Tonight was our squadrons Annual Formal Inspection, or AFI, in which our Wing Commander (for Cumbria & Lancashire) and our Sector’s Squadron Leader review what our squadron has done over the year and rates the squadron out of 7. They also sit in with the Civilian Committee, and walk around the squadron, asking all the cadets about their time in the Air Training Corps and the squadron. On the final parade (at the end of the night), the Squadron Leader revealed we had scored a remarkable 6/7, which means we have very high standards!

After this, the Wing Commander had a few awards he wanted to award to the cadets. Cadets Masheter & Timperley were awarded their badge for completing the First Class Cadet qualification. Corporal Pym and Cadets Cookson & Markey were awarded their badges for completing the Leading Cadet qualification. Corporal Scott was awarded his badge for the Senior Cadet qualification, and Sergeant Brentley was awarded not only her badge for the Master Cadet qualification but also a BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Public Services!

The awards don’t stop there! Corporal Clifton and Cadet Cookson were awarded their wing blues for athletics and swimming respectively, but the award that stood out the most was for our Squadron Warrant Officer In Charge. Warrant Officer (ATC) Ashcroft was awarded his Commandant’s Award for exceptional service to the Air Training Corps by the Wing Commander on behalf of the Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty!

To wrap up the night, CI Ben Cornwell presented his amazing video from when the cadets went flying to the committee, Wing Commander, Squadron Leader and the squadron. To say the least, they were all very impressed!