Cadets, In Your Own Time, Go On

FS Adam Birch, RAFAC Photos - Flt Lt Simmons, RAFAC

On Saturday 3 September 2022, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Wing Air Cadets returned to RAF Halton for their first use of the ranges since March 2020.

24 Cadets and 13 Staff took part in the day's activities which saw a number of cadets continuing on their shooting syllabus they had started pre-lockdown. However, the majority were new cadets who had joined since March 2022, had completed their weapons training and wanted to put it into practise. There were a mixture of weapons in use on the ranges, mainly the .22 L144-A1 Cadet Small Bore Target Rifle (CSBTR) and the 5.56 L98A2 Cadet General Purpose Rifle. The day, which ran from 0800-1700, saw 5 cadets earn their Bronze Trained Shot badge, 1 earn their Bronze Marksman, two earned their Silver Trained shot and 7 requalified for their Silver Trained Shot. This was a fantastic and impressive day of hard work by the cadets.

A final presentation was made to the wing shooting officer, Flt Lt Mathew Wood, RAFAC, which was the clasp to his Cadet Forces Medal (CFM) which signifies 18 years uniformed service within the ATC.

On Sunday 4 September 2022, 10 students (8 Cadets and 2 Staff) arrived for their second day of Cadet General Purpose Rifle Initial Weapons Training (IWT). This is a 9-lesson training package culminating in their Weapons Handling Test. We are pleased to announce all the students passed, following which they all progressed onto the DCCT which led to all 10 obtaining their Silver Trained Shot Badge.

Alongside the Cadet General Purpose Rifle IWT we had 12 students (9 Cadets and 3 Staff) arrive for CSBTR IWT in preparation for the next Shoot which they all passed and are looking forwards to working towards their marksman badges

Overall it was a fantastic weekend for all involved and the cadets are looking forwards to the next one!