Open Evening

On the evening of Thursday 3^rd December cadets and staff at 1875 held an open evening, inviting friends and members of their families to see what actually goes on down at the squadron. Squadron Leader Davies attended the evening and had a front seat view of the presentations carried out by cadets which included:-

First Aid demonstrations by Cdt Knapman, Thomas and Waterhouse.

Adventure training presentation by Cpl Tear, Cdt Quilliam, Webb, Thomas, and Knapman

Summer camp presentations by Cdt Ferrie, Owen and Lacey

The purpose of these quick but effective and interesting presentations was to give all that attended an insight to the important and sometimes lifesaving skills that the cadets learn whilst at the squadron. Tea and cakes were served by the cadets at the end of the evening and gave the parents chance to have a look at displays and chat to the staff. The evening was a great success and many visitors commented on the high standard of the cadet’s work.

Squadron Open Evening - ready for take off!

Plans are well in advance for our Presentation Evening which is taking place on Thursday 3rd December 2009. The Cadets, Staff and Committee have worked hard over the last few weeks to bring this event together.

It will give you an insight into some of the many and varied activities we have undertaken during 2009. All the presentations have been written by and will be presented by the cadets. It is expected to be an enjoyable evening for all attending.

......and as always lashings of tea and coffee will be available during the evening.

Visit the programme page of our website for more information www.towcester-aircadets.org.uk.

Rememberance

Many thanks to all the cadets who have been out in the public eye,selling poppies and attending the parade on Sunday, I think we're slowly getting noticed by the public, which is brilliant!

Cadets passed Heartstart Training

13 Cadets carried out and passed the Heartstart first aid course during the summer months, set up and co-ordinated by the British Heart Foundation. The course is a civilian award taught nationwide to children and adults.

The course involved the cadets spending approximately three parade nights learning how to deal with a first aid emergency and practicing the skills on resusi annie’s and in some situation such as the recovery position fellow cadets. The Course taught by myself covered dealing with a conscious casualty, the recovery position, dealing with major bleeds, suspected heart attacks, choking and when and how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

All the cadets were enthusiastic to learn these lifesaving skills and understood the importance of knowing when to put them into action. These skills will hopefully stay with the cadets for years to come and although we hope they are never needed it gives me and I am sure people around these young people piece of mind to know they have the knowledge of what to do if a situation for first aid arises.

The next step for these cadets is to gain the Youth lifesaver award which is a slightly more intense and in depth first aid course . This course will be taught by staff at the squadron hopefully at the beginning of next year.

Claire Burdett (Civilian Instructor)

Farewell Flt Sgt

Flt Sgt Thomas Lord left us on Thursday as he starts at Coventry University. We presented him with a photo and card on final parade. Maybe we'll see him at Christmas?
I'm sure you'll join me in wishing him good luck, add your comments to this post

Swimming Proficiency Presentations

Last Monday saw the presentations of the first set of Swimming proficiency certificates ever presented on the squadron. This is an achievement that stays with you, you don't need to resit the course having completed it. We will look at completing intermediate and advanced courses in the future. There is also the possibility of a scuba diving session at Towcester Centre for Leisure that the Training Officer is investigating.
Congratulations to all those that completed, certificates for the second batch are in the post.
(for a photo see the first aid presentation above)

Wing Swimming 2009

Our annual trip to St Albans to compete against the rest of the squadrons in the wing saw Cpl Jones and Cadet Ferrie both competing.
Cpl Jones managed a bronze medal in the Junior Male Freestyle, and for consistency Cdt Ferrie achieved a 4th and 5th place in the Junior female breaststroke and freestyle.
With only 2 cadets attending we were never going to be challenging for an overall trophy, but 19th (of 30) is a significant improvement on last year.
For the statisticians above you, an extra 12 points (Cpl Jones earnt 14, Ferrie 13) would have rocketed us up to 10th place.

Speak to those who went, and hopefully hear you don't need to Michael Phelps or Rebecca Adlington to succeed at Wing Swimming.

See you all next year???

Summer Staff Courses

This summer Plt Off Rumsey and Fg Off Tomlinson have both been to RAF College Cranwell to complete ATC Staff courses, the Officers Initial Course (Plt Off Rumsey) and the Officers Seniors Course (OC).
Both courses were a busy mix of classroom lectures, drill practice and uniform inspections (just like you!), leadership practicals, presentation skills practicals and interview training.

We both passed the courses and by networking with 40 members of staff from around the corps have picked up many useful ideas and suggestions.

Programme Change

Bank Holiday Monday (31st) will no longer be GREENS but will now be SPORTS.

RAF Boulmer

Cpl's Tear, Jones and Oldrey with Cdt's Ferrie, Owen, Hollins, Weeb, Lacey, Quilliam and Thomas ayyened this weeks Summer camp at RAF Boulmer. They had a fantastic time and their will be opportunities to look at the amazing photos very soon.

URGENT- REGIONAL COMMANDANTS VISIT THURSDAY 16 JULY HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Parade night as normal, first class presentation night will still go ahead

Wing Aviation Day

On the 28th June, Flt Sgt Thomas-Lord, Cpl Tear, Cpl Oldrey, Cpl Jones, Cdt Knapman and Cdt Haynes attended wings annual Aviation day.

For those of you who don't know what Aviation day is (shame on you!), it is a blues day, consisting of drill competitions, model making and flying and numerous other events.

Cdt Knapman did an excellent job of the "Around the pole",

and Cpl Oldrey's diorama of a Chinook erecting a Pylon was complimented by the judges as "one of the best [they] had ever seen!"

The NCO team were straight into Air Rec the moment they arrived, definately a lot harder than we had foreseen, but a job well done nonetheless!

The day was nicely rounded up with a visit to the airfield in time to see a glider land.

Many thanks to all who attended.

Your squadron needs you!!

Wow, quite a few updates recently!!!

As we all know, the squadron offers too many activites for one person to keep up with!

So, heres your chance to write an article for the squadron blog! Have you recntly been flying, gliding, shooting, or participated in any other wing event? Get some photos even?

If you have any photos or would like to write an article about oen of these events, please email: squadronnews@towcester-aircadets.org.uk

Many thanks

Raising The Standards

On the morning of the 22nd June, the CO, Flt Sgt Thomas Lord, Cpls Tear, Oldrey and Percy, and cadets Owen, Lacey, Ferrie and Hollins attended the "Raise a flag for our armed forces" morning held at the council offices in Towcester.

Cpl Percy was selected to raise the standard (albeit a lot smaller than the rest!)

The remaining cadets were formed up on the side, looking smart as always, in their Wedgewood uniform.

The service consisted of the raising of the standards, some hymns and music provided by Sponne Scool band.

The service was a great success and many thanks to the cadets who attended.

(Pictures to follow shortly)

More Promotions

Congratulations to Flt Sgt Thomas-Lord, Cpl Percy and Cpl Tear on their recent promotions.

Keep up the good work!!!

Sniffing around

Thursday 4 June

The Northamptonshire police dog unit came along for the evening.

After a talk about the training requirements and the typical work that the unit participate in there was a chance to see Rolly in action, as he sniffed out a (planted) sample of cocaine in the main room.

There was also an opportunity to meet Ted, a traditional barking biting German Shephard. The night finished with a tour around the van and a quick photo opportunity.

First Class Presentation Evening

Thursday 14th May

Congratulations to Cadets Hall, Lacey, Owen, Thomas, and Thomas-Lord who all received their first class badges and certificates.



First Class classification allows you access to most events, and you should definately all now look at attending annual camp, this year at RAF Boulmer, http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafboulmer/



Congratulations again,

Mayday Fete

When I looked at the weather forecast I wasnt hopeful for a fun day. I arrived at the squadron, met the NCOs and we wandered down and met some more cadets at the rec.
You put the tents up quickly, and prepared the leaflets, the cockpit arrived and Cdt Percy marshalled it in. There was a steady stream of people coming to look in the cockpit and Cdt Owen did a good job of pointing out the various controls. Cpl Jones and Cdt Hollins marshalled younger children to try on the helmet (as long as Cdt Lacey wasn't wearing it, which he was for most of the day!)
Cpl Oldrey no doubt has some new stories to tell us about the historical side of the RAF from all the people that approached him. The poster displays and leaflets were distributed to all those who were keen, and I can only assume the fact that most of the army cadets were loitering for the day means that they are about to see sense and swop units?!
It was good to see so many of you, and I think we achieved our aim of raising local awareness and recruiting some new faces. Now we need to keep persuading your friends at school to come down and see what makes us the best youth organisation in Towcester.

Further Duke of Edinburgh Success

STOP PRESS - STOP PRESS - STOP P

The Duke of Edinburgh success doesn't stop here. Cdt Capewell collected her bronze last week.

The annual summary of awards presented to the wing has been announce, and our position of 3rd is a fantastic acheivement.
Lets build on this next year and aim for 1st

Duke of Edinburgh Success

The first bronze awards of the year were presented last week. Congratulations to Sgt Thomas-Lord, Cpl Oldrey and Cpl Jones and Cdt Capewell.

There are some more awards to follow this year, and those cadets who completed their expedition last year only have a few sections to complete.

We will be organising more Bronze expeditions this year, so those cadets who have passed their first class exam can enrol on the scheme and look forward to completing their bronze awards.

For more information speak to the Sqn D of E officer, CI Howlett

PICTURE TO FOLLOW

Promotions

Congratulations to Cpl Jones and Cpl Oldrey

on their recent promotions

Wing Marching Day

Posted by Cdt Oldrey

On Saturday 25th January 2009, Oldrey, Jones and Hollins and the CO, attended the Wing Drill Training Day at RAF Halton.
The whole day was run by several Drill Instructors who did a very good job at improving the drill standards of the attending Officers and Cadets.
The day consisted of both the Officers and Cadets learning firstly the basic drill manoeuvres (Shun’, Ease, Right Dress etc). These completed we moved onto the more advanced drill manoeuvres (Marching, Turning on the march etc). Then a huge leap to ceremonial drill used during parades, marches etc (Right and Left Form etc).
A few Cadets were able to practice banner drill, which was in my opinion the most confusing and difficult drill imaginable.

At the end of the day, there was a final parade, in which both Officers and Cadets were involved, putting to practice the drill learnt and giving the day a very smart and precise ending.

After attending, myself and the other Cadets felt we had made an achievement by the vast improvement of our drill.

I recommend it highly to any Cadet or even Officer, who wishes to improve their drill and have a fun day out.

Wing Marching Team Briefing

The Wing Marching Team participate in road marching events accross the UK and Europe, and in some cases represent the UK military at memorial services and cultural events.
Training starts soon (see the calendar), and prompt registration is required.

For more information see either the CO or Plt Off Rumsey.

First Aid Course

9-11 Jan 2009

The CO and CI Burdett attended the first Wing First Aid Course of the year. Claire was helping teaching a class of cadets, while I was taking the Activity First Aid Course, required to keep my BELA walking qualification up to date (if I'm leading a group I know how to treat an injury).
Training started straight away on the Friday night, and early again on Saturday morning, but the assessment came soon enough on Sunday. We were nervously waiting, and were being called one by one, and the suspense was mounting. Eventually my turn came and my nerves disappeared straight away. First I had to demonstrate CPR, then put a patient into the recovery position. The third scenario was a broken arm requiring treatment. In no time at all the assessment was over and I'm pleased to announce I'd passed.

I would recommend the course to all, but watch this space as we now have enough qualified staff to run a course at the squadron. The course will be the Youth First Aid and will earn you the red badge if you pass.