14 cadets and 1 staff member from Burghfield, Aldermaston, Wantage, Wallingford, Henley and Reading Squadrons attended the BCU 1 and 2 star courses at Adventure Dolphin in Pangbourne.
The majority of the Cadets worked towards and passed their BCU 1 Star certificate in an Open Canoe, the remaining Cadets and Staff progressed towards their 2 star or did refresher training. Continue reading
On Sunday, 19th May a coach full of excited cadets and staff headed from RAF Brize Norton across to Tisley Park, Abingdon to take part in the annual Thames Valley Wing athletics competition. With 27 cadets and 4 staff accompanying them Brize Norton squadron was aiming for a successful day in this popular event attended by all squadrons within the Wing.
With a long day ahead covering both field and track events the cadets maintained high spirits as they supported each other throughout the day. Continue reading
The weekend of the 28th-30th of June saw Air Cadets from across the Oxfordshire area come together to take part in Exercise Tri-Hard, the Oxfordshire Cadet Challenge. Working with cadets from the Sea, Army and Combined Cadet Force, they took part in a range of exciting and challenging activities. The aim of the weekend was to work together in teams to win the Challenge.
Throughout the weekend the cadets took part in water-based activities like kayaking and power boating with the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force provided first aid scenarios to test the cadets and the Air Training Corps challenged the groups to find a downed pilot by completing a number of different leadership exercises. Continue reading
As part of the long term sponsorship between AirTanker Services and 2267 (Brize Norton) Air Cadet Squadron the company provided every cadet with new, high visibility jackets to help keep the cadets safe and seen. With many of the cadets walking between their home and the squadron each night it helps to ensure safety as the number one priority for all the cadets which matches the safety ethos of AirTanker.
The high visibility jackets are also used by the cadets when out on their Duke of Edinburgh expeditions to be clearly seen on the country lanes or out supporting charity events such as the Carterton 10k. As from the photo it won’t be hard now to miss the Air Cadets out and about proudly showing the partnership between AirTanker Services and the Brize Norton Air Cadets.
On Tuesday, 11th June, 2267 (Brize Norton) Air Cadet’s played host to RAF Brize Norton Station Commander, Gp Cpt S Lushington ADC MA RAF who as part of his visit opened the newly installed flight simulator. The simulator has been a long project for the unit in terms of fundraising and receiving grants to allow the cadets the opportunity to develop their airmanship skills and support the Air Experience Flying offered on the Grob Tutor and Vigilant gliders.
FS Naworynsky, Sgt Buchanan and Cpl Woolliams who are all senior cadets at the squadron that have achieved a number of gliding qualifications with 2 currently instructors at 612 VGS at Abingdon explained how the simulator will support the cadets understanding of flying. Continue reading
May 2013 saw cadets and staff from across Thames Valley Wing put the corps motto Venture Adventure into practice at our National Air Cadet Adventure Training Centre Llanbedr, North Wales.
A sunny start to the summer has seen the Wing rife with adventure training opportunities from squadrons out walking in the sunshine, to indoor climbing and the Wing Adventure Training day that took place 2 weeks ago where we enjoyed a day of climbing and canoeing. All this has meant a busy few months for the Adventure Training staff, all this fun however kicked off on the 18th of May with the staff being joined at Edward Brooke Barracks by 4 eager cadets from all over the Wing. Cadets Joe Morrison, Tom Barnden, Libby Parsons and Emma Popovic were about to be immersed in a week of nonstop adventure training. Here is how the week went for them. Continue reading
211 (Newbury) squadron were recently joined by cadets and staff from 2293 (Marlborough) and 1996 (Earley) squadrons to take part in Exercise Fallen Angel, a 3 night fieldcraft exercise at Bramley Training Area.
Starting on Friday evening, the cadets arrived at the training area with all their kit in tow and after a quick safety brief and deciding on flights, the two teams found their “bivvi” area where they would sleep for the night and began setting up. 24 hour ration packs were to be the food of choice for the weekend, and the cadets had to patrol tactically to their “drop-zone” and wait for the “helicopter” to insert them into their area. Continue reading
With summer finally here, cadets & staff from Thames Valley Wing took to the water & climbing wall at Adventure Dolphin in Pangbourne for the Wing’s Multiactivity Adventure Training Day. 12 cadets and 4 staff members from across the Thames Valley attended the event, with all enjoying the warm weather and sunshine!
Following an introduction into what the day would involve, the cadets were split into two groups to tackle morning’s respective challenges. The first being a taxing “throw the shoe” warm up lead by CI Ollie Holman of 2402 squadron. Following this, the flights went their separate ways – an introduction to Paddlesport in open canoes or tackling 9 challenging climbing routes on the climbing wall. Continue reading
Every year cadets from 966 (Wallingford) Sqn compete with the Wallingford detachment of the Army Cadet Force for two awards presented by the local Branch of the Royal British Legion. This year, on 30 May, the squadron pulled off a hat-trick by winning both the awards. Following an interview of the nominated cadets from both organisations by the Wallingford RBL, it was decided to present the ‘Cadet of the Year Award 2013’ to FS Sally Evans and the ‘Tony Smith Memorial Shield Award 2013’ to Sgt Tamara Simmons. Continue reading
Thames Valley Wing of the Air Training Corps are in celebratory mood after their A Team won the best air cadet team award at the recent Royal Air Force Walking and Road Marching Association 2 day march held at Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering.
The Wing are no strangers to this achievement as it is the third time Thames Valley have picked up this award under the guidance of their coach and leader; Flight Lieutenant Karl Kisley. Continue reading