In the Air Cadets, there are many amazing activities you, or your child, can participate in! The Air Cadets have four uniforms, which we have used to sort the activities into. They are Working Blues, CS95 'Greens', Wedgewood Blues, Civilian Clothing and Sports Kit.
Working Blues are worn for working, and most activities, including most parade nights and flying and gliding*. Wedgewood Blues, however, are worn on formal occasions, such as parades, competitions and inspections. For activities like shooting, first aid, fieldcraft and modelling, greens are worn. Civilian Clothing and Sports Kit are worn for less formal occasions, like informal trips or sports respectively.
*under the flight suit
Working Blues Activities
Every parade night is different, whether we're doing lessons, going on the flight simulator or having a talk by someone. Parade nights are split into two halves, seperated by a 15 minute break, where cadets can purchase drinks and snacks.
At the start of any night, we have a short parade, so cadets can find out what they're doing, and uniform inspection, before doing a bit of drill. However, depending on the activity, this may change, and if we're having a sports night, we may not have inspection, or if we're in greens, doing fieldcraft, we may not have break.
One of any cadets most loved activity is getting in the air, whether thats when they're flying or gliding! Whilst doing either of the two, cadets wear flight suits, made especially for flying the Grob Tutor, Vigilant or Viking aircraft. Underneath the flight suits, the cadets will wear their working blue uniform.
Wedgewood Blues Activities
Every year, cadets will take part in Wing Training Day, a competition between all squadrons in our Wing, and if we're good enough, Regional Training Day, between the Wings in our Region. During the day, cadets take part in numerous events, such as drill, banner drill, aircraft recognition, the BMFA Dart throw and a flight simulator competition. During these five competitions, or whilst walking around the site, cadets are expected to wear their wedgewood blue uniform.
Over the course of every year, there are three formal parades cadets are expected to go to. They are ATC Sunday, celebrating the anniversary of the Air Training Corps every year, Battle of Britain Parade, commemorating those who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain in 1940, and Remembrance Sunday, commemorating every soldier who has sadly lost their lives fighting for their country.
To ensure cadets' uniform is up to a good standard, NCOs and staff regularly perform uniform inspections, marking the cadets out of 10. However, every year, the squadron as a whole is inspected out of seven, during the Annual Formal Inspection, which is carried out by the Wing Commander, Squadron Leader and squadron commander. Our squadron has been rapidly improving - Going from a 4 in 2012 to a 5 in 2013, to now, a 6 in 2014!
To raise funds for the squadron, the RAF Association, the RBL Poppy Appeal and more, cadets will often help out volunteering. Whilst some volunteering is done in working blues, most is in wedgewoods. Click here to see the gallery from our bag pack at Morrison's!
Greens Activities
Once cadets have passed their weapons handling test for the respective rifle, they can shoot a Number 8 .22 bolt action rifle and a L98 A2 rifle. The L98 is heavier, and has more recoil, but is more accurate than the number 8, which is seen as the rifle for newer cadets.
Cadets usually have a great time when they're shooting, and can earn one of six marksman awards. They are the squadron marksman, wing marksman, regional marksman, corps marksman, and Cadet 100/Cadet 50 - Given to the top 100 or 50 cadets in the Air Cadets, Sea Cadets and Army Cadets!
When asked, many cadets will say fieldcraft is their favourite activity. But what is fieldcraft? Fieldcraft is learning about survival in the elements, and how you could save someones life. Incorporating first aid, fitness, and map reading, as well as testing your mental strength and how you can handle pressure in a real-life situation, you need to be ready for whatever the activity throws at you, although it isn't always that dramatic!
This is where RAF personnel training gets close to Air Cadets training. The principles are the same: Think on your feet, adapt to your situation and play to your teams strength.
Earning your Heartstart or First Aid badge isn't just a good qualification, but also a great life skill. Whilst doing First Aid, cadets can learn how to help casualties of many injuries, including cuts, burns and broken bones. New cadets are taught basic first aid (heartstart) within a few months of joining, with the option to go on a First Aid course, with an assessment at the end to earn their badge!
On squadron, we currently have eight cadets qualified in first aid - Cadet Flight Sergeant Brentley, Sergeant Ball and Corporals Clifton, Cookson, Greenwood, Markey, Pym & Sherrington.
In the run-up to Wing Training Day, starting around January, cadets will have the opportunity to build and paint an airfix model, or help with the diorama, for the squadron's Wing Training Day efforts.
If you ever attend a Junior or Senior NCO course, or the first class development weekend, you will most likely take part in a team building exercise. These are timed challenges, with the team having a leader assigned, who will have to assign roles throughout the team, including a time-keeper and, if needed, 2 I/C (2nd in command). These are great ways to get to know your team, and what their strengths are in the team, as well as your own!
Junior Leaders is one of, if not the hardest cadet activity. To take part in the challenging course, cadets must be 17 or older. The course tests leadership skills, physical fitness and mental strength, and a course no participant will forget! However, despite it being an exceptionally tough challenge, participants will learn many valuable skills, especially in leadership! Once completed, Qualified Junior Leaders (QJLs) can wear the maroon lanyard on their blue uniform.
Civilian Clothing
Every now and then, we, as a squadron, go on fun and educational trips, which the cadets love! Recently, we visited the National Police Air Service helicopter, stationed at BAe Warton, as well as visiting London, to see the Poppies at London Bridge, as well as visiting RAF Museum in London, at Hendon.
During or periods of hard work, such as Wing Training Day preperation, or after our Inter-Squadron athletics sucess, we may have a more relaxed night in our civilian clothing, rather than our uniform, as well as wearing them during long periods of transport, such as to and from camps. Also, during events like our Open Day, some cadets may wear civilian clothing.
Sports Kit
There are three inter-squadron sporting competitions throughout the year. They are Cross-Country, Athletics and Swimming. During these competitions, cadets may be chosen by wing to represent them at an inter-wing level - a great achievement! This year already, sixteen cadets from our squadron have been selected to represent Wing (3 in football, 3 in netball, 7 in athletics, 3 in cross-country), with four going on to represent region!
During the sports trials, cadets have to impress selectors to make it through to the inter-wing games. Football, hockey, rugby and netball trials at Salt Ayre sports centre in Lancaster saw six 471 cadets make it to the inter-wing stage - 3 in football, 3 in netball!
On squadron, thanks to our location, we can play a lot of sport! This includes swimming and kayaking in the pool, as well as football, cricket, rounders, cross country, circuit training, netball and many more in the other various facilities near our location!