Adventure Training Challenge 2016!

Air Cadets from 25 Squadrons in Durham/Northumberland Wing came together last weekend to compete in their annual Adventure Training Challenge. The Challenge, which consists of a timed day walk, first aid, mountain biking, archery, climbing, and an orienteering task, took place at RAF Spadeadam on the Northumberland/Cumbria border. Teams of five cadets from each Squadron had planned the checkpoints for their walk in advance, and entered their best archers, climbers and first aiders in each element of the competition. Squadron Leader Jo Blackie, the Wing’s Adventure Training Officer, said, “The standard was extremely high this year with very close scores. We had 25 Squadrons represented with over 150 people attending. We are particularly grateful to Naworth Castle Estate for their support in...

Read More ›

DNW Cadets join ACF on Camp

Over the summer, Air Cadets and Sea Cadets from across the region have had the opportunity to attend annual camp with Durham and Northumbria ACFs. A group of Air Cadets from Durham/Northumberland Wing travelled to Otterburn training area to join Northumbria ACF on their annual camp. They were allocated a place in one of the four training groups based on their fieldcraft experience. Northumbria ACF Cadets are cap badged to a number of regiments, so the blue beret was just one among many different headdresses. The Air Cadets were made more than welcome by all personnel and were treated as an integral part of the team, led by County Commandant, Colonel David Middleton MBE TD. Every cadet spent at least two nights...

Read More ›

DNW Cadets take on Sailing Challenge!

This Summer, Cadet Flight Sergeant Ben Allen of 1114 (Gosforth) Squadron, Cadet Natalia Szutenberg of 733 (Newcastle Airport) Squadron, and Cadet Sergeant Jack Hardy of 1000 (Blyth) Squadron changed their flying suits for wet suits as they took part in the Headquarters Air Cadets/Ocean Youth Trust Scotland West Coast Challenge Offshore Sailing Expedition! Through choppy waves and gale force winds, the 18 year olds experienced one of the most exciting adventure training opportunities the Air Cadets has to offer: learning to sail around the West coast of Scotland in just under 1 week! Ben Allen recounts his intrepid voyage here: Initially as I set off on the train, I got to know the two other cadets from Durham/Northumberland Wing, Cadet Szutenberg and...

Read More ›

Adventure Training

Cadets can take part in a wide range of adventurous activities, both at Squadron and Wing level, and also at our two Adventure Training Centres - at Windermere in the Lake District and Fairbourne in coastal Wales. Rock climbing, abseiling, hill walking, mountain-biking, canoeing, high ropes and sailing are all par for the course. Adventure Training is an essential part of the Air Cadet's training syllabus and the place where team effort really matters - you'll build new friendships, and learn to rely on the other people you're with to get the job done. It also lets you show off your leadership qualities. If you're a member of staff, there are also fantastic opportunities for you to enjoy the outdoors,...

Read More ›

35 SQUADRONS AND OVER 1600 CADETS AND STAFF Are you up for fun, adventure, incredible experiences and making new friends? Are you looking for something to give you the edge in life? Then welcome to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC). Better known as the ‘Air Cadets’, we’re a UK-wide cadet force with more than 40,000 members aged between 12 and 20 years. Durham/Northumberland Wing covers County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland  and includes 35 Squadrons from the Scottish Border to County Durham, and from the Pennines across to the North-east coast. We’re sponsored by the Royal Air Force and can give you hands-on experience of activities and courses that will challenge and develop your skills to help...

Read More ›

What we do

Cadet life is about learning through practical experience, especially in the great outdoors! Here's a taster of what's in store. This is what it's all about: activities that offer challenge, excitement and adventure and the knowledge you pick up along the way through structured training and first-hand experience. Adventure Training, Band, Camps, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Fieldcraft, Flying and Gliding, Shooting and Sport are just a few of the activities on offer in the Air Cadets, so to keep things simple we've broken it down into areas which you can access using the links below. Flying Gliding Camps Shooting First Aid Adventure Training Music and Bands Parades and Ceremonial Sports Training and Education DofE Fieldcraft [do_widget id=tag_cloud-2]

Read More ›