BASIC SUCCESS

BY CDT SGT SAM JAMES
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One staff member and three cadets from 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron have attended a Wing run BASIC course held at 248 (Letchworth) Squadron led by Wing Development Training Officer, Flt Lt Iain Hutchinson.

It is a requirement for new staff to the Air Cadet Organisation and Cadets intending to stay in the Corps beyond the age of eighteen to attend this one day course.

CI Wilf Bailey, Flt Sgt Lewis Stockwell (17), Sgt Samuel James (17), Sgt Michael Page (17) and Cpl Emilie Pearson (17) attended the course alongside numerous other staff and cadets from around the Wing.

The course covered topics including child protection, health and safety, risk assessments, the basics of the Air Training Corps, different ACPs and APs and what these contained, duty of care and how to get involved in the many different activities run throughout the Wing, such as Wing Music, Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards and shooting.

Sgt James said ‘despite the fact the course is compulsory to those wishing to stay in the Corps past their 18^th birthday, it was actually a very informative and pleasant day. The course was invaluable, showing potential instructor cadets and CIs how they would react in different situations regarding cadets’ welfare and how to deal with other potential problems that could occur’.

HITCHIN CADETS RECEIVE SILVER AWARDS

BY FLT LT ERICA VEY
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Four cadets from 1066 (Hitchin) have been presented with their Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards by Air Commodore Gordon Moulds, Commandant Air Cadets. The cadets and their guests were invited to attend the Wing awards ceremony held at Halton House Officers’ Mess on 29th March 2008 after they completed their awards in November 2007. The ceremony also provided the cadets and their guests an opportunity to look around Halton House Officers’ Mess.

Sgt Michael Page (17), Sgt Benjamen Reed (16), Cpl Douglas Johnson (16) and Cdt Dumal Welikala (16) all completed their awards with the squadron following the achievement of their bronze awards the previous year. All are well underway with their gold awards and have expeditions and residential projects planned for this summer.

Sgt Reed said ‘I worked hard for my Silver award and enjoyed the challenges faced during its completion. To have it presented by Commandant Air Cadets made it very special. I enjoyed the ceremony itself and talking with the Commandant.’

The cadets used a variety of topics towards their awards such as fundraising, uniformed youth service, cricket and aeronautics. A number of new subjects are being introduced for their gold awards including marksmanship, driving and badminton. They all hope to use attendance at an annual camp this summer towards their gold residential project and Cpl Johnson has decided to use his Germany camp in August as his project. Cpl Mariko Kemp (15) and Cpl Simon Moore (15) have also achieved their silver awards but were unable to attend the ceremony. They will receive their certificates at the squadron’s annual awards evening in April.

HITCHIN SCOOPS VAMPIRE TROPHY

By FLT LT ERICA VEY

and FG OFF BEN WILKINSON
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1066 (Hitchin) Squadron are celebrating after winning the coveted Vampire trophy, for being officially the best overall squadron in Herts and Bucks Wing in 2007.

The result is all the more outstanding for Hitchin, coming on the back of a challenging year during which the squadron lost three staff members, mainly due to new jobs, saw its committee chairman Flt Lt Tony Farrell (Retd) sadly pass away, and its Commanding Officer Flt Lt Erica Vey forced out of action due to injury.

Runners-up in the toughly-fought competition for the Vampire Trophy were 220 (St Albans) Sqn, while in third place came 2313 (The Chalfonts) Sqn.

There have been celebrations also for 2(F) Watford Squadron. It has taken first place in Herts and Bucks Wing's Kelsey Trophy, which is awarded annually to the unit with the best academic performance, and has tied with 1239 (Broxbourne and Hoddesdon) Squadron in the Stan Stockhill Trophy, which recognises the most improved squadron in the Wing.

Runners up in the Kelsey were 1239 (Broxbourne and Hoddesdon) and in third place were 220 (St Albans). In the Stockhill Trophy, runners up were 2370 (Denham) Sqn.

For Hitchin, which knocked long-standing Vampire Trophy holders 2409 (Halton) Sqn off the top-spot and into fourth place, 2007 was very busy year which saw cadets achieving great things such as Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards at all three levels, young lifesaver plus awards, Btecs in Aviation Studies and First Diplomas in Public Services.

In addition to cadets gaining numerous qualifications, 1066 won the 2007 Wing Aviation Day overall and music trophies for the second year running. They also won the competition's Art trophy and came 2nd in the drill competition, only losing out to the eventual Corps drill champions 220 (St Albans) Sqn. 2007 also saw 1066 take the Wing junior female swimming and senior female cross country trophies. FS Lewis Stockwell (17) was announced as the best Drum Major in the Region.

Other successes for the year included Cpl Emilie Pearson (17) completing an Air Cadet Pilot Scheme course, Sgt Samuel James (17) attending the Rheindahlen camp in Germany, and FS Christopher Moore (18) experiencing a flight in a Hawk aircraft. The squadron's band led numerous parades including the Wing's Corps Banner Parade and the unit's Commanding Officer Flt Lt Erica Vey was the first staff member in the Wing to achieve the Licentateship in Youth Leadership & Training. 1066 have little time to stop and celebrate as preparations are well under way for its Lees Trophy inspection, which takes place on 3rd April. There is a lot of preparation to do and a march past to perfect. The inspection is being managed by Fg Off Liz Fox who is the Acting OC whilst Flt Lt Vey remains off sick following an accident at a 2007 summer camp.

There are currently over 40 cadets at the squadron and only three 1066 staff members able to attend. The squadron would like to thank staff from around the Wing who are helping the squadron prepare for the Lees inspection – Fg Off Tara Baker and Flt Lt Ray Kerr from 955 (Stevenage) Sqn and Plt Off Claire Bull of 1239 (Broxbourne and Hoddesdon) Sqn, in addition to Sqn Ldr Paul Mimpress, the Wing Staff Officer for Hitchin squadron.

CADETS NAVIGATE WAY TO SUCCESS

BY FLT LT ERICA VEY
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After many months of hard work, ten cadets from 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron have finally completed their bronze National Navigation Award Scheme. Last year Flt Lt Erica Vey and other squadron staff registered themselves to run the award at the unit.

The scheme was launched from the Royal Institute of Navigation in London in 1994 as an incentive for personal performance in navigation. Since then 10,000 awards have been gained country-wide.

All cadets at Hitchin squadron will have the opportunity to complete their bronze and silver awards. The ten cadets who have completed the first set of bronze awards have been trained by CI Dewbery. The cadets have completed ten hours of practical training and passed a practical exam over a 3.5km distance.

The bronze award syllabus covers many areas of assessment including understanding how to use map symbols and scales on a variety of maps, using linear features as handrails in navigation exercises, planning a safe suitable walk, demonstrating knowledge of the Country Code and procedures to be followed in the event of an emergency.

The ten cadets who have achieved the bronze award are Sgt Michael Page (17), Sgt Benjamen Reed (16), Cpl Emilie Pearson (17), Cpl Matthew Woodward (15), Cdt Henry Wisdom (15), Cdt Holly Somerville (14), Cdt Daisy Buck (14), Cdt Oliver Martin (15), Cdt Charlotte Hunt (14) and Cdt Hope Wagstaffe (14).

Cdt Henry Wisdom said: "Before taking part in the National Navigation Award Scheme my navigation skills were very basic but after completing the enjoyable and very informative course I feel competent in all aspects of navigation. It will help me when leading teams at navigation events and competitions plus with my Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions. I hope to start the silver award at the soonest opportunity."