The past week has been exceptionally busy for some cadets, and the next week will be just as busy for some! First of all, four Cadets, including Cadet Sergeant Brentley as an instructor, from 471 Squadron left on Sunday to stay at Altcar Training Camp, in Merseyside, for four days. On Friday, at 05:00, Cadet Corporal Greenwood joined the rest of the North Region football team on the journey down to RAF Cranwell, in Lincolnshire, to participate in the inter-region football competition, following his selection after the regional trails! Also on Friday, at roughly 18:00, Cadet Corporals Clifton, Pym & Sherrington left to go to Halton Training Camp, Lancaster, to take part in the Senior NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer (i.e. Sergeant)) Course!
On Sunday, 5th April, Cadets Mackey, Tabarn and Cadet Sergeant Brentley drove from the squadron, equipped with all their gear, to Altcar Training Camp, in Merseyside, a short drive away, to participate in a First Class Development Camp! The camp, which teaches newer cadets some of the basics of First Class – The first classification that cadets can earn, which includes modules on Initial Expedition Training (IET), Navigation/Map Reading and Radio Communications – and can help the cadets pass some of the modules, is often one of the first camps newer cadets attend. Sergeant Brentley, alongside several other NCOs, helped the cadets throughout the four-day course. Cadet Mackey described the camp as brilliant!
On Friday, 10th April, Cadet Corporal Greenwood set off to the RAF Station where HQAC (Head-Quarters Air Cadets), IOT (Initial Officer Training) and the ATC Inter-Region football competition takes place – RAF Cranwell! Greenwood was selected to play for the Region side alongside Cadet Sergeant Olive (2376 (Bamber Bridge) Squadron), Cadet Kevin Brand (1262 (Blackburn) Squadron) & Cadet Harry Peake (345 (Lancaster) Squadron). Starting as defending champions, the North region team won their group of three on goal difference. The match results in our group were:
North Region 3-0 South West Region
South West Region 2-1 Wales & West Region
North Region 0-1 Wales & West Region
The results meant a first place finish for North region, with Wales & West finishing second and South West coming bottom of the group.
In the final, in which the North Region took on the opposite groups winners (Central & East Region), North went a goal down, before the deficit doubling after an own goal by Sergeant Olivie. The region managed to pull it back to 2-2, before a last minute C&E counter-attack resulting in a third goal for them – Finishing 3-2 winners and taking the inter-region football crown, meaning North Region secured a well-deserved second place overall!
Also, Cadet Corporals Clifton, Pym & Sherrington, along with Civilian Instructors (CIs) Clark and Cornwell, traveled to Halton T.C., Lancaster, to participate (and assess) in the Wing Senior NCO Course, which is held annually for JNCOs and SNCOs to learn and improve new or existing skills in order to become or enhance their ability of being a Senior NCO (Sergeant/Flight Sergeant). Corporals Clifton & Sherrington were in Course 1, and Corporal Pym in Course 2, before being seperated into smaller sub-groups. The course consisted of lessons about leadership, the role of the SNCO, getting things done, working with teams and many more, led by many wing staff, including Wing Commander (ret.) Anthony, Flight Lieutenant Lawton, Flying Officer Yohn and more! On the Sunday, the day consisted of activities such as command tasks, leadership exercises and drill! The trio will find out their final results next week!