Page 22 - Cadet Review Summer 2021

CEY Wing ATC
WING FIELDCRAFT TEAM
IN ACTION AGAIN
By SAC Tom Cooper
On Saturday the 24th April the Wing Fieldcraft team held its first Fieldcraft event of the year. Lockdown had occurred part way through the training course for brand new Fieldcraft Instructors (FCIs), so this event saw the continuation of such training. 29 Cadets, 9 potential Staff Instructors and 3 Fieldcraft Team Directing Staff descended on Strensall Training Area to conduct a full day’s worth of in the field training.
The potential instructors met early doors to
recce and gain an understanding of the layout of a new training area. Upon arrival of the cadets, the instructors delivered their safety briefs and then set about delivering the first lesson of the day, Cooking in the Field and some cadets very first experience of an operational ration pack. Throughout the day, each potential instructor taught a variety of different lessons that make up part of the Wing’s Stage 1 course, eagerly watched over by the Directing Staff.
The cadets dived head first into these lessons, getting stuck in with everything that was being taught to them. A personal camouflage and concealment lesson led by WO Colin Bell saw cadets applying various different grasses, foliage and cam cream
to themselves in an aid to hide from the eagle-eyed instructors... to varying degrees of success.
The day’s lessons culminated in the much anticipated NITEX. Four squads of cadets were dispatched across the training area to carry out
a range of designated tasks, with each directly impacting the overall success of the mission. Whilst one team was required to locate a downed enemy, another was tasked with finding and securing a stolen missile. Meanwhile the other teams needed to disarm an explosive device and provide communica- tions relay for the whole mission.
After what can only be described as a difficult year, being back in the field and seeing cadets get stuck
into some physical,
face to face training
was very satisfying
With the mission successfully completed, cadets were extracted and debriefed on their success by the Staff Students. The potential instructors now have one final test weekend, before they will graduate as fully qualified FCIs on the Wing’s Fieldcraft Team.
Squadron Leader Paul Crabtree, Deputy Wing Commander and Wing Fieldcraft Officer said of the day “After what can only be described as a difficult year, being back in the field and seeing cadets
get stuck into some physical, face to face training was very satisfying. Challenging the staff who are undergoing the Fieldcraft Instructor qualification was good, and with only an assessment day in their way, were right on track to increase the number of FCIs and consequently the amount and variety of Fieldcraft activities we can provide to the Wing.”
22 CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2021