Spring 20101 THE PURR-FECT JOB Ex-air cadet Becky Frater leads the Black Cats ON A MISSION Face to face with SAS hero Andy McNab ON YOUR RADAR Reviews, competitions and much more! CADET150 TAKES OFF ! With Royal Seal Of Approval 2 air cadet / spring 2010 this issue: RAPTUROUS RETURN The F-22 Raptor returns to RIAT this summer, two years afters its planned UK debut was rained off 0416_09SJD © Crown Copyright / MOD 2010 3 A Message From The Editor ... t’s all systems go for Cadet150 I as the celebrations begin around the country, launched in London by Her Majesty The Queen. It will be a hugely exciting year for cadets everywhere: there are events planned the length and breadth of the country throughout the year so make sure you are involved and ‘Live the Adventure’. I’d like to draw your attention to the article 4 on CVQO’s adult qualifications – could you be ALL SYSTEMS GO missing out? Lorraine Hearsey from CVQO thinks Cadet150 Receives so –she believes too few adults realise that their voluntary work can be rewarded with academic Royal Seal Of Approval awards. Read the article on pages 24 and 25 and find out if you are one of them! Throughout this issue you will find glowing examples of achievements from across the ACO – 29 from life-saving rescues, challenging expeditions PASS NOTES and a host of well-deserved accolades and awards. This year’s Music Camp Launched in this edition too is Radar – our special review section which, as well as including book reviews, will also feature competitions and news of forthcoming events. I hope you enjoy our new-look Air Cadet and I look forward to hearing your views and news in 2010 – the Cadet150 year. Carol McCombe Editor, AIR CADET 9 AIR CADET Is Sponsored By: GONE WITH THE WIND Cadets on round25 the worldFRAMED voyage Prize Winning Photos 2009 26 CAREERING FORWARD Finding the job that fits perfectly Managing Editor Denise Parker Housby email: [email protected] Editor Carol McCombe email: [email protected] Account Director Anthon Linton, Mongoose Media, 2 Lonsdale Road, London, NW6 6RB Tel: 020 7306 0300 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. 4 air cadet / spring 2010 ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR “2010 is a great year to be involved with the cadet movement. Cadet150 will be celebrated throughout the UK and I’m sure it will further enhance all of the positive things that the Cadet Forces do.” Commandant Air Cadets, Air Commodore Ian Stewart group of young ambassadors Cadet150 will see 150 events take place Minister for Young Citizens and Youth have kicked off a series around the UK during 2010 which have Engagement, Dawn Butler, and Under A been planned to reflect the spirit of fun, Secretary of State for Defence, Kevan Jones. of events, which will take place excitement, adventure and community They also visited the Ministry of Defence to this year, celebrating the 150th service which is at the heart of the cadet meet senior Service personnel. movement. anniversary of the launch One of the ambassadors, Air Cadet Lucy of the cadet movement, with a The year of anniversary events honours the Scudder, said: “Being a cadet is great. There role the Cadet Forces play in assisting young are so many opportunities. You can do lots of visit to Her Majesty The Queen. people towards responsible adulthood different things such as adventure training. through learning new skills and developing Before I became a cadet, I didn’t have a lot of self-confidence, and celebrates the confidence, but now I am able to walk into a contribution the young people themselves room full of people and I’m fine.” make to their local communities. In the evening the cadets enjoyed a reception As patron of Cadet150, the Queen kicked at Lancaster House hosted by the Ulysses off the celebrations along with His Royal Trust and the Council of the Reserve Forces Highness The Duke of Edinburgh when she and Cadets Association. The Ulysses Trust greeted a group of 26 cadets from across the exists to support challenging expeditions country at a special reception at Buckingham by cadets and reservists and adventurer, Palace. explorer and world record holder Sir Ranulph Fiennes attended the event in support of the As well as visiting the Queen, the 26 cadets Cadet150 expedition to Lesotho later this also travelled to Downing Street to meet year. 5 ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR Commandant of the ACO, Air Cdre Ian Stewart, said: “The launch of Cadet150 has On The Agenda been a great success. I joined cadets from For Cadet150 across the United Kingdom for a visit to the • This month a tri-Service Cadet150 Ministry of Defence and Number 10 Downing band concert at the Royal Concert Hall, Street. Nottingham “It was a surreal experience to see the cadet • A royal review and parade as well as a ambassadors mingle with the Chief of garden party at Buckingham Palace Defence Staff and other senior officers as well as Ministers and other government officials. “All the young people were a credit to their respective Cadet organisations and brought the day to life with their energy and enthusiasm. “We can now look forward to many more Cadet150 events over the next few months. There is no doubt that the Cadet organisations in the United Kingdom form part of the best youth movement in the • Expedition to Lesotho in July with world.” 60 cadets and 10 volunteers from across the Cadet Forces. It will involve General Secretary of the Army Cadet Force trekking and helping with community Association, Brigadier Mike Wharmby, added: projects “We are delighted to be celebrating 150 years of this fantastic movement. • DofE residential course for 150 Gold Award cadets at Britannia Royal Naval “The Cadet Forces offer such great College, Dartmouth opportunities for thousands of young people across the UK. We are encouraging • Inter-Cadet Force shooting people to find out more through Cadet150 event at Bisley - come along and ‘Live the Adventure’!” Cadet150 events throughout 2010 will include a royal review of the Cadet Forces at Buckingham Palace in July; expeditions to locations as diverse as the Himalayas, Nigeria, the Italian Dolomites, Peru, the USA, Kenya and Nigeria; a special residential camp for cadets participating in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award; and the planting of 150,000 trees in partnership with the Woodland Trust. • Cadets will plant 150,000 trees supplied by the Woodland Trust With origins dating back to 1860, the cadet movement is one of the oldest • Inter-Cadet Force First Aid Competition and most successful voluntary youth at Sandhurst organisations in the world. Today it • Inter-Cadet Force sports competition at numbers 131,000 young people, led by RAF Cranwell in September 25,000 adult volunteers, in well over 3,000 sites across the country. • Reception for adult volunteers at the City of London Guildhall The Cadet Forces are about fun and opportunity in a positive, structured • Trafalgar Day Parade featuring all four environment that encourages the Cadet Forces for the first time development of leadership and teamwork, initiative, self-confidence, self-discipline • Cadet150 celebrations to and a sense of responsibility. close with Remembrance Day events They welcome young people and adults from all backgrounds and abilities. 6 air cadet / springwinter 20102010 Around The Country ... Around The Country ... climbing walls, boats and aircraft simulators. • Cadets from 177 (Blackpool ALL SYSTEMS GO! Airport) Sqn, in partnership with the Woodland Trust and Blackpool Borough Council, have planted 150 trees at the New Fylde Ex–Services Military Arboretum. • Cadets from 42F (King’S at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell Lynn) Sqn teamed up with the at the launch of Cadet150 in the Woodland Trust for a day of tree East Midlands. The ATC cadets planting to mark the launch joined forces with the Army of Cadet150. The cadets took Cadets and Sea Cadets for an delivery of 300 young trees and activity packed day. planted some at the former Second World War RAF Station • Cadets and staff from 624 VGS, at Bircham Newton before based at RMB Chivenor, have meeting up with foresters on set themselves a huge Cadet150 the Queen’s private estate at challenge. During the weekend Sandringham where permission of 26th and 27th June, the had been granted to replant two School aims to complete 150 coppices. The Estate staff were Gliding Induction Courses for so impressed with the cadets’ cadets from Devon & Somerset enthusiasm that they asked for and Plymouth & Cornwall Wings the teenagers’ help with the as well as air cadets from local • Her Majesty The Queen as possible during their visit. planting of 20 metres of beech CCF Sections. Sqn Ldr Gregory celebrated the 150th anniversary Wg Cdr Brian Wills-Pope, OC hedge before they left! North, OC 624 VGS, said: “The of the UK Cadet Forces with 400 Devon and Somerset Wing and volunteer staff of 624 wished to local young people, including Chairman of the Devon Joint • Bristol & Gloucestershire Wing make an extraordinary effort for Devon and Somerset Wing Service Cadets Committee, said: paraded some 400 staff and the benefit of affiliated cadets cadets, during a royal visit to “Cadet150 is a fantastic prospect cadets to mark the launch of to mark this very special 150th Devon.