Happy Birthday to You! June: ATC Athletics Meet, Cosford
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Winter 20111 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! ACO Celebrates 70th Anniversary 3 Managing Editor Denise Parker Housby 4 HOLD THE email [email protected] Editor Carol McCombe FRONT PAGE email [email protected] Sales Manager Anthon Linton, Ten Alps Media, One New Oxford Street, High Holborn, London, WC1A 1NU Tel: 020 7306 0300 This Issue: Design Steve J Davies, Air Media Centre, HQ Air Command AIR CADET is printed by Warners Midlands plc, The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne PE10 9PH Tel: 01778 391000 Every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, but neither Warners plc nor the ACO can be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequence arising from it. Views expressed by contributors and customers might not reflect the views of the ACO. A Message From The Editor ... A New Year and a new start ... That is particularly true for the Air Cadet Organisation this year as it addresses the inevitable impact of the Government’s 13 Plans FOR Strategic Defence and Security Review. 4 NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore New Music Ensemble Barbara Cooper, and the whole of the FROM THE BOSS Organisation will be examining how the cadet experience is delivered to the hundreds of school and community- based units around the country now and in the future. There’s a new brand to take the Organisation forward too. After 11 years, the ACO is re-branding to bring it closer to its parent service, the RAF. Find out more on pages 4 and 5. And as the curtain falls on an amazing Cadet150 celebratory year, the ACO is gearing up for another spectacular year. This truly exceptional youth organisation celebrates its 70th anniversary this year – and a whole host of events are planned throughout the country to highlight 70 years of excellence. Finally, Happy New Year to you all – 18 CELEBRATING A YEAR don’t forget to let us know where your OF THE ACE PLATFORM cadet experience takes you in 2011 ... Carol McCombe Editor, AIR CADET AIR CADET Is Sponsored By: 13 HARRIER BOWS OUT 4 air cadet winter 2011 5 a result of the Strategic Defence We intend to build an alumni to • We must face the challenges We have been called the crème de and Security Review. foster stronger links with former ahead together and thirdly; la crème of youth organisations Heraldry Specialist 70th Anniversary Offers cadets and this is an exciting by our competitors and I fully Is Appointed We must not shy away from concept that will take us into • That we have a very exciting intend us to retain that title...we this but accept it in a proactive a new and vibrant sphere... and bright future. must maintain the faith, work Ever had a query over New World Of Opportunity manner recognising the re-modelling the ACO as we go SMART and I have no doubt an squadron badges and opportunity it offers us to and drawing in help from a wider exciting future awaits us all. heraldry? Well now the ACO NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM COMMANDANT AIR CADETS strengthen the ACO. community. The first event in the 70th has its very own specialist. Finally, I hope that we can all Significant savings must be met anniversary is the annual ATC Fg Off John Tunesi of There is a real economic rationale Church Service at St Clement work together to make this year wherever possible – after all we almost immediately and, until we Liongam, has recently “As we enter 2011, behind the serious work we have Dane’s Church, London on one to remember and to fortify are proud to produce some of have identified and put in place been transferred to HQAC to do in our anniversary year. February 6th and a calendar of and enhance our position as one we look forward to the finest young people and we our new structure - which might reporting to the Head of events is planned throughout the of the finest youth organisations celebrating our 70th have total faith in their ability to take three or four years - we will The overriding message is that Media and Communications year, in particular, at the Royal in the world. Above all, enjoy become “the next generation” have to make some difficult, albeit we have a great future and as a Special Project Officer anniversary and, at International Air Tattoo in July yourselves – do it safely but let’s of good citizens for the United temporary choices. we are looking at how we can responsible for Air Cadet when we hope to have a flypast have fun! the same time, to Kingdom in whatever life and make the organisation better. Organisation’s Badges and In all of this we are working of air cadet aircraft and numerous facing challenges career choice they choose. We are undoubtedly “the next I hope to meet many of you this Protocol. closely with the Ministry of generation” and that remains part displays in the RIAT Arena. year, and in the meantime I thank which open up exciting As we focus on the activities at Defence in its Youth Engagement Fg Off Tunesi, is an expert of the new corporate identity Of course, we share our you for all that you do for the opportunities to make the core of the Air Cadets we Review that seeks to determine in the field of heraldry and that we are proud to launch this anniversary with the Search and ACO, be you a cadet, a volunteer reconcile the remit upon us to the appropriate level of offered to help with the the Air Cadets a more month. Rescue Helicopter Force which or full time staff – we would be create a bigger and better Air engagement between Defence many and varied queries that also marks 70 years; with the nothing without you. effective and modern Cadet Organisation under current and youth. We have a lot of initiatives that we come in from the ACO’s 918 Royal British Legion who have national voluntary youth public spending reductions but are looking into with industry and A happy New Year to you all.” ATC squadrons, 39 detached From our origins in the late 1930s notched up 90 years and with the clearly recognise that none of this comes with establishing good flights and 202 CCF (RAF) organisation. and our establishment in 1941 Royal International Air Tattoo who this is achievable without our solid enduring relationships that school based units. we have been through severely celebrate 40 years. This is our opportunity to build fantastic team of adult volunteers will pay dividends for our cadets. austere times before and survived. John is now the point of on the excellent work of my who selflessly give their time Amongst other things I want to To each of those organisations we contact for all Air Cadet predecessors, to streamline, and and expertise to delivering the In 2011 we can sing our praises provide the cadets with better extend our very best wishes. formations in relation to to make strategic changes that cadet programme, and also and successes from the roof information on potential career applications for new badges will reduce the administrative to our permanent staff whose So as we move into the New tops celebrating our platinum choices including the RAF and or confirmations of existing burden on volunteers and ensure flexibility and endurance in recent Year we face a new world of anniversary and at the same related aviation and aerospace badges. The aim is to have that we offer value for money to months has been unstintingly opportunity and I am confident Air Commodore Barbara Cooper time raise our profile amongst specialisations. all ACO badges officially the Government. professional. that we will confront this Commandant Air Cadets stakeholders, including the recognised by the Inspector RAF, industry and commerce The key messages are: challenge together and we will In all of the celebrations and Change at any time brings of RAF Badges. and engendering support from become a better organisation - re-organisation one thing is with it some pain and ours is influencers. • That we have a fantastic stronger, more resilient, capable Fg Off Tunesi will give advice critical and that is ensuring simply a reflection of that being organisation; and as always dynamic. concerning standardisation that the cadet experience is experienced by the wider RAF of designs for the ACO as maintained and enhanced and the Armed Forces at large as well as assisting in the design of new badges and will liaise with the Inspectorate of RAF the ATC and that the 200 school we have with our parent Service headed notepaper and signage or link to the new branding so that flying and shooting to adventure Badges on behalf of the ACO. based Combined Cadet Force and we are acutely aware of how marquees. Where regions, wings, provides a useful bridge.” training and key engagement (RAF) contingents will adopt patient squadrons and units have volunteer gliding squadrons, ATC with our stakeholders. This is He will undertake the role it. Naturally, in these stringent been waiting for the branding to squadrons, detach flights and The pdfs and guidebook detailing about who we are and our historic as a volunteer and is economic times the roll out has to become available. CCF (RAF) units can make the how the corporate identity can be links to the RAF and unites us transferred from Beds & RE-Branding used and the options for colour Cambs Wing ATC. be strategically planned.” changes at no cost, for instance, from our smallest detached flight “As the Commandant has said, electronically on their websites reversals will be available soon; off or CCF unit to the biggest region.