Page 18 - Cadet Review Autumn 2024

SWY Wing ATC
NIJMEGEN 2024
By Sergeant Louis Webb
The Wing Nijmegen Team 2024 was incredibly fortunate to have been selected out of the entire Corps to represent the United Kingdom, the RAFAC and the North Region after new limitations to the number of RAFAC teams in Nijmegen. Just ten teams were allowed to complete the march, with a maximum of 9 cadets and 2 staff.
Nijmegen is a town in the Netherlands close to the border with Germany. It holds the international 4 Day Marches annually in July for civilians and military alike, marching a combined distance of 100 miles over the four days. As a Military Cadet team, we were based on the legendary Kamp Heumensoord, along with 8000 other military personnel from over 30 different nations!
Prior to the marches we spent a few days exploring Nijmegen and taking in the immense
party atmosphere of this vibrant place. We also visited Arnhem to pay our respects to the fallen soldiers laid to rest at the Arnhem Commonwealth War Memorial, who died during Operation Market Garden; an attempt to hold the Bridges over the River Nederrijn to allow the Allied Armies from the D-Day Landings to cross over into Germany. This year was the 80th Anniversary of both the D-Day Landings and Operation Market Garden making it just that bit more poignant.
The team started their training back in September 2023; all of them were new to the concept of road marching, but over the many months their friendship, confidence and personalities grew; leading to a team with impeccable determination, dedication, enthusiasm and camaraderie. I cannot begin to describe how their efforts shone in Nijmegen, I
As a Military Cadet team, we were based on the legendary Kamp Heumensoord, along with 8000 other military personnel from over
30 different nations!
was approached by Team Leaders from the RAFAC, ACF, RAF, Army and the British Military Contingent (BMC) staff on Heumensoord, all of whom wanted to pass on their compliments, telling me what a well behaved, disciplined, polite, and professional team of cadets I had.
I personally have completed the Nijmegen marches numerous times, both as military and as a civilian, in a team and as an individual. Over this time, I have been involved in and witnessed hundreds of RAFAC teams. I can honestly say that this year’s team has been the best group of cadets I have ever had the pleasure to see, and the privilege to work with, not only in Nijmegen but in my entire cadet career!
A huge thank you to our Wing Road Marching Officer Flt Lt Victoria Docherty who has organised all of the training and admin; to the staff who helped train and develop this brilliant team; in particular Plt Off Tony Hiorns (2460 Sqn) and CI David Frost (2008 & 300 Sqn). Lastly to WO Mark Baines (341 Sqn) who took on the role of 2IC on his first ever Nijmegen Marches. Without this commendable support from all these staff members it is certain that our team would not have made it to Nijmegen.
It is very rare I say this, but I am so incredibly proud of each member of the team, they have gone above and beyond any expectations set. They are an inspiration to other cadets and staff (including me). They are all a credit, and they all truly deserved this achievement. I look forward to seeing both familiar and new faces in Road Marching and at Nijmegen in the future.
Several of the team members added their comments below. Flight Sergeant Brandon Woodhead of 250 (Halifax) Sqn said, “Nijmegen was one of the most difficult weeks that I had experienced in the majority of my life. I remember the horrific feeling on the first day of waking up at 0200 hrs
to drag ourselves to the mess tent for 0215 to the sound of the wakeup song being blared across Camp
18 CADET REVIEW AUTUMN 2024