Page 22 - Cadet Review Summer 2019

HSY ACF
SENIOR CADET DEVELOPMENT
TAKES TO THE SKIES
by Captain Andrew Akester
Over the weekend of 30 and 31 March, senior cadets took part in a great opportunity as they headed off to Hibaldstow Airfield, to take part in Static Line Parachute Training.
This weekend was part of the ongoing development of the Senior Cadet training programme, giving the older cadets in the County the opportunity to do something different in addition to their normal APC training.
The seven cadets who took part attended the two-day course which started with Jump School. This is where the cadets learned about their kit and equipment, how to exit the plane and how to steer and land safely.
Cadet Sergeant Major Willow Craven of E Company said: “I personally had a great time, and cannot
wait to do the jumps, especially knowing that this amazing experience will be marking the end of my cadet career.” She went on to say “The training we were provided with on Saturday was really interesting and a great laugh, and the staff at Hibaldstow were extremely accommodating.”
Solo parachuting isn’t for everyone, even following Jump School, and as Cadet Sergeant Megan Craven of C Company didn’t feel confident in taking the next step, she was offered the experience of a Tandem Skydive with instructor Karl Peart.
Sgt Craven was unfortunately the only cadet to experience a Skydive during the weekend due to
high winds. However, Cadet Sergeant Major Craven, together with Cadet Staff Sergeants Adam Gale and Kaitlin Green, Cadet Sergeants Owen Baker and Harry Dyson, plus Cadet Corporal Richard Machac will return to Skydive Hibaldstow in the near future to complete their first two solo parachute jumps.
The Senior Cadet Development Programme is open to all cadets who have completed APC 4-Star, and aims to allow cadets to benefit from the wider
The training we were provided with on Saturday was really interesting and a great laugh
cadet experience. The opportunities provided will be taken from suggestions made by senior cadets, and will serve as a reward for the incredible amount of hard work and effort they put in throughout the year, supporting their detachments, companies, and the county.
Cdt Sgt Maj Craven getting
to grips with positioning
22 CADET REVIEW SUMMER 2019
Cadet Sgt Craven after
her Tandem Skydive
Cadets checking out the
aircraft they will be jumping from