October half term week saw 18 Cadets and 9 Staff travel from all over Thames Valley Wing (TVW) to the National Air Cadet Adventure Training Centre (NACATC), Windermere for a week of Adventure Training in the spectacular landscape of the Lake District.

The primary aim of the Centre is to provide facilities for cadets to participate in adventure training in terrain more demanding than that normally found in their local area.  Taking full advantage of the facilities and equipment available from the centre, the TVW cadets were able to have a go at mountain walking, wild camping, canoeing, indoor wall climbing and outdoor rock climbing, orienteering, geocaching and mountain biking. Continue reading →

The weekend of 17-19 Oct was a weekend for challenging yourself in the outdoors for cadets and staff from Thames Valley Wing and beyond. Thames Valley Wing Adventure Training Officer, Flt Lt Christlieb provides an insight to what goes on during an assessment weekend and the opportunities available to cadets and staff within the ATC. Continue reading →

The finalists for the Thames Valley Wing Thrive Awards have now been announced. The Awards fall into the following categories and all nominations came from their peers.

Outstanding Individual – The person who has made the most outstanding contribution over the past year.
Ambassador – The individual or team who through the virtue of hard work, character and representation have raised the profile of the ATC.
Valiant Volunteer – For consistent and extraordinary efforts in helping others, above and beyond the call of duty.
Unsung Hero – The individual whose contribution often goes unnoticed but without it their Squadron would fail to deliver the effect it achieves.
Top Team Award – awarded to the group (informal or formal) that has achieved the greatest positive impact. Continue reading →

On Saturday, 7 June 15 cadets from 136 (Chipping Norton) Squadron took part in a sponsored walk in honour of former 136 Squadron cadet, Sam Taylor.

Starting from the small Gloucestershire village of Condicote, the cadets travelled with two adult staff members on a 22km route to Broadway Tower in Worcestershire, the second highest point in the Cotswolds. Other staff members were on hand at various checkpoints along the route to provide extra drinking water and any other help that might have been needed. Continue reading →

23 Cadets and 11 Staff from Thames Valley Wing organised and attended the 2014 Wing AT Camp at NACATC Llanbedr at the end of May.

After some careful planning and paperwork the week started with a journey to North Wales on a coach, after settling into the camp and receiving various briefs the Cadets and Staff were split into 3 groups. We archived our aim of delivering a jammed packed and varied programme giving the Cadets a taster in each of the core AT activities. Continue reading →

The Thames Valley Adventure Training Team organised a weekend of climbing, abseiling , kayaking, open canoeing, trekking, orienteering, camping skills and team building at Foxlease in the New Forest on a wet weekend in April.

Over the weekend Cadets from Brize Norton, Cowley, Woodley and Chipping Norton braved the very wet weather and took part in the activities above. As well as the activities we also covered some of the First Class training syllabus around Basic Map reading and Initial Expedition Training.

FS Chris Harding of Burghfield Squadron who organised the event said “Even with the constant rain for the whole weekend the Cadets and Staff stayed in high spirits and enjoyed a varied Adventure Training experience across the core activities mentioned in “Are You On Target?” . I’d like to extend my thanks to the ACO staff for transporting the Cadets and their assistance with organising and running all the activities.”

Each January staff and staff cadets from across the wing gather at RAF Halton to attend the annual Wing Training Day. This provides the opportunity to find out the latest changes on subjects such as the ‘Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’ and syllabus training. Staff also reflect back on the previous year and look ahead to ensure that the cadet experience is been delivered to the best of the ability of squadrons and wing staff within Thames Valley. This year’s training day saw a visit by Gp Capt Cole from RAF Brize Norton who provided an insight into the RAF as it currently stands and updates on RAF Brize Norton with the introduction of the Voyager fleet and upcoming arrival of the Atlas fleet. Continue reading →

Staff development within Thames Valley Wing is co-ordinated and delivered by the ‘Training and Development Team’ which has recently been expanded which some new staff members. Leading the team Sdn Ldr Johnson is OC TDSU (Training Development and Support Unit) who ensures that cadets and staff are offered all the correct training including but not limited to Instructor Cadet Courses, Cadet Youth 1^st Aid and Staff Cadet Courses for those cadets turning 18 years old. Continue reading →

On Friday, 29^th November Cadet Mitchell from 136 (Chipping Norton) Squadron travelled to London as part of a national group of 48 Air Cadets to take part in an historic debate in the House of Lords. Cdt Mitchell had already attend 2 selection events to get this far – https://www.aircadets.tv/news/hot-topics-for-136-cadet-at-rafc-cranwell/. This was only the 7^th time a group of individuals outside of parliament had debated within the House of Lords. The below article from Sdn Ldr Aitkins, HQAC provides an insight into the day and the occasion which Cdt Mitchell was involved with. Continue reading →

ach year Thames Valley Wing holds its Inter Squadron bowling competition at RAF Brize Norton where the squadrons get together before the Christmas break with each squadron been allowed to enter 2 teams. With the event always being a good day out for the cadets and staff this year’s event was no exception with everyone enjoying themselves and some good scores been achieved at the end of the day.

459 (Windsor) Squadron provide their story on how the competition went for the squadron on the day. Continue reading →