Page 16 - Cadet Review Summer 2021
P. 16

 SWY Wing ATC
FIRST STEPS ON THE
ROAD TO NORMALITY
As one of the first Squadrons in the Wing to gain approval to open the premises for face-to-face activities everyone at 868 (Mirfield) Squadron
was delighted with the news that the Coronavirus Lockdown was to be eased from 12th April 2021, although the actual date for starting at the Squadron was slightly delayed due to some much-needed work to replace the roof of their HQ building.
Much effort had been put in to preparing the premises to be "Covid Secure", and procedures put in place to be sure that in-person activities could be conducted in line with regulations, including the wearing of face masks, use of hand sanitisers and maintaining 2 metre social distancing with safe, marked passages. With these constraints in place the numbers able to be accommodated would be very limited.
During the coronavirus pandemic the Squadron kept active in the virtual world with a regular Tuesday evening on-line session, often with guest speakers. With a regular participation of up to 24 cadets this exceeds the limited capacity with social distancing at the Squadron HQ, so it is intended to continue these ‘Virtual Tuesday’ sessions for the time being, whilst opening the premises for ‘Physical Fridays’. Unfor- tunately, this would be only for specifically invited cadets for limited activities.
Nevertheless, over the first four weeks of opening the Squadron was able to invite every cadet to attend at least one face-to-face Physical Friday.
23rd April: a small invited group of Mirfield Air Cadets met at the Squadron HQ for the first time in over a year, some of whom have had little or no contact over the past year.
The evening included:
• Welcome brief, including Health and Safety and
Security updates – which was to be repeated
each week
• Some socially distanced drill practice
• Chance to update cadets' D of E records
• Flight Simulator practice
• Re-kitting of uniform
30th April saw two groups meeting under the
ongoing constraints to be Covid-secure. Some of the
Band members practicing
Much effort had been put in to preparing the premises to be "Covid Secure"
more experienced cadets gathered for a leadership development briefing in the main building, and training for the First Class Cadet syllabus saw a move towards the 'real' world with part of the initial expedition training section carried out with demon- strations of putting up tents and packing rucksacks, in the Annex and outside.
On 7th May, the third week of the slow return to some measure of normality, we saw the invited attendance at the Squadron HQ of our Band members, both well-established ones and some newcomers.
Fine weather meant much of the practice was able to take place outdoors, although everyone was careful to continue compliance with Covid require- ments, especially social distancing, and sanitisation of the band kit after use.
Experienced members of the group gave demon- strations and guidance to some novices, playing both tenor and snare drums and bell lyres. We also welcomed two new cadets who were kitted out with uniform and spent time on the flight simulator (one
          16 CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2021
Learning the Bell Lyre Training in Annex building
New cadet Jake Hollingworth
 gets to grips with Flight Simulator
 





































































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