Yearly Archives: 2009

Website Wins National Award

This website wins a national award!

This website has won a prestigious award in the Air Cadet Media and Communication Awards – the MACA’s. The judges said that the website stood out from the crowd not only for it’s creative, corporate look and feel but also for the innovative graphic tools and use of an active news area together with first-class navigation. Continue reading

Thames Valley’s Record Haul

Over 35 Thames Valley Wing cadets, staff and Civilian Committee members have been honoured at a glittering ceremony organized by Thames Valley Wing.

The awards were held at Edward Brooks Barracks with Air-Vice Marshall Jon Lamonte who is currently serving as Chief of Staff Strategy, Policy and Plans at Air Command at RAF High Wycombe presenting the national awards. Continue reading

Banbury Squadron march to success

1460 (Banbury) Squadron’s marching band has just taken part in the National Corps Band Championships which was held at RAF Halton and have proven themselves to be of an outstanding quality.

The band performed under the direction of Flt Lt Karl Kisley; Officer Commanding 1460 (Banbury) Squadron and not only flew the flag for Thames Valley Wing but also represented South West Region in the full band category. Continue reading

Cadets learn self defence skills

Cadets from 2477 (Britwell) and 2211 (Bracknell) Squadrons have joined forces for a Self Defence course.

This was organised by Flight Sergeant Seb Miller from 1996 (Earley) Squadron who is a qualified Instructor with the Self Defence Federation and assisted by Flight Sergeant Dom Powditch of 1861 (Wantage) Squadron a fellow martial arts expert. Together they demonstrated and taught techniques to the cadets which were extremely simple, effective and easy for them to pick up. Continue reading

Thames Valley Stalwart Receives MBE

Sqn Ldr Stephen New, Deputy Wing Commander for Thames Valley Wing Air Training Corps, has been presented with an MBE by HRH Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. Sqn Ldr New’s state award was promulgated in the Queens Birthdays Honours List.

Although he has served the Corps for some 34 years he is still incredibly active managing 6 Squadrons in the West of Thames Valley Wing and has also voluntarily undertaken a number of other key initiatives in support of the Wing. Continue reading

Bramley Fieldcraft Hits the Big 20!

Thames Valley Wing hit a milestone recently when they celebrated 20 years of Field Craft Training at Bramley Training Area. The 1,000 acre site has housed many cadet activities over the years including Wing Challenge events, DofE expeditions and Tactical Leadership Camps.

news_0911001_sub_1To celebrate the anniversary, almost 100 Cadets and Staff braved Autumnal showers for an exercise that tested their leadership skills to the full. Continue reading

Staff Graduations

WO Jim Palmer of 2403 (Aldermaston) Squadron was amongst 22 Air Cadet Instructors from all over the UK were recognised for their community based learning achievements by Admiral the Lord West of Spithead who presented the awards at the recent CVQO graduation ceremony, at the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth, in front of colleagues, families and friends.

They were presented with a City and Guilds Senior Award in Youth Management and Training, comparable to Foundation, Honours and Master’s degrees and achieved through their work as a Cadet Force Adult Volunteers. Continue reading

Air Cadets Go Army

Royal Air Force blue met Army green recently when cadets from 2403 (Aldermaston) Squadron, Air Training Corps spend the day at the Army Air Corps home base at Middle Wallop in Hampshire.

The group of staff and cadets were shown the full extent of the helicopter operations of the Army Air Corps from engineering and maintenance through to armament and the methods by which the helicopters themselves are supported when operating away from their home base. As part of the visit the cadets were able to explore the lynx battlefield utility helicopter and also managed to get close up to the awesome Apache attack helicopter which made a lasting impression on the entire group. Continue reading

Tri-Service Weekend For Cadets

Cadets from 2403 (Aldermaston) and 1391 (Romsey) Squadrons, Air Training Corps have spent the weekend experiencing life in the Royal Navy and seeing the work of the police elements of both the Royal Air Force and the Army.

The 14 cadets and 4 staff were accommodated aboard the National Cadet Forces Training and Accommodation Ship HMS Bristol and from there undertook a series of visits which encompassed all three of the UK armed forces. The first of these visits was to the Historic Dockyard complex in Portsmouth where the cadets were able to see the equipment and role of the modern Royal Navy through their interactive “Action Stations” exhibit. Continue reading

Wallingford Cadets are best in South West

Over the past month, a team of cadets from Wallingford Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) has been taking part in competitions against other cadets in the south west.

Every year, cadets from all 27 squadrons in Thames Valley Wing compete against each other in several events, including photography, best website, aircraft recognition, drill and public speaking. The winning individuals and teams then go on to represent the Wing at the South West Region event. Continue reading