Good evening. I am Cadet Corporal Tucker and in July last year I was selected to go to on the Gibraltar camp. I was so excited – not only was I able to spend a week in Gibraltar but this would be the first time I have flown on a commercial flight. I went with former Cadet Warrant Officer Phillips and was going to meet welsh, Scottish and Irish cadets.

So on Tuesday the 9th of July we were at Heathrow airport, I was so excited but quite nervous. After stumbling through check in and checking out the airport we boarded the plane, I was nervous at this point, however, despite all my nerves we had a really good flight and I ended up eating the most amazing salted caramel muffin I have ever had in my life! For anyone here who is not familiar with Gibraltar airport – it is one of the only airports to have a main road running across the runway and it is situated right next to the Gibraltar rock. The roads were cleared for our landing and we –quite terrifyingly- flew in very close to the Gibraltar rock as we made our way for the runway. Stepping off the plane was amazing! It was so sunny and I believe about 26 degrees at the time. I think we all just wanted to stand around a bit longer rather than going in to collect our bags. Collecting our bags was a nightmare – as a group of about 50 you would expect something to go wrong. In fact, by wrong, I mean everyone got their cases par one person. To make the matters worse it was two days until he did get his case meaning he didn’t have any clothes to wear. A definite ice breaker as he had to borrow other lad’s clothes.

Over the two days following we were split into two groups and went for a walk up the Gibraltar rock on one day and went to tunnels made in WW2 for another day. Going up the Gibraltar rock was so nice; we had really good weather and also got to go in St. Michael’s caves. At the top of the rock not only did we have a view of the whole of Gibraltar but we also got a bit of a history lesson. Two cannons were on the top and we were told that they were used for scouting the whole area and protecting Gibraltar in world war two. I found that so interesting but the rest of the group just wanted to sunbathe. No-one ended up sunbathing because on the Gibraltar rock there are macaques. One thing that I think made us all so cautious was the fact that in the other group (when they had gone up the rock) one of their group members had a monkey jump on their back in attempt to steal his bag – in his bag was all his money, phone and passport. A quick decision had to be made so this lad had decided to throw his lunch; it got the monkeys attention so thankfully he kept his bag but went without lunch that day. On another day we went to world war two tunnels and this was such an amazing experience. The tunnels were hand dug and used as transport, shelter and supplied hospitals and additional storage. At different points, we were asked to turn our torches off to get the feel of what conditions could have been like, and the staff used this to scare our group multiple times.

In our evening free time we were able to go around the shopping centre and the beach. While the beach was amazing, and I was dragged into the sea on the last night, I still preferred the shopping centre. Not just the shopping but because I had made friends with a group of Scottish cadets and one evening one of the cadet flight sgts suggested that we went wandering. He was very good at remembering where we had come from and so we decided to do so. We came across a dock, a beautiful garden and some smaller things like cannons. It was really nice to just go out and see more of the area and we have some awesome photos.

Over the next few days we went on a dolphin safari, a water park and a safari park. The dolphin safari made for a lovely afternoon, and we did get to see dolphins. It was amazing as they swam right up next to the boat. However, we did get very wet on the way back! The safari park was fun and it was mainly just a chance to chill. We had to go into Spain so this meant a lot of travelling but we also got the chance to brush up on some Spanish. Although, the only word I learnt was ‘wiffie’ and this meant wifi, but another member of our group could order a beer, a cocktail and wine so we were sorted. The water park also caused us to go into Spain and we all had a lot of fun here on the different slides and I even managed to convince the cadet warrant officer to go on them.

This concluded our week in Gibraltar and it was time to come home. I had had the most wonderful week and had come away having met some of the most interesting and funny people ever. I would definitely do it again. Oh, and I had the most amazing sun tan I’ve ever had so 10/10 there.

While I am up I would just like to thank a few people. I’d like to thank the Civilian Committee for funding the entire camp as without them I’d have probably not attended and I would also like to thank the staff at the squadron for picking me to go.

On the 7th – 15th of April this year; myself along with Cadet Sergeant H. Vinall, Cadet Corporals E. Alexander and A. Lowe, and Cadets B. Hayley, O. Le Bault, and A. Robinson attended a camp to Saalbach Austria for 8 days skiing.

We left from Dudley on midday on Friday the 7th, happy about having a day off school. However, the thought of the gruelling 26 – hour journey that lay ahead of us dampened the mood slightly.

But the journey to our surprise went reasonably fast. We began talking to lots of different cadets from around the UK and before we knew it we had arrived in Dover. After another 17 hours travelling through France and Germany and suffering through the film Trolls we finally arrived in Austria.

We got settled into our rooms for the next couple of hours, and after getting to know our roommates we headed down for some food before leaving for the ski school in the village. We got our kit fitted and ready for the next morning then headed back to the hotel for dinner and an early night…we all needed it!

Soon enough that 6:30 alarm went off and despite having a day of skiing ahead, it took a while to eventually crawl out.

By 8:30 we had eaten got kitted up and were sitting on the ski lift on the way up to the slopes where the views were incredible. When we reached the top of the slopes we began the first days skiing. They split the groups into beginner, intermediate, and advanced and as a beginner myself I can assure you that there were several falls on that first day…skiing is definitely easier said than done. After a while though we began to get the hang of it and by the end of the first day we had just about learned how to start and stop. Then upon returning to the hotel we learned what the other groups got up to as well.

As the days past the week just got better and better, we were all improving our skiing skills but at the same time we were getting to know so many knew people and I personally can’t remember laughing as much as a did that week. Along with the days skiing we had great social activities as well, including Film Night, visits to the local area to top it off a visit to a luxury outdoor spa: and with boiling water, immense views and LED lighting surrounding the pool, the experience was not far from heaven!

By the 3rd and 4th day of skiing, the groups were now very close and even our instructors could say that we were getting the hang of it. The staff were great and helped take care of us throughout the week, from having a laugh with them on the slopes to having to escort a few unlucky cadets, CPL Alexander included to the local hospital…but don’t worry it was nothing too serious.

We were extremely lucky as a group with the weather as not only did we have the snowy and cold peaks of the mountain but down at the hotel we were walking around in 23-degree heat… it’s safe to say many of us were regretting not packing shorts. The last day arrived and after having the most relaxing experience of our lives in the spa the night before, we were feeling ready for our final day on the slopes. Not only was the skiing good on the mountains but we were also encouraged to try some of the local food…however I’m sure Cdt Sgt Vinall and I can agree that after having to pay 50 euros for just 3 pancakes and a couple of drinks we were glad that we wouldn’t be eating there again.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

I have always had a huge interest in fieldcraft as anyone from Cosford will tell you.
Fieldcraft is the art of living and moving in the field tactically but this can be simplified to one of two terms either “playing soldiers” or “D of E on steroids”.

Within our wing there are three levels of fieldcraft that can be completed. Level one teaches the basics of “personal admin”, patrolling, camouflage and concealment and cooking compo rations. The aim of this course is to give you the knowledge to be a reliable member of a section.

Level two moves onto the art of leading in the field, casualty evacuations, building clearance, close target reconnaissance etc. This is aimed at giving you the skills to become a section 2IC.

Level three which is planned in the near future, I am reliably informed will focus heavily on minor tactics and the leadership and management qualities needed of a section commander, platoon sgt and even platoon commander.

What these courses enable you to do, is to attend an overnight, weekend exercise or spend several days in the field, in which cadets are put into a scenario for the duration. A few examples of mine include being in the unstable ex-soviet state of Latvinia; the Nesscliffe province of Syria and many more.

It also offers the squadron the chance to enter the West Mercian Wing Fieldcraft Competition which is based on the army’s annual Cambrian marches. It takes place in the dreaded Sennybridge training area. The submitted teams compete over four days, manoeuvring around the training site by yomping, completing fitness tests, using first aid, night exercises and using much of what is learnt on the level courses.

After completing two Sennybridge camps and my level two by the summer of 2015 I was able to take away what I’d learnt and run some lessons for the remainder of the summer.

Come 2016 I ran a six week program for the squadron which ended with a consolidation exercise giving cadets an insight into fieldcraft and a taster for leadership, first aid, navigation and radio coms skills. In October a group of five of us went to Nesscliffe to partake in Op Romeo, a wing run exercise where a company of the airborne tactical commandos were tasked with gathering intelligence with myself as a section commander, I’d also like to take this opportunity to commend Cadet Cpl Lowe’s radio communications skills which remained exceptional in some very hairy situations.

Myself and the staff are currently preparing this year’s fieldcraft programme. There is also the Wing’s upcoming Exercise: Rising Sun, which is to take place in mid-July and which I am looking forward to attending.

Hello, I’m Cadet Nixon. A few months ago, I and other cadets started our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, along with a few other cadets doing their silver award.

To receive our award for bronze and silver we have to complete four sections. These are: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. For example, for my Physical I am cycling, for my Skills I am trying photography and for my Volunteering I am volunteering at my little sister’s Rainbows.

So far we have been on two different day walks and our Practice Expedition. The day walks consisted of learning how to use a map, compass and a route card properly. Our first walk was around the Clent Hills and our second walk was on the Kinver Edge. This also taught how to work as a group whilst meeting new cadets from other squadrons. It has also allowed us to improve our navigation skills around the countryside.

Not long ago the Bronze and Silver groups undertook their practice expeditions, walking a route across the Long Mynd and the Wenlock Edge. On the Saturday we camped for the night at the Long Mynd Adventure Centre, which I have to say was one of the best experiences I have ever had. On Sunday we woke up early and headed for our second day of walking. We finished the weekend with a cheeky celebration at McDonalds.

In June we will be undertaking our official expedition in the Peak District, which I am proud to say will be a great achievement.

DofE helps you to meet different people, try new things and most of all, makes you grow as an individual. I look forward to my future in DofE by finishing Bronze award and starting my Silver. I also look forwards to the laughs and conversations we have all night when camping!

I know that DofE will help me and others in the future and this has really inspired me, and will hopefully others too.

Thank you!

There is one aspect of the RAF Air Cadets that a large majority of its’ members participate in, both staff and cadets alike – the opportunity to take part in some form of Adventure Training activity whether that’d be Kayaking, Duke of Edinburgh or Fieldcraft. I have been heavily involved with DofE and working towards my 2 star kayaking award with Cadet Corporal J. Tucker, Flight Lieutenant G. Vince and Flight Sergeant S. Preston. Kayaking, for me, has been a great experience and it’s a skill that I’d like to pass on through the squadron as it’s very enjoyable. It’s enabled me to further my skills and confidence within a sport that I have never done outside of cadets. Every Saturday, we travelled to the Royal Sutton Coldfield Canoe Club which the squadron is a members of. There we can borrow kayaks, paddles and any other pieces of gear we may need which is great. Another reason why I really enjoy it is that we get to socialise with other people that we may not have spoken to before and try and share any useful knowledge we may have. I would definitely recommend this to other cadets especially to those who aren’t very confident on the water as it helps defeat mental barriers and is a great skill to have.

The Basic Expedition Leaders Award is a sports leadership course that allows cadets over the age of 16 to lead a team, like a bronze D of E group, over valley terrain. We have to complete 12 hours of practical leadership and a workbook on what it takes to become a leader. During the course, we have to learn basic survival skills as well as how to look after ourselves, and the cadets that we are in charge of.

We have recently undertaken an overnight practise expedition in order to prepare ourselves for our actual assessment, which will take place in June. Throughout this practise weekend we had a lot of fun, where it all started with getting off the minibus with our pyjamas and Cadet Flight Sergeant L. Pritchard dropping her pyjama top into the mud, she was not very impressed. We then had to set up out tents at night in what was essentially a mud bath. I do not think even the staff enjoyed this. Throughout the weekend, we were tested on our map reading and leadership skills as well as being given possible scenarios that could happen on a real life expedition to see how we would handle them.

I have enjoyed the course so far as it has allowed me to put to use and develop the skills I learnt during my bronze D of E award and I hope more cadets will take part in this course once they are old enough to do so. It is a great way to meet new people, get involved and develop your leadership skills.

Every year 2497 Cosford Squadron attends three annual parades celebrating and commemorating different events in British History. These parades are Air Training Corps Sunday, The Battle of Britain parade and Remembrance Sunday. Last year, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the formation of the Air Training Corps (ATC) we also attended a Wing Muster organised by West Mercian Wing.

ATC Sunday celebrates the formation of the Air Training Corps formed on the 5th February 1941 by Air Commodore Chamier. Last year on ATC Sunday our Squadron paraded from the Crown car park in Albrighton to St Mary’s church for a service followed by refreshments in the church hall. This year the parade was attended by a record number of cadets, 63 in total.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Air Training Corps, West Mercian Wing held a wing muster in hanger 3 on the airfield side of RAF Cosford. This was a very large parade with every squadron from the wing attending including No 1 overseas squadron based in Cyprus. After what was a long parade we headed off to the museum’s hanger one for a party with food and a disco.

The Battle of Britain parade is held every September at RAF Cosford, to commemorate all who fought in this battle protecting this island nation during the summer of 1940. Throughout this battle many sacrificed their life to the greater good and that is why we come together every year to remember them. The parade consists of many factions of the RAF with representatives from RAFA, the Royal British Legion and past servicemen and women attending. After a service held in one of RAF Cosford’s hangers, the parade marched to the airmen’s mess for lunch before heading home.

Remembrance Sunday is a day that we all come together to commemorate all who have fallen in the line of duty to remember them and their sacrifice, enabling us all to enjoy the freedoms we have today. 2497 Cosford Squadron were positioned at the front of the parade with the band leading the Banner party and military personnel from RAF Cosford, as well as dignitaries, Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Cubs parading their way to the war memorial in Albrighton, which was cleaned the day before by our cadets. Once we arrived, the bugler sounded the start of the 2 minutes silence afterwards we went to church for the service. Once the church service had finished the parade marched off to the Royal British Legion club for refreshments before departing.

Good evening

As a squadron we raise funds throughout the year for both squadron activities and charities. Each year we spend two weekends selling poppies at Albrighton Garden Centre and Albrighton High Street raising about £670 for the work of the Royal British Legion. In addition to selling poppies again this year we have also been asked to help with the Royal Air Forces Association’s Wings Appeal in September.

At squadron level the recent rank swap night proved to be very enjoyable way to raise money for the squadron. The weeks leading up to this saw cadets bid for both staff and Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer ranks which they held for one evening. Squadron staff were reduced to the rank of Cadet for the evening and were expected to parade alongside the other cadets, I am pleased to say that most performed their roles well except for one cadet who had to be reprimanded, I won’t mention any names just follow my eyes! [Flight Lieutenant G. Vince] We had great fun, and between us all, we raised £149.10.

Squadron cadets and staff took park in the Bridgnorth Walk last year, again to raise funds for the squadron. There are two walks the main one starting in Bridgnorth High Town and walking to the top of Brown Clee Hill and back, a distance of 22 miles. There is also the junior walk, a little shorter allowing younger cadets to get involved too. Following true military protocol a picnic stop was organised half way round, because as we all know, an army marches on its stomach.

Every year, 2497 Cosford Squadron are invited to an event held at RAF Cosford Museum called Open Cockpits Evening. This event is a rare chance for members of the public to not only admire the aircraft in the hangar from the outside, but it allows them to see the aircraft from inside the cockpit.

We are invited to assist the museum staff on this busy night by doing previously assigned tasks such as holding doors open for guests. However we are given frequent breaks which give us the chance to freshen up and sit in the aircraft too. Some of the popular attractions during these evenings include a Jet Provost, a rare TSR.2 and various tanks. Overall, the event is always good and I would recommend this evening to any cadets with an interest in the museum or aircraft.

Last year, myself and other cadets were given the chance to marshal at an event at RAF Cosford called the Tornado Ball. This event was a formal dinner in which RAF personnel both past and present met and dined in style amongst Jaguar and Tornado aircraft inside a hangar whist listening to the Squadronaries who played alongside them. We were tasked with car parking and ensuring that the cloakroom was safe. As the night went on, each cadet was rotated around the area to assist in as many ways as possible. At the beginning of the night, I was assigned to car parking. This entailed guiding the cars carrying guests into parking spaces in an organised manner. However, after a short time I was told to go to the cloakroom to assist guests by hanging up their coats for them.

At the end of the night, all the cadets got into a group and left before the guests. I would recommend marshalling at this event to cadets because you meet interesting people with stories to tell about their time in the services as well as doing our bit for the station.

Reliable. Organised. Resilient.

These are all important qualities that all good Cadet NCOs must poses. But how does someone learn how to be a good Cadet NCO?
Cadt NCO courses are days dedicated to training current and aspiring Cadet NCOs which are run by both the squadron and wing. During a Cadet NCO course you will learn how to be the best Cadet NCO you can be with a wide range of lessons including: learning about leadership styles, drill, uniform and discipline.

Cadet NCO stands for Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer. There are 4 Cadet NCO ranks that a cadet can achieve: Cadet Corporal, Cadet Sergeant, Cadet Flight Sergeant and Cadet Warrant Officer. These are then split into Junior NCOs (AKA JNCO) and Senior NCOs (AKA SNCO) which are separated during training. As a cadet rises up these ranks they gain more authority as they go up the chain of command. A cadet will get promoted by showing strong leadership qualities, supporting the squadron at events and are reliable with good uniform and confidence with drill.

As a Cadet Sergeant at the squadron I have participated in both the squadron run and wing run JNCO courses and hope to soon do a senior NCO course. The squadron NCO course was run by one of our staff member Sergeant S. Jones RAF who created it to mimic the wing run course that only has limited spaces. It is one day at the squadron learning different leadership styles and qualities of a good NCO then after trying to apply what we had learnt by running a leadership activity. During the day we were also taught about the correct drill commands and how to appropriately reprimand a cadet by Cadet Warrant Officer R. Phillips.

The wing JNCO course is more intense with a weekend residential at RAF Cosford’s Boyle Block which comes with a 6 o’clock alarm and late nights polishing your shoes. This weekend was similar to the squadron run day but with a larger focus on drill and uniform. The day begins with a uniform inspection and personal drill improvement before moving onto alternating leadership and communication lessons and drill command practice. At the end of the weekend you are assessed on your ability to run leadership exercises, command drill and take a long narrative and give it as a short briefing.

The SNCO courses begin by consolidating everything that is learnt on the JNCO course and then goes into further detail about the specific senior NCO roles. As a senior NCO you can teach drill to inexperienced cadets and the course teaches you the specific steps you should carry out whilst teaching drill including giving instructor examples and descriptions of how to do the drill move. The course also teaches the correct use of the chain of command and how to improve communications between the JNCOs and Cadets. Child welfare is also another issue discussed as the NCOs now have increased responsibly and must know how to deal with serious issues. The weekend ended similarly but having assessments in teaching drill, creating a leadership exercise and giving a presentation on an ethical issue.

Thank you for listening, I hope that all aspiring Cadet NCOs get the opportunity to take part in these courses as they really do teach you how to become a successful NCO.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. In air cadets there are six competitive sports that we can get involved with. These are Athletics, Cross Country, Football, Rugby, Netball and Hockey. These competitions happen on a yearly basis in junior and senior categories and at levels of Inter-squadron, Inter-wing, and inter-region. The most recent event was the inter-squadron athletics, on May 7th where the squadron had 22 cadets in attendance and all of whom did well and doing the squadron proud in the process.

On the 29th April this year, I had the honour of being selected to represent Wales and west region for the fifth time. The netball tournament was held at RAF Cranwell, to which I travelled down to on Friday evening for an early start Saturday morning. The corps marched down to breakfast at quarter to seven in the morning for the tournament to start at 9. After trying to wake up and warm up the team we received the delightful news that we were up first against north region.
It wasn’t too much of a good start, we closely lost by two goals against north and lost seven five with London and south east region. Throughout the day the team bonded and play improved and we managed to achieve 3rd place, winning against Scotland and Northern Island, Central and East and South west.

My favourite regional experience was inter region hockey on the 19th of November. Even though the hockey astro-turf was frozen for most of the morning it was amazing to be involved and make new friends from all around the country whilst waiting for it to defrost. The tournament was the best tournament I have been involved with so far. The teams were really good and they were all extremely tough games. The Wales and West team were a very strong team and even though in the whole day only three goals were scored, we came first in the corps. To be involved with something so great is something I wish to continue with.

Sports is something that everyone gets involved with and brings players, team mates and friends together. It is a delight to play sports with the squadron and is a great experience meeting new people from around the country with inter-wing.

Good Evening Ladies and Gentleman.

Tonight I would like to talk to you about some of the parades that the band gets involved with. From carnivals to formal parades, the squadron band leads and gets involved with many events on the squadron calendar.

Over the past 6 months the band has grown in numbers and I’m delighted to announce that we now have 35 cadets involved with it in some way. This is a great improvement and hopefully numbers will continue to increase as the squadron grows.

Albrighton Fayre was one of the bigger parades we were involved with last year. In addition to the band and marching party, we decorated a float to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. This was the first time we have entered a float, and it was decorated in red white and blue with 10 female cadets dressed in period costume from every decade from the 1920s all the way to 2010s to represent the fashions worn through the Queen life so far. Having the float allowed cadets who are not involved with the band to take part in the Fayre. Hopefully this year we will be able to have another float and also involve more cadets.

As mentioned earlier by Cadet Haley Remembrance Sunday and ATC Sunday are two important events in the squadron calendar and an opportunity for the squadron band to perform in public. Our musical ability and repertoire has improved through band members attending wing band functions and training days, with individual cadets sharing these new skills with squadron band members.

As well as the formal parades the squadron band has also played at the Cosford air show, where we marched up and down the taxi ways through members of the public. This helped create a good atmosphere and promoted the squadron. I’d like to say a big thank you on behalf of the band members to the staff for helping us take part with these events because without them there would be no band.

Ladies and Gentleman, wing field day is held every year at RAF Cosford and is where cadets from the various air training corps squadrons in the west Mercian area come together to compete against each other in a day of exciting competitions. Cadets varying in rank and age represent their squadrons in contests such as, squadron drill, banner drill, continuity drill, photography, aeromodelling, first aid, shooting and aircraft recognition competitions. We are lucky to have many cadets eager to take part in these competitions, and we always aim to win. Last year we received smartest squadron and also I received smartest cadet. Wing field day encourages competitive spirit and promotes a high standards throughout the air training corps. I personally like wing field day because of the competitive edge between squadrons and the good sportsmanship shown between teams. This year I would like us to win even more competitions and I believe we have the best level of standard in the wing and that we have the potential to go far.

Every year, the squadron takes part in an aerospace competition. The competition involves pre-flight checks, radio transmissions, take off, four turns, at the same altitude around an airfield and a landing on the same runway. Last year I was the squadrons nomination but unfortunately at the last minute I was selected for continuity drill in which we came second.

Aerospace is more commonly known as flight simulator. The squadron has 6 computers which are used to fly artificial aircraft in any location on an artificial globe. This teaches cadets how pilots handle and navigate aircraft in the air above us. This can be beneficial for cadets before they fly in a real aircraft as it will simulate what they are going to experience.

The squadron also has a group of cadets who take aerospace one step further by helping other cadets and improving their own flying. This year the squadron was extremely lucky to receive some new aerospace equipment this included new joysticks and a ten point touch screen monitor specific for air traffic control. The touch monitor can also be used to create multiplayer games using an air traffic controller and few or many pilots. The air traffic controller is usually an experienced cadet. Being able to watch and help less experienced flyers while improving their own air traffic skills.

Thank you

Dining in night is one of the best nights on the squadron calendar in my opinion, where each person dresses up in suits and posh dresses for a great meal and a lot of fun. Last year our theme was the 1920s in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday so everyone set to work on finding clothes inspired from the era. After socialising for a while, we took to the tables for a fantastic 3 course meal. Following proper etiquette, both cadets and staff tucked into the feast. However, the rules of etiquette mean that you must not leave the table during the meal. I was sat next to (then) Cadet Warrant Office Frost who had not thought to go to the toilet before the dinner so was having to cross his legs in pain. So when (then) Cadet Warrant Officer Phillips jokingly suggested that I spill my drink on him so he could go, he spotted a solution to leave. Long story short, he was in the bathroom drying my drink off his shirt.

After the meal, there were toasts from the civilian committee chairman as well as the station commander, reflecting on the great relationship that Cosford air cadets has with the base. And it is nights like this that only strengthen that close relationship as it was a night thoroughly enjoyed by all.

For preparation of this night, the boss had asked that I take the role of ‘Miss Vice’. This meant I would lead a toast to her majesty and I had to entertain our guests. To keep with the 1920s theme, I together with Cadet Sergeant H. Vinall, Cadet Corporal T. Gent, and Cadets G. Lane, T. Evans and (Ex Cadet) T. Aujila and, spent the previous weekends at my house, learning a 1920s inspired dance choreographed by Cadet Sergeant H. Vinall and I. It was a great hit and we all had lots of fun getting into the spirit of the Charleston and the fox trot. It definitely brought us closer together, and created some great memories like trying to teach Cadet T. Evans to keep his arms in on the Charleston instead of flying out and whacking one of us. Although, I was really proud of the effort and dedication they all put in for me. Our dance wasn’t the only entertainment, as Warrant Officer Lofthouse was tasked with performing rifle drills with a feather as well as (then) Cadet Warrant Officer R. Phillips delighting us all with his rendition of I’m a little tea pot (which I’m sure he loved doing).

But after all that fun the night wasn’t over and we continued it with a party, showing some fantastic dance moves particularly from cadet Richardson. We all had a good sing along to everyone’s favourite hits, showing that not only are we are all members of the air training corps but we are also all like one big family. Looking back on dining in night, All I can say is I’m counting down the days until this years!