The team arrived at RAF Northolt in July after spending every weekend walking fifteen-twenty miles as training for the week long marches. Accompanying the cadets went Flt Lt Kisley of Banbury and Fg Off Wicks of Didcot, both of whom having spent nearly every weekend training the team ready for Nijmegen.

From Northolt the team travelled by coach across the channel to Calais and then through Europe to Nijmegen. Continue reading →

Grants are on their way to West Oxfordshire communities to help with projects commemorating World War One.

A variety of projects are taking place after West Oxfordshire District Council invited communities to apply for funding of up to £500 to help mark the centenary of the War in 2014. Continue reading →

24 cadets and a number of staff from Thames Valley wing attended the second in a series of weekend camps which Central sector visiting RAF Henlow. The majority of the cadets were new to their squadrons and this was their first camp with the ATC (Air Training Corps) and for some their first time staying away from home. Arriving on Friday evening all the cadets were briefed about the weekend by Sqn Ldr Senft who has organised the camps and everyone went off to their accommodation to get ready for a busy two days ahead. Continue reading →

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 →

On Saturday 14^th December, as festivities across Witney continue in the build-up for Christmas, 16 cadets and 3 staff from the Squadron participated in carol singing at their local branch of Sainsbury’s.  As shoppers went down the aisles collecting festive treats they were treated to a range of carols performed by the cadets.  It also provided the squadron with the opportunity to raise funds for future needs and also importantly to raise the units profile within the local community. 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 →

Open evenings at squadrons form a vital part in providing potential cadets the chance to find out about what the Air Training Corps offers and the opportunities available to cadets. Recently 2120 (Witney) squadron opened its doors to show case what the squadron and wing does across the year and on Tuesday, 5^th November the latest 6 cadets to join the squadron were enrolled.

Celebrations were in full swing on Tuesday 5th November as cadets, parents and staff of 2120 (Witney) Squadron, Air Training Corps welcomed their latest 6 cadets following enrollment after 5 weeks introductory training. Continue reading →

During the October half term 28 cadets and 8 staff from Thames Valley Wing headed to RAF Linton-on-Ouse for their autumn camp on an operational, RAF station. It was a busy week for the cadets as they got to experience activities both on and off base, experience what life is like on an RAF station and meet new people with 17 of the wings squadrons been represented at the camp. For many of the cadets this was their first week long camp and were kept very busy with lots of activities and chance to discover what happens on an RAF base. Continue reading →

On the weekend of 19^th September cadets from across Central Sector attend Youlby Sector camp to take part in a fieldcraft weekend aimed at new cadets to prepare them for more advanced level fieldcraft such as the TLC (Tactical Leadership Course) run by Thames Valley Wing. Cadets from 966 (Wallingford), 1861 (Wantage), 2120 (Witney), 2121 (Abingdon), 2267 (Brize Norton) and 2410 (Didcot) had a busy weekend learning a range of skills including striking a camp, field cooking, orienteering, camouflage and concealment and field shelters. This new knowledge was then put to the test with a night exercise to combine all their new skills and team building by working with cadets who they have never met before. Continue reading →

Thames Valley Wing has, over the past few months, been running a series of ‘Self Defence and Conflict Management’ courses via TDSU that are available for cadets and staff; the most recent being on Saturday, 28^th September. The courses are run by WO Miller of 1996 (Earley) Sqn who is a Master Level Self Defence Instructor with the Self Defence Federation, and his colleague WO Powditch of 2121 (Abingdon) Sqn. The courses are aimed at teaching cadets to manage conflict in confrontational situations and basic self-defence actions in a controlled environment. Continue reading →