Page 10 - Cadet Review Autumn 2023

Joint Service News
Practice Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition
By Sergeant Travis Bush, Corporal Phoebe Wood and Lance Corporal Jessica Case
This was the first Practice Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition that cadets from 2222(Brigg) Squadron had been able to attend following COVID and transferring to the Wing.
The squadron took nine cadets and one staff member, joining cadets and staff from other squadrons across the Wing along with a team of Sea Cadets, to the Outstation, Stape in the North Yorkshire Moors in early September.
The staff were very supportive and helpful. They assisted us setting up camp and erecting the tents. They gave us a lesson on selecting/ using camping stoves and planning meals that would be suitable for our actual expedition. We then had a go at cooking
a meal, using some basic ingredients we may think about taking with us on our actual qualifier expedition. We produced a savoury rice in a passata sauce
with pre-cooked chicken pieces and a pudding of meringue nests and packet custard, adding some wild brambles we found bushes in the camp as the finishing touch. Both meals were really tasty, with the Deputy Wing OC agreeing to a taste test and to our relief he gave us the thumbs up.
The practice walk on the first day was made slightly shorter than originally planned because of the 30+C heat. We used the ample tree cover where possible to keep us out of the worst of the heat and staff gave us useful practical lessons on map reading and how to give six figure grid references so we could identify our position.
After the evening meal we worked as group to plan a route card for the walk on the following day. On this second day we were given more independence, with staff having minimal input, shadowing us and leaving us to overcome any problems ourselves. This was a great way of building teamwork in the group, which will be invaluable when we complete our qualifier expedition later in the year. Half way round the walk
This the first time any of us have had the pleasure to participate in an event like this and it is safe to say it was phenomenal
we stopped at the Tea Rooms at Levisham Station for an ice cream. This station is on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we were treated to a steam
train passing through the station just as we arrived. The sight of such an old machine in full steam was amazing.
The weekend was definitely a fun experience and one we would recommend that cadets have a go at participating in if they get the opportunity.
We are all looking forward to advancing to the actual Qualifier Expedition for the Bronze Award with most of us already signed up to complete this.
From the Sea Cadets, who were enjoying their first joint adventure with the Air Cadets, Lance Corporal Jessica Case of the Royal Marines Cadet detachment at TS IRON DUKE added; “I learned new skills, saw amazing views, made new friends, and have a deeper and more clear understanding of what DofE is about. Myself and the other five cadets from TS IRON DUKE enjoyed this weekend immensely and are looking forward to other events like this in the future.
This the first time any of us have had the pleasure to participate in an event like this and it is safe to say it was phenomenal. It was an amazing opportunity to develop our understanding of measuring distance, taking bearings and map work in general.
On the Sunday we walked up to Skelton Tower. Getting up the hill in that heat wasn't half a struggle but we all made it and had a lovely lunch at the top near Skelton Tower. Roll on the qualifier expedition.”
10 CADET REVIEW AUTUMN 2023