All posts by Mark Gray

Oxford Cadet 150 a Scorcher!

In temperatures of up 28oC Oxfordshire Air Cadets have marched through the streets of Oxfordshire with Sea Cadets and Army Cadets to celebrate Cadet 150.

The cadets started the celebrations with a service at Christ Church Cathedral where following a welcome by the Bishop of Oxford, Right Reverend John Pritchard, the Lord Lieutenants Cadets read the lessons. The Lord Lieutenant, Nr Tim Stevenson OBE, also gave an address where he praised the work of all of the Cadet forces and thanked them for their valuable work they perform in their local communities throughout Oxfordshire. Continue reading →

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Thames Valley Cadets in Queen’s Birthday

Thames Valley Cadets have taken part in a Central London flypast to celebrate the birthday of HM The Queen.

news_1006001_sub_1The cadets from 2267 (Brize Norton), 2120 (Witney) and 2121 (Abingdon) Squadrons flew in a Tristar, together with some 150 other cadets from the Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadets and Army Cadets and other Air Cadets from across the UK. The flight was a key event in the ongoing Cadet 150 celebrations. Continue reading →

Oxfordshire Tri-Service Cadet Challenge

What links 32 cadets, 18 staff, a length of rope and a physical training instructor? In short they were just a few of the elements required for the inter-services cadet challenge which was held recently at Dalton Barracks in Oxfordshire.

The one day event was designed to bring together cadets representing all three services, mix them into joint service teams and throw them into a series of challenges which encouraged them to work together in a spirit of enjoyment. Continue reading →

New Voices On The Airwaves

Cadets from across the Thames valley have been learning the art of radio communications as participants on the latest radio operators course which was held at Bicester Garrison

The weekend course is aimed at teaching the necessary skills and protocols to enable both staff and cadets to be able to use the Air Cadet radio network and is a mixture of classroom sessions and practical exercises. Continue reading →

New Drill Instructor for Thames Valley

Thames Valley Wing has welcomed its latest Drill Instructor in the form of Sgt Zoe Sutcliffe from 2507 (Bicester) Squadron.

Sgt Sutcliffe has recently completed the coveted Senior NCO Staff Drill Instructor Course at the Air Cadet’s Adult Training Facility at RAF Cranwell following a recommendation to attend the course from the Facility’s own Drill Instructor. Continue reading →

Joint Services Parade Takes Windsor

Cadets from Air Training Corps Squadrons across Berkshire joined their counterparts from the Army Cadet Force and the Sea Cadet Corps in Windsor for a massed parade to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the formation of the cadet movement.

In full view of the general public the parade departed Victoria Barracks to the sound of the joint cadet band and marched through Windsor, ending in a magnificent arrival through King Henry VIII gate and into Windsor castle. Continue reading →

Newbury help keep the Vulcan flying

211 (Newbury) Squadron recently joined forces with the Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society (NADARS) to run a radio station dedicated to promoting awareness and raising funds for the Vulcan to the Sky Trust.

The Trust, formed to operate the last remaining airworthy Vulcan aircraft, has to raise more than £1.6 million per year to keep the aircraft in the air and is now totally reliant on donations from the public and on sponsorship. Continue reading →

TVW cross border for first aid support

Staff from Thames Valley Wing have helped their counterparts in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wing by running a Heartstart introduction to First Aid training day for both staff and cadets.

Held at the Headquarters of 1216 (Eastleigh) squadron, the cadet training which was provided by Sergeant Keith Collier covered a series of emergency life support skills including the basics of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, how to deal with bleeding, choking and how to recognise and help someone who is suspected of having a heart attack. The day wasn’t entirely lecture based as the cadets then got to practice their CPR skills on a number of training mannequins as well as giving vent to their finest acting skills as they took turns at pretending to be the victim of choking. Continue reading →

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Berkshire Squadrons are bang on target

Cadets from the Berkshire units of Thames Valley Wing showed their ability to the full by winning every award at a recent target shooting competition held at Brock Barracks in Reading.

The Inter-Services and Nowell Cup competitions, organised by the Joint Services Cadet Committee for Berkshire, are held annually with teams from the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps competing using small bore target rifles. Continue reading →

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