Page 44 - Cadet Review Spring 2024

AIR CADETS
SPOTLIGHT ON THE SNCOS:
218’S (ALMOST)
ALL-FEMALE LEADERS
By CI Elizabeth Wright, 218 Rotherham Squadron
If you follow 218 Squadron on Facebook you may have noticed that we’ve had a spate of SNCO promotions recently, and as it has recently been women’s history month, together with International Women’s Day it seems like a great time to shine a light on some of the women making history at 218. Out of our six SNCOs, five of them are female.
Our twin Cadet Warrant Officers Maddie and
Lucy Baker came to us as a Sergeant and Flight Sergeant respectively, from a different squadron. But the leadership and experience they have brought with them has really benefitted the cadets at 218
and ensured that they have risen quickly through
the ranks, with Maddie achieving Flight Sergeant and then both of them achieving Cadet Warrant Officer. Though Lucy is seven minutes senior by birth, Maddie is the senior Cadet Warrant Officer
by thirty minutes, leading to a healthy competition between the two which the squadron has named ‘The Great British Baker Off.’ Lucy is also a Junior Leader, though Maddie will be undertaking the course this year to follow in her sister’s footsteps. And Maddie has achieved her Lowland Expedition Leader qualification, though Lucy is now undertaking the course. Outside of cadets, Maddie is currently studying Biochemistry and Neuroscience at Keele University, and Lucy has applied to study Medicine and Biomedical Science and has received offers from all the universities she has applied to.
Flight Sergeant Abigale Fawdry has been at
218 for over five years now, she is our current Mayor’s Cadet and was the Drill Instructor who led the Drill Squad to victory at the South and West Yorkshire Wing competition. Abigale is one of the most dependable and reliable members of the Squadron, she has attended almost every bag pack, parade, camp or visit that 218 has run, in addition
to remaining committed to the squadron during the covid lockdowns. And if there is a job that needs to be done on a parade night, the chances are that she has already thought of it and is making sure it gets done. Outside of cadets, Abigale is undertaking a Civil Engineering course and is the only girl in her cohort.
Our newest Sergeants, Sergeant Logan Cooke and Sergeant Maddison Hinchcliffe, are the definition of quality over quantity. The quantity of time that they have been at 218 is comparatively short, but the quality they have each displayed must be commended. They have risen through the ranks due to their
a great time to shine a light on some of the women making history
dedication, determination, discipline, deportment
and drill. Both had been in cadets a matter of weeks before they were selected for the drill team. It is
not surprising that Logan was awarded ‘Best New Recruit’ in her intake; she is currently undertaking her GCSEs and aims to study Health and Social Care and Psychology at sixth form. Maddison manages to juggle cadets, study, and a part-time job. She recently had an interview with Sheffield Hallam University and has been awarded a place on their Adult Nursing course, which she started last September.
They are all a credit to 218 and a fantastic example to the other cadets.
L- R, CWO Maddie Baker,
CWO Lucy Baker,
FS Abigale Fawdry,
Sgt Logan Cooke,
Sgt Maddison Hinchcliffe
44 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2024