Page 6 - GM Wing 2020 Yearbook

GM Wing 2020 Pre-COVID

2020 began as has every year within Greater Manchester Wing, with a packed calendar ahead, there was no
time to waste at the turn of the year.

The wing formally reopened on the 6th January but even before then, interviews had been undertaken for GM
Wings candidates for the 2020 International Air Cadet Exchange. This unique opportunity to spend time with
cadets in their own countries is a highly prized experience for our more senior cadets. With GM Wings cadets
being offered visits to Australia and New Zealand in 2020 the offer was even more attractive!

The month of January continued unabated with Band practices being undertaken throughout the month at
Ashton Training Centre. Gm Wing has a long tradition of having an excellent Wing Band and under Flt Sgt
James Shaw’s (Wing Band Master) tutelage this is set to continue for some considerable time.

As we headed towards the middle of the month the activities
began to ramp up again with the first Wing Sports event of the
year, at a very soggy and waterlogged venue the wing cross
country was completed, despite the weather the turnout was
excellent and 1099 (Worsley) Sqn won the day.
During the following week the Wing Staff Development Team held
a staff induction evening at Ashton Training Centre for new staff.
Attendees were given their paperwork and talked through the
requirements to become an adult member of staff at Squadron
level. Following this evening candidates underwent training in
various mandatory subjects including first aid, and when their
paperwork is all completed and returned successfully staff are
released to their respective units. Using this method the new members of staff are attending their units for the
first time, fully trained in the fundamentals and able to support the existing Squadron staff as soon as they
arrive.

Whilst staff induction was being undertaken at Ashton Training Centre, The Wing Training Officer and his team
were very busy preparing for the first wing led
activity that was run external to GM Wing. The
Wing Training Weekend concept has been run
in GM Wing since the wing was formed and four
normally run each year, these weekend camps
are always well attended with both staff and
cadets. The object of the weekend is to offer
training courses to cadets across all age ranges,
these include training in fieldcraft, Leadership
and weapons courses along with more a
classroom based activities like Aerospace and
NCO courses. Typically the weekends are
attended by between 150-200 cadets along with
up to 50 staff onsite at Defence trading Estates predominantly at Nesscliff and Swynnerton. WTW 01/20 was
attended as well as many of the others with over 170 cadets and 40 staff contributing to an excellent
weekends training.