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Tag: ATC

Air Cadets Remember the ‘Few’ at Battle of Britain Parade

Two hundred air cadets and veterans from across the North East paraded against the magnificent backdrop of Durham Cathedral to remember the bravery, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph of the men Winston Churchill dubbed ‘The Few.’ It is 76 years since the Battle of Britain raged in the skies above England as the RAF fought to gain air supremacy against Hitler’s Luftwaffe and bring to an end the Fuhrer’s invasion plans. And yesterday the veterans and Air Training Corps cadets from across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham, formed up on Palace Green before marching into the cathedral for a special service of commemoration. Spectators turned out in their droves to show their support and remember the 544 British and overseas air...

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DNW Cadets are On Target Again!

Cadets from Durham Northumberland Wing have yet again hit the target at the prestigious Inter-Services Cadet Rifle Meeting held at Bisley this year. The 30 Cadets, representing 9 Squadrons from across the Wing, travelled to Bisley in Surrey with the aim of achieving a Cadet 100 and bringing back some silverware. They took part in an intensive 5 days of training before embarking on the Wing Fullbore Target Rifle Competition on day 6, and then the main programme of competition shoots at distances of between 300 and 600 yards. The news that a record 8 Cadets had achieved the Cadet 100 badge was received with great excitement, and to top it all off, 1027 (Jarrow) Squadron were named as the runner up ATC...

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Camps

Annual Camps Every year, Air Cadets from around the Wing are given the opportunity to attend a Camp on an operational RAF station, anywhere in the United Kingdom. These camps usually take place during the school Easter, Summer and Autumn holiday periods so they won't interfere with cadets schooling. RAF Station camps aim to show cadets what life is like in the Royal Air Force and allows the cadets to experience what is like to live on an RAF Station. They are a fantastic opportunity to meet new people as cadets attend from lots of different Squadrons and Wings. Often, cadets have the chance to fly in service aircraft such as a Chinook heavy lift helicopter or a C-17 Globemaster...

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FAQs

We’ve compiled a list of the most popular questions here. If you want to know something that is not listed, then don't hesitate to get in touch with us. What sort of activities do the air cadets do?  We get to do a huge variety of activities such as flying, gliding, target shooting, adventure training, sports, camps, drill, academic studies and lots of other things. There's never a dull moment. How old must I be to join? You can join when you're 12 and in Year 8 at school. You must have joined by your 17th birthday. You can remain a cadet until you're 20. How many times a week does the ATC meet? We meet twice a week. Squadrons...

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Information for Parents

Safeguarding The RAF Air Cadet organisation does not tolerate abuse and bullying, and we have clear policies and practices to defend against it. We seek to create a culture that encourages adults and cadets to speak up, confront and disclose any concerns, and we take tremendous pride in the trust young people place in us to support them. Unlike many youth organisations, our disclosure checks are repeated every 5 years. Our safeguarding policies are also reviewed regularly and independently audited, and are always available to cadets, parents, guardians and adult volunteers. We recognise that safeguarding young people from abuse is our absolute priority alongside ensuring that the cadet experience we create is safe.  Activities are planned and supervised by qualified...

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First Aid

All Cadets and Staff take part in some first aid training, from the introductory Heartstart course, to the full 16-hour St John Ambulance Activity First Aid. HEARTSTART All Cadets and Staff undertake this short British Heart Foundation course, which introduces them to the basics of first aid. YOUTH FIRST AIDER Many Cadets will progress to the St John Youth First Aider, which is a comprehensive course covering many aspects of first aid, and leading to the award of a Bronze First Aid Badge. Having a recognised first aid certificate is also a great addition to Cadets' CVs! ADULT FIRST AID TRAINING The Wing also runs St John Ambulance 16-hour Activity First Aid courses for staff and older cadets.

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Drill & Ceremonial

Drill is a useful tool to instil discipline and teamwork and gives a great sense of achievement when mastered correctly. When a group of cadets walk on to a parade square they are all individuals, but as soon as a session of drill begins the cadets become a team, following the orders given by one individual. All cadets and uniformed staff are expected to achieve a reasonably good standard of Drill but many aspire to become experts and eventually instructors. With a few years’ experience you could pass on your knowledge and experience to other cadets, instructing them on how to participate in a drill squad, taking charge of a drill squad yourself, or even playing a major part in...

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Sports

As an air cadet you can take part in seven main sports at different levels - athletics, cross country, football, rugby, hockey, netball and swimming. Whatever you do it'll help improve your physical fitness levels and your teamwork skills. If you're good enough at your favourite sport we'll notice, and can help you take it to the next level. There are frequent tournaments between squadrons, where the best players are selected to represent the wing. The same then happens for the region, with wings competing against each other and the best players making up the regional team. If you make it through each of those selections then you're good. Really good. You'll be at the top of your game and...

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Shooting

Target shooting is a great experience for cadets of all ages. RAF Air Cadets use three different rifles: the No. 8, L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle and the L81A2 Cadet Target Rifle. Cadets begin by shooting at distances of 25 metres, and can advance to distances of up to 1,000 yards! In addition, Cadets can take part in shotgun shooting. Cadets have the opportunity to gain a range of marksmanship awards and badges, and compete in annual shooting competitions. Safety precautions are taken at all times, and strict regulations are followed to ensure that this remains both an enjoyable and safe experience for cadets. All cadets are given intensive training and must pass a Weapons Handling Test (WHT) before being allowed...

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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,...

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