Issue 5– June 2013
Nineteen 82
Find out what’s happening at 1982 (Huyton) Squadron in our quarterly newsletter
Basic Training
For Junior Cadets 1982 (Huyton) Squadron McCarthy House The Park / Rydal Road Huyton Liverpool
www.1982.org.uk
Issue 5– June 2013 Junior Cadet Training Camp Junior cadets from 1982 (Huyton) Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets have recently attended a two day Recruit Training Camp held at RAF Shawbury, Shrewsbury.
The camp itself is intended to round off the 6 week training programme which teaches new cadets everything they need to know, from History of the Air Cadets and RAF through to Expedition Training and Uniform Care while at the same time giving them an insight into life on a Royal Air Force Station. Over the course of the camp the cadets covered various subjects, including mess etiquette, History of the RAF followed by a visit to the RAF Cosford Air Museum, Navigation and Radio Communications. Camp organiser, Pilot Officer Ian Raynor, commented “The first Recruit Camp of 2013 has been a great success, the cadets all learned a lot of valuable skills that I hope to see them put into practise both around squadron and whilst away on camps and activities.”
www.1982.org.uk
Issue 5– June 2013 Junior Cadets Enrol with 1982 (Huyton) Squadron Nine Junior Cadets from 1982 (Huyton) Squadron RAF Air Cadets, have been officially enrolled into the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO) at a ceremony held at their Squadron Headquarters in The Park, Huyton.
The ceremony, which was presided over by Flying Officer Neil Osborne and Reverend Malcolm Rogers, welcomes the Junior Cadets into the Air Cadet Organisation and signifies their completion of the three month recruit training programme. During their first three months the cadets are taught everything they would need to know to allow them to take part in the activities
the
everything
ACO
from
has
Map
to
Reading
offer, and
Expedition Training to Airmanship and Foot Drill. Squadron Greg
Training
Jennings,
Officer,
Sergeant
commented;
“I
congratulate all of the newly enrolled cadets, over the past three months they have worked very hard and put maximum effort into everything they have taken part in; they truly are a credit to 1982 (Huyton) Squadron and the Air Cadet Organisation as a whole.”
www.1982.org.uk
Issue 5– June 2013 Squadron Field Training Day 2013 In preparation for the Merseyside Wing Field Training Day in September the cadets from 1982 (Huyton) Squadron have recently competed in the squadrons first ever Inter Flight Field Training Competition. The competition pitted the three flights that make up 1982 Squadron against one another
in
a
variety
of
competitions,
including First Aid, Flight Simulator and Aero
Modelling
as
well
as
Aircraft
Recognition and Drill Over the course of two weeks the various cadets, nominated by their flights to take part in each discipline went head to head with their counterparts from the opposing flights in an effort to gain much needed points and win the Inter Flight Trophy. First up were the Individual First Aid and Aircraft Recognition Competitions which after some close competition saw B Flight take 1st place in both of these competitions, followed by C Flight taking 2nd in both and A Flight taking 3rd place. The following parade night saw the flight nominees for Group First Aid, Flight Simulator and Aero Modelling compete in their respective competitions and producing some surprising results;-
www.1982.org.uk
Issue 5– June 2013 Group First Aid:
Flight Simulator:
Aero Modelling:
1st – A Flight
1st – A Flight
1st – B Flight
2nd – B Flight
2nd – C Flight
2nd – A Flight
3rd – C Flight
3rd – B Flight
3rd – C Flight
The final competition was the Inter Flight Drill Competition, which after a lot of hard work and training by the flight NCO’s seen C Flight take the award for Best Drill followed closely by A Flight in 2nd place and B Flight in 3rd.
The competition was brought to a close with a parade to announce the overall victors of the 2013 Squadron Field Training Competition and winners of the Inter Flight Trophy, which was taken this year by B Flight with a total of 15 points and followed closely in 2nd place by A Flight with 14 and C Flight with 13 points!
Competition organiser, Sergeant Greg Jennings, commented “The aim of the competition was to allow all of the cadets to take part in an activity they may not have thought of taking part in before, while at the same time allowing the staff to see what hidden potential laid within the ranks” he continued “It is fair to say that it was a very close competition, the cadets worked exceptionally hard and gave 100% in each and every competition, I congratulate them all and on top of this would like to thank all of the staff who worked on this year’s competition, helping to make it a success.”
www.1982.org.uk
Issue 5– June 2013 Annual Inspection Success! After weeks of hard work and preparation the cadets and staff of 1982 (Huyton) Squadron Air Cadets recently held their Annual Inspection before reviewing officers, Wing Commander Les Keane, Officer Commanding Merseyside Wing and Squadron Leader Claire Sarsfield, Wing Staff Officer.
The Inspection which is performed each year consists of two parts, the first is a formal parade, during which the Wing Commander has the chance to inspect the cadets and have a chat to them about their cadet careers whilst the second part in an inspection of the squadron premises and administration.
During the weeks and weekends leading up to the inspection many cadets and staff had been working hard to ensure that everything from the grounds to the paperwork was inspection ready, including polishing the floors and brass light switches to a mirror shine!
On conclusion of the evening, Wing Commander Keane congratulated the cadets and staff on a successful and impressive inspection, for which the results will be announced at the Wing Field Training Competition in September.
Flight Lieutenant Sarah Vose, Officer Commanding 1982 (Huyton) Squadron commented, “I would like to congratulate all of the cadets and staff for their hard work during the run up to the inspection, both the Wing Commander and Squadron Leader were very impressed with what they had seen and it is safe to say that we have excelled on last year’s performance, Well done all!”
www.1982.org.uk
Issue 5– June 2013 Huyton Cadets Athletic Achievement! On Sunday 21st April 2013, twenty cadets from 1982 (Huyton) Squadron Air Cadets, competed in the annual Merseyside Wing Athletics Competition, held at The Oval Leisure Centre, Bebington.
This year saw tough competition as 27 squadrons from Merseyside Wing competed in various track and field events, all with the aim of returning home with the silverware.
Despite the poor weather, success for 1982 started early with Cadet Abby Vose gaining a Bronze medal in the long jump, this was followed in quick succession by Cadet Poppy Hearn who gained a Gold medal in High Jump and Cadet Ryan Taylor-Smith who gained a Bronze medal in Discus.
Throughout the day the triumph continued with the track events, seeing cadets Lauren Wilkinson taking the Gold Medal for the 300 metres and Cadet Aiden Jackson taking Silver for the 200 metres.
The final events of the day came in the form of the long distance track events, which in true 1982 style saw cadets Steph Campbell and Poppy Hearn bring home the Gold, 800 metres and the Silver, 1500 metres respectively.
Overall the squadron brought home 4 Gold Medals, 2 Silver Medals and 2 Bronze Medals including Gold in the Junior Girls Relay and the Overall Junior Girls Trophy.
Squadron Sports Officer, Civilian Instructor Emma Roberts, commented; “The cadets put in so much effort both at the practises and at the competition, it’s nice to see their hard work rewarded with some silverware coming home to Huyton Squadron.”
www.1982.org.uk
Issue 5– June 2013 Expeditions Skills for Huyton Cadets Cadets from 1982 (Huyton) Squadron Air Cadets have recently attended an Initial Expedition Course aimed at reinforcing all of the skills the cadets will when they attend their Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.
The course, held at 1982 (Huyton) Squadron Headquarters, was run by the squadron Adventure Training Team and concentrated on skills such as map reading and compass work, weather, expedition kit and expedition nutrition to name but a few.
The day was broken up with large amounts of practical work used to reinforce what had been covered in the classroom; this included pitching tents, cooking and compass work plus there was even some time for the cadets to work on Radio Communication procedures, another aspect of expedition training.
Squadron Adventure Training Officer, Civilian Instructor Tom Lynch, commented on the day’s activities; “The cadets have picked up some valuable skills during this course, it is good to hear even the experienced cadets have learnt something new!” he continued “I look forward to seeing them put these skills to good use during our future Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions and day walks.”
www.1982.org.uk