East Anglia Reserve Forces & Cadets Association

Four air minded teenagers are on cloud nine having learnt that they have been awarded a range of flying scholarships through the Air Cadet Organisation.

Each year a limited number of flying, gliding and air navigation scholarships are available to Air Cadets across the country and competition for these places is extremely fierce.

As an air minded organisation, the Air Training Corps main aim is to promote and encourage, among young men and women, a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force. This interest in aviation is best achieved by teaching cadets to fly and glide.

Cadet Flight Sergeant Ryan Sharples, 17 yrs, has been awarded an Air Cadet Pilot Scholarship. This award comes hot on the heels of a Guild of Airline Pilots and Navigators Gliding Scholarship, which was awarded to FS Sharples in November 2010 and completed last year. In August 2010, FS Sharples successfully completed an Air Cadet Gliding Scholarship at 616 VGS where he gained his Silver Wings.

In addition, FS Sharples has an impressive set of flying achievements, because also in November 2010 he was fortunate enough to be flown in a Hawk T Mk 1 with the Royal Navy at RNAS Yeovilton, his reward for his leadership and commitment to the Squadron throughout 2010.

Cadet Sergeant Nicolas Every, 18 yrs, has also been awarded an Air Cadet Pilot Scholarship. In July 2011 Sgt Every successfully completed an Air Cadet Gliding Scholarship at 611 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) where he gained his Silver ‘Solo’ Wings. In March 2010, Sgt Every was rewarded with a flight in a Shorts Tucano T Mk 1 training aircraft at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, his reward for being the Squadron Cadet of the Year.

Sergeant Peter Roberts, 19 yrs, has been awarded a place on the coveted Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Scheme. In Sep 2010, Sgt Roberts successfully completed an Air Cadet Gliding Scholarship at 616 VGS where he gained his Silver Wings.

Away from the flying scholarship arena, Cadet Luke Taylor, 16 yrs, has been awarded an Air Cadet Gliding Scholarship with 611 VGS at Watton Airfield, Norfolk. The course, which will run from the 7th to 15th April 2012, will see Cdt Taylor undertaking between 40 and 50 launches in a Viking T Mk 1. Should he reach the required standard, he will go on to complete a solo flight and be awarded Silver ‘Solo’ Wings.

Flying Officer Robert Kitchener, Officer in Charge 134 (Bedford) Squadron said, “To obtain a single scholarship is a significant achievement, but for us to have four cadets awarded scholarships in one go, is truly amazing. All of the candidates thoroughly deserve their awards and they should be proud of their achievements. Bedford is a modern vibrant squadron providing opportunities for all of its cadets across a huge range of activities’. We expect a lot from our young people but in return my staff and I will do all we can to reward their efforts.”

15th February 2012

Cadets from Bishop’s Stortford Detachment spent a very frosty Saturday morning helping out in the town. They were working with a group of local volunteers called Tidy Up Bishop’s Stortford (TUBS).

They spent a couple of hours working very hard to clear the Apton Road area of Bishop’s Stortford of rubbish and overgrown bushes. There were about 40 cadets and adult volunteers there and everyone made good comments about the Army Cadets.

A few of the comments that have been put on Twitter or sent by email include:

"It was great to see so many enthusiastic youngsters there on Saturday."

"Great to have Army Cadets and many community volunteers helping."

"Thanks to everyone who braved the cold weather this morning to clear Apton Pond. Special thanks to the Army Cadets who turned out in force and helped to give us our best-ever attendance."

At the end of the morning everyone was treated to tea and biscuits in the Community Centre in the road.

Well done to all the cadets who put in their own time to help out with this local community initiative.

6th February 2012

18 Cadets took part in the Inter Wing Junior Rugby Tournament at RAF Brampton on the 29^th January 2012. All cadets were under 16 years of age and had been selected following the Wing Sports Trials held at RAF Honington on the 15^th January.

The team played 5 other sides from Central & East Region, South & East Midlands, Warwickshire & Birmingham, Trent, Hearts & Bucks and Beds & Cambs Wings in a round robin tournament, each game lasting 15 minutes.

The team played exceptionally well with 3 wins in a row against Beds & Cambs, Warwickshire & Birmingham and South & East Midlands Wings, the pressure was certainly on in the next game against Trent Wing who proved more organised and the team ended up narrowly loosing the game.

This left all to play for in the final game against Hearts & Bucks who were unbeaten in the tournament. To win the competition the team needed to beat them by 30 points and to secure second place and the Silver medal, had to at least get a draw. After a very hard fought game with physical tackles, darting runs and daring try line defending the Wing Team held the tournament winners to a draw to secure the runners up spot.

This was a courageous performance by the team who had dusted themselves down following defeat to snatch the point needed to gain the runners up spot and silver medal for their efforts. This was a significantly better performance than last years fixture in which the wing finished last. Well done to all involved.

Thanks from the team to the rugby coaches, Plt Off Chris Barrett, CI Tim Wright & Cdt Sgt Aaron Matthews from 2356 Caister Squadron.

22nd February 2012

Twenty cadets and six staff have just returned from a week long trip to the national air cadet adventure training centre in Llanbedr (Wales). The poor weather conditions did not stop cadets from partaking in a wide variety of adventurous activities.

High winds, cold temperatures and a lack of sunshine had very little impact upon the programme of activities once everyone had arrived at the centre. Though no mountains were summated, cadets learnt and then practised a range of navigational techniques, with many of the cadets on the course completing their Bronze National Navigation Award (Certificates will be posted out to Squadrons when they arrive).

The twenty cadets each got to try Kayaking (many for the first time). Mr Clive Higgs (the chief instructor at NACATC Llanbedr) was very pleased with how quickly many of the cadets picked up the basic skills of kayaking, and how few cadets capsized.

Wednesday was a busy day for everyone with 3 activities going on. The first was a climbing session at the climbing wall at Harlech leisure centre. The second was swimming at the swimming pool, and finally was a short walk, either to the leisure centre or home from the leisure centre.

On Friday the cadets went to Tree Top Adventure near Betws Y Coed. This a high level roped courses set in the tree tops of the local woodlands. After completing the course the cadets had to step of into thin air, as they descended towards the ground with the help of a power fan.

At the end of the week Course Commander Plt Off Colin Armstrong thanked all the cadets for the effort they had put in to making it such an enjoyable week, and thanked all of the attending staff that had made the wide range of activities possible.
22nd February 2012