which around 50 were from the host Squadron.
On the 5th February 1941, while the country was in the dark days of war, the Air Training Corps (ATC) was officially established, with King George VI agreeing to be the Air Commodore-in-Chief. Cadets from around the United Kingdom celebrate this by particpating in church parades on the nearest Sunday to this date.
After forming up at Bassingbourn Village College, the parade, lead by the Squadron band and Wing banner marched through Bassingbourn to the parish church of St Peter and St Paul whilst proud parents and family members looked on. Banners from all Squadrons formed a Guard of Honour at the church before being 'laid up' at the altar.
Cadets march to Bassingbourn Church The Wing banner
Parents of cadets, their friends and families joined the congregation for the commemorative service, where members of the Squadron played a leading part with Cadet George Spence playing the organ to accompany the hymns, a trumpet fanfare was also played by the Squadron band. A reading was given by Sergeant Claire Kelly followed by the cadets renewing their Cadet promise, lead by Flight Sergeant Adam Kelly.
At the end of the service, well deserved refreshments were provided by the Squadron’s Civilian Committee.
ADAM GETS ROYAL APPROVAL
An SNCO from the Squadron is celebrating after being appointed as Lord Lieutenants Cadet for Cambridgeshire for 2010. Flight Sergeant Adam Kelly will assist the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Mr Hugh Duberly CBE, representing the Air Cadets along with a representative from the Sea Cadet Corps and the Army Cadet Force. He was selected following a series of interviews in the Cadet of the year process in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing.
Flight Sergeant Kelly plays an active part in all areas of the Squadron, in particular running the bronze section of the Duke of Edinburgh award. Adam has also gained his bronze and silver award and is currently working towards his gold.
He has completed a gliding scholarship, leadership courses and kayaking courses, alongside visiting Gibraltar and Cyprus. Later this year he will visit Canada as part of the International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE). Adam has gained a BTEC in Aviation Studies through the Air Cadet Organisation along with his First Aid at Work certificate and his drummer badge, Adam being a founder member of the Squadron band.
The office of Lord-Lieutenant is military in origin and dates from the reign of Henry VIII when the holder was made responsible for local defence. The major duty of a Lord-Lieutenant is to represent the Crown in his county. This involves receiving members of the Royal Family on visits to the county, certain ceremonial duties connected with the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, presiding at various civic and social events and presenting some medals and awards on behalf of The Queen.
Flight Sergeant Kelly teaching a group of cadets at the Squadron
Adam follows in the footsteps of his parents, Squadron Leader Tony Kelly and Civilian Instructor Sue Kelly who were deputy Lord Lieutenant Cadets for Hackney and Tower Hamlets respectively. Squadron training officer Flight Sergeant (ATC) Chris Cox was also Lord Lieutenants Cadet for Cambridgeshire. Adam joins an elite group!
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