Page 25 - Cadet ReviewAutumn/Winter 2020

SIX MONTHS WITHOUT FACE-TO- FACE ACTIVITY FOR MIRFIELD AIR CADETS
Incredibly it has now been six months since the message came out on 17th March to cease face- to-fae activities for the Royal Air Force Air Cadets. Nevertheless, life has continued for cadets from 868 (Mirfield) Squadron in the virtual world, with regular meetings using Microsoft Teams.
Split into two types of meetings, the Squadron has maintained contact with more than 30 of
their cadets through an open meeting on Tuesday evenings, having an average attendance of about 20 cadets, and has been able to run specific training and development opportunities for smaller focused groups on Friday evenings.
The structure for their Tuesday meetings has normally comprised an update from the Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell, followed by a general interest presentation by another squadron member or an external guest. As well as more usual topics like Aircraft Recognition, First Aid in the world of coronavirus and D of E updates, highlights of these session have seen:
• An ever-popular monthly quiz, set by the Squadron Chaplain, Rev’d Christine Shedd
• Special commemoration evening on Battle of Britain Day, 15 September
• International Air Cadet Link up, with guests from USA, Canada, Australia and France
• Life as a commercial pilot, by a British Airways Dreamliner Pilot
• F35-B Lightning, by a trainer from United States Marine Corps base in South Carolina
• A career in Flying, by the United Kingdom Senior National Representative (SNR) to the Euro-Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) programme at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas
Meanwhile, on Friday evenings cadets have been trained and assessed for subjects such as:
• Presentation Skills
• Methods of Instruction
• Radio Communications (For their Blue Badge) • Home Accident Prevention (for Bronze D of E,
volunteering)
There have also been some opportunities for
cadets to do things outside of this structure
• The Big Night In – cadets sponsored to get wet
for the charity
• VEDay
• Armed Forces Day
These
have been some really outstanding achievements in very difficult times and
all the more creditable because of that
• VJ Day
• Try This at Home Challenge (to build an
improvised shelter)
• South and West Yorkshire Wing Mileage
challenge (collectively walk, run or cycle 241
miles)
Some individual achievements have also been
announced during the period: Cadet Warrant Officer Kiara Baillie was the nomination from both South and West Yorkshire Wing and North Region for the ATC 75 Sword (top female cadet in the Air Training Corps), and Flight Sergeant Rebecca Jagger is
to be appointed as Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for
West Yorkshire. Also, Cadet Laila Robinson was interviewed on British Forces Broadcasting Service about the collection of medals she showed on VE Day, earned by members of her family who served in both the first and second world war - for the Royal New Zealand Rifles, the New Zealand Air Force and the Home Guard.
The efforts by everyone at the Squadron has meant that during the present six months of lockdown there are over 30 cadets who have earned for themselves badges and certificates of achievement covering these and other activities, ranging from Classification and Cyber awards through Aviation Ground School to Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Reflecting on this period, Flt Lt Doubell said, “although it is sad that we have not been able to engage with all the Squadron members, clearly some are just not comfortable with participating in the ‘virtual world’ and of course it is not what they ‘signed up’ to, it is really gratifying to see that many have not only kept up their involvement but also have managed to achieve a great deal. I really look forward to the day when we will be able to open our ‘real’ doors to everyone, and hopefully catch up with those we have missed, and also to have the opportunity
to make a proper presentation of the badges and certificates gained by so many cadets. These have been some really outstanding achievements in very difficult times and all the more creditable because of that.”
CADET REVIEW AUTUMN/WINTER 2020 25