Region Commandant Wales & West Visits the Squadron

Gp Capt Simon overlooking Cadets during a radio exercise

On the 17^th of January, Group Captain R Simon RAFR – Region Commandant of Wales & the West Air Cadets – visited 1004 Squadron.

After a quick meeting with the staff in the office; OC 1004, Flying Officer J Dawson, gave the Region Commandant a tour of the squadron.

During the evening, the cadets were engaged in Exercise Tracer; a radio and map reading exercise used for the cadets to hone their skills and competencies during radio communications.

Cdt Burgess answering the Gp Capt’s questions on manufacturing the wings

The Region Commandant also had the opportunity to review the RAF100 aircraft project which the cadets were engaged in throughout 2018 – the Royal Air Force’s 100th year. Cadets Burgess and Preedy gave a short presentation to the Group Captain, which included a detailed history of the reasons for the project and an explanation how it was built.

Gp Capt Simon inspecting the aircraft build inside the fuselage

The aircraft, a 1 1/2 Strutter, was painted with the same markings as the one flown by Capt Francis Mansel Kitto MC RFC – the Squadron’s other RAF100 project set out by Air Officer Wales.

Cdt Burgess, Gp Capt Simon and Cdt Preedy with the Squadron’s RAF100 aircraft project

Battle of Britain Parade

On the 11^th of September, a number of cadets from 1004 squadron attended the Battle of Britain parade at MOD ST Athan. The cadets arrived at two o’clock for a half past two beginning. Everyone then assembled on the parade square and formed up informally formed up alongside the regular RAF, several of whom seemed only a few years older than the cadets.

The band started up and the parade began. Number 1 Welsh Wing’s cadets marched towards the on-base church where there would be a service to commemorate the Battle of Britain to remember those who gave their lives for us. Banners were carried by a mixture of cadets and long-serving veterans of the Royal Air Force. Hymns were sung along with the national anthems of both the United Kingdom and Wales.

Cadets and Staff of 1004 and 245 (Aberdare) Squadrons

After the church service had ended the cadets of Number 1 Welsh wing marched back to the parade square for a group photo. The parade was a great experience for all who attended, well done to all cadets and NCOs who gave up their Sunday to represent the Squadron, Wing and Corps!

Article by Cdt Brown

High Wycombe Summer Camp

On the 30th of July to the 5th of August, Cadets from 1004 Pontypridd Squadron and others from around 1 Welsh Wing went on an annual summer camp to RAF High Wycombe. The High Wycombe summer camp offers a wide range of activities for the cadets that include flying, Swimming, high ropes and several museum visits.

On the first night, after arriving, the cadets were given the task to go around and find several buildings by completing a landmark based quiz. They were placed into teams for the week and this task really helped them get to know each other. This task was to ensure everyone knew where everything would be during their week.

On the first full day the cadets were sent to the fire department on the base to be taught about the importance of health and safety and what to do in case an emergency occurred. They were then taken outside to practice extinguishing fires with live fire extinguishers on some controlled fires.They were then taken to a test building where there were some ‘casualties’ and were tasked with acting as rescue teams. The only problem with this was that the building was full of a smoke substitute so that they couldn’t see anything! A huge amount of team work was needed by communicating and to tell each other about what they could feel whilst working their way through the building. Whilst this training was going on, some other cadets went out and had a hose competition, where they were to shoot a bucket from a cone in the quickest time possible. And to finish the trip off, several of the cadets were allowed to ride in the fire engine! Later on that day, the cadets went to the local swimming pool to relax and to compete against each other to earn some points for their flights.

On the second day the cadets were taken to see the office of Sir Arthur Harris, and secret tunnels he would have used during the second world war. This trip taught the cadets about the history within the office and about all of the bombing raids that were undertaken from the location. They were also shown several documents showing his original plans on where and what the bombers had to do. This was a vital role that helped win the second world war against Germany and all of the cadets enjoyed learning about such a great event. In the evening the cadets were taken out for a night of bowling to relax and to also improve their newfound friendships, with a bit of friendly competition.

The third day kicked off with a high ropes challenge. The cadets were kitted out and challenged to successfully stand on top of a 6-meter high pole with a small plank on top with three others. The only problem was the top of the pole was no bigger than a meter in length, this created a great challenge for the cadets and thrilling entertainment for everybody on the ground spectating! Later that day, the cadets were taken to the officers’ mess where they were given a tour of the building and told the history behind it. Afterwards, the cadets were taken to the Trenchard Museum where there were all kinds of objects that contributed and revolutionised air travel and the RAF to what we know them as today.

The fourth day consisted of visiting the RAF station at Benson. This started by receiving a quick video briefing and then being suited up and sent up in the sky in the Grob Tutor training/flying experience aircraft. After the final cadet landed, they were taken over to the RAF’s latest, high-tech simulators. These weren’t any ordinary computer games. These were the top of the market hydraulic simulators that replicated the interior of three military helicopters. The cadets were also taken to the control room where all simulators were being projected onto large LED screens and the scenarios of the simulations could be changed at any point for a realistic and unexpected training exercise for future pilots. Finally, the cadets were taken around a Puma helicopter and were able to explore and ask questions about the aircraft. Whilst several were fascinated by the mechanisms, others were dreaming of a future sitting in the pilot seat with the control stick in their hands!

The fifth day involved a trip to the RAF Regiment. The cadets were taught about the roles of the RAF Regiment and about several medical tools that the RAF Regiment would use on the front line if someone were to get injured. After receiving training to equip some bandages and the correct operation of stretchers, the cadets were taken to a simulation range where they were allowed to fire a L85A1 onto a virtual target in one of the most fun competitions of the camp!

The final day involved a highly anticipated drill competition and parade in front of the Group Captain. The cadets had been practising all week for this moment to show off a sequence of moves and to hopefully win the inter-flight competition. After the competition was over, the Group Captain presented our very own Cdt Katy Brown, from 1004, with a bag of prizes for being the best overall cadet on the summer camp! After leaving the parade square, the cadets were taken to RAF Uxbridge, a World War 2 bunker that took command over the south east of England that saw the majority of air action throughout the Battle of Britain. The cadets were shown a short video and then taken into the command room where all of the important decisions were made throughout the war to eventually win the Battle of Britain. They were then taken to a museum within the bunker that included all kinds of different memorabilia from small model aircraft to original uniforms from the time-period. The day was finished off with a final parade for the cadets to hand out awards and to thank everyone for making the camp one to remember. From the three cadets that went from 1004 Pontypridd, all received an award. Cdt Morgan received the best male award, Cdt Brown received the best overall cadet award and CWO Roberts was given an award to thank him for his services in the ATC.

The Annual summer camp was a huge success and it’s definitely an unforgettable experience! With all of the new experiences and information, it’s a great trip to go on and definitely one to look forward to next year!

Article by Cpl Morgan

Squadron Annual General Meeting 2016

The annual general meeting is an event, where, each year the main figures on the civilian committee decide on who should take the main roles of Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary. This must be decided by a mass vote of as many parents as possible, and therefore requires a large gathering at the squadron on a single night.

The result of this years AGM are as follows;
Chairperson: Ivor England (Unchanged)
Treasurer: Maureen Davies (Unchanged)
Secretary: Tony Lawson (Change from previous Secretary, Nicola Gough)

The AGM is also a perfect opportunity for presentations to be made in a more celebratory environment than could be made on a regular parade evening, and this marks the first presentation evening since July 2014!

Several cadets earned their HeartStart certificates (which will translate into a blue First Aid badge in the near future), Paddlesport certificates, ISCRIM certificates and Squadron Commanders Commendations for exceptionally hard work given to the squadron during the run-up to the Lees’ Trophy Inspection.

Annual Awards were also given out after laying dormant for two years, awarding the Most Improved Cadet (Matthew Evans), Squadron Marksman (Sali Goodwin), Squadron Sportsman (Katy Brown) and Best Cadet (Menna Evans). All of these even had accompanying trophies!

Promotions were also present, as Cadet Warrant Officers Dafydd Roberts and Anthony Owen were presented with their certificates of appointment, which is the only cadet promotion to be made above squadron level, with a Wing interview and Corps approvement required.

There were, however, more promotions to be made Menna Evans and Robert Green are now Sergeants – Congratulations to both! And three newcomers to the NCO team were Corporals Sali Goodwin, Lloyd Morgan and Kian Williams- All fully deserved!

This re-shaping of the NCO team was important as numbers have fallen over the past few months to leave us with a previous structure of 2 Warrant Officers and 2 Corporals. The presentation evening also saw CWO Roberts’ final parade night, after almost 6 years in the Corps and at the squadron! He was presented with a personalized glass plaque as a gesture of thanks for his commitment and time served to the squadron.

I would like to thank everyone involved with me in my time at 1004 squadron and in the Corps as a whole. They have all shaped and influenced my path throughout the Corps and have developed me into the person I am today. I am forever indebted to the Corps for the way it has shaped my life for the better. I would like to take a moment on behalf of myself and the squadron to congratulate every cadet who earned anything tonight! I have seen every cadet join and have been an NCO throughout the careers almost every other. This organisation offers tens, if not hundreds of thousands of opportunities to cadets who work hard and persevere in the Corps. For young people, especially those who aren’t sure where they’d like to go in life, this organisation can allow you to grow into a more skilled and developed person than you could possibly imagine, and can even find a career path that interest you along the way!

CWO Dafydd Roberts.

Sali Goodwin is June’s Top Cadet

Cadet S Goodwin joined 1004 squadron in February 2015, and this marks her third Cadet of the Month award, the most of any cadet as of yet!
The squadron continues to struggle throughout June from a lack of NCO’s due to exam leave, and this gives chance for several cadets to step into a more senior role than is normally expected from them. Cadet Goodwin always maintains a high level of cadet standards and often goes above and beyond what is expected of a cadet of her experience. Despite not always being the most senior cadet in the room, you could be forgiven for mistaking her as such. It is for her continued high standards and excellent leadership that Sali Goodwin is June’s cadet of the month.

Lloyd Morgan is Best Cadet for July

Lloyd Morgan joined 1004 squadron in August last year and, within a year of being a cadet, has earned his third Cadet of the Month award – quite an achievement!
Continuing with the theme of a lack of NCO’s, July is also a tricky month for the squadron, with most NCO’s only returning at the end of the month. Senior cadets can assist the squadron by maintaining discipline and order as the squadron transitions back to usual running and by stepping into holes that may have been left by NCO’s who decide not to return. Morgan has been an instrumental figure at the squadron and as a cadet who has yet to have seen a full year of service, has shown immense enthusiasm to develop himself and contribute immediately to the squadron. It is for his support of the squadron the Lloyd Morgan earned Cadet of the Month for July.

Katy Brown is Augusts Cadet of the Month

Katy Brown joined 1004 squadron in October 2015, and has steadily progressed in her cadet development throughout her time at the squadron. In August, there are often several activities open to cadets that have to compete with each other and social activities outside of the ATC. Cadet Brown proved to be invaluable at this time with attendance at fundraising stalls for the squadron throughout the summer, supporting our civilian committee members. To add to this was her attendance at the Wings annual summer camp at RAF High Wycombe, where she, along with other cadets from the squadron, was a fantastic ambassador of Pontypridd squadron. Along with jumping eagerly into every activity and keeping high standards throughout the camp, she was awarded Best Overall Cadet, beating competition from other, longer serving and older cadets. It is for her particularly outstanding performance in August that Katy Brown earned Cadet of the Month.

Kayaking

On the 31st of August cadets from 1004 squadron went for a basic kayaking course at ‘Cardiff International White Water Rafting Centre’ along with many other squadrons from across the wing.

It was a 2 o’clock start for the cadets, squeezing into wetsuits and gearing up ready for a day in the water. After a short safety brief the cadets were eager to get started. Upon entering the water on the kayaks the cadets were given the task of paddling around a circuit which included a section of practicing paddling backwards. Following this, they were challenged to the task of sitting on the very front of the kayak and paddling around, this proved to be a greater challenge for many cadets. Many cadets saw the highlight of the day as mastering standing up on the kayaks without falling off, however this quickly became a game of who the cadets could push into the water first!

It was a great day from start to finish! As an added benefit, the cadets now have membership to the centre and can look forward to experiencing more activities in the near future at a decreased cost.

Article by Cdt S Goodwin

National Aerospace Camp

This summer I have had the honour to attend two of the Air Training Corps flagship camps to celebrate its 75th anniversary. The second camp was the National Aerospace Camp (NAC) which I was able to attend as an Aerospace Instructor.

The camp was a very busy one, and experiences differed for every cadet as there were several activities ongoing throughout the camp. It was also an opportunity for some brand new courses to be trialled before being rolled out to the rest of the corps! A select group of around 10 cadets (who had to put in a separate application for the camp) were the first to experience an air cadet gliding scholarship since the fleet was grounded, some 2 years ago. This meant that they were awarded a new set of ‘new’ silver wings, which take the place of the ‘old’ blue wings.

The rest of the cadets were given opportunities to gain experiences and qualifications based upon their preferred interests. This included gaining the Blue and/or Bronze radio qualifications, the ‘new’ Blue gliding wings, gaining a CREST qualification through work with drones, an aviation skills masterclass from the aviation skills partnership, practices in air traffic control, air navigation, helicopter simulators and much more!

The cadets weren’t confined to RAF Syerston either, as there were visits to nearby areas of interest such as RAF Linton-on-Ouse, RAF Coningsby, RAF Scampton, Rolls Royce and the National Space Centre. The visits afforded them the chance to expand their future employment horizons and find prospects that may never have previously crossed their mind.

The camp afforded many cadets brilliant new opportunities, and would have given almost every cadet who aspires to a career in an aerospace related subject the opportunity to find more information on the subject, talk with professionals who have vast experience in the subject about the best way of getting into the industry and gain experiences that will benefit them when applying and training for a career in the industry.

Overall, the camp is still in a very developmental phase, and will only continue to improve, streamline and increase in opportunity and experiences. For any cadet interested in aviation or aerospace subjects, this is one of the best camps you can do!

Article by CWO Roberts

Drill and Ceremonial Camp

This summer I have had the honour to attend two of the Air Training Corps flagship camps to celebrate its 75th anniversary. The first camp was the Drill and Ceremonial (D&C) camp, held primarily at Beckingham Training Area, near Nottingham. This camp was first run 2 years ago, to allow it to continuously be scaled up in preparation for a flagship parade to celebrate 75 years of the ATC.

The camp began with cadets arriving from across the country, being processed and getting to know those they would be sharing accommodation with for the next week. Those who had attended a previous D&C Camp were given a drill test, to assert how much of their knowledge had been retained. of these, 40 were chosen to participate in a ‘Continuity’ display.

For 4 days, the cadets were taught drill movements with a drill purpose rifle (this is exactly the same as the L98 A1 rifle, however it has had all its working parts removed and has been welded so that it can never be used as a live firing weapon by mistake). This was difficult as most cadets will never get an opportunity to practice rifle drill, and thus everyone needed to learn from the ground up.

The teaching was done at a slow pace, so that each movement could be taught and practiced to a high level. It was, however, not all about drill! On each day of practice, half of the day would also be occupied by alternative activities, these included shooting; paint-balling; an assault course and archery.

The next two days were used to have a dress rehearsal of the final parade, so that timings, orders and movements would become familiar. At this point, the parade was confident with their movements and timings, so that all movements could be carried out in unison. Marching timings were also assisted by the national marching band, who would be playing on the day to keep the parade in time.

Finally, on the Saturday, it became time for the parade, hosted at RAF Cranwell outside the College Hall Officers Mess, one of the most iconic buildings in the RAF. Uniform needed to be highly prepared, drill needed to be near-perfect and the entire day needed to go without a hitch, as this parade was be the start to the 75th Anniversary Flagship Celebration. Such an event had drawn an audience of important people, drawing several high ranking members of the RAF, including: Air Officer Commanding No.1 Group, Air Vice-Marshal G M Mayhew; Air Officer Commanding No.2 Group, Air Vice-Marshal G D A Parker; Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, to name a few.

The parade went as planned, and videos of it can be found on YouTube. After the parade, the cadets were free to view the rest of the days events, including a display from the Continuity drill team, the national Marching, Concert and Pipe & Drums bands, the RAF Falcons, the ATC national Choir and even a display from the RAF Red Arrows!

Overall, the entire experience was a once in a generation! Everyone there agreed that they had never- and most probably will never experience another cadet activity like it again! The camp was also a marvellous experience, and every cadet should aim to attend at least one D&C camp, especially as the 100th anniversary of the RAF is upcoming!

Article by CWO D Roberts