Nijmegen Training Begins!

Cadets from across Durham/Northumberland Wing gathered at Albemarle Barracks last weekend to undertake the first of the training and selection events for Nijmegen 2017! This year was the first time for over a decade that the Wing had entered Cadets for the 4-day Marches in Holland, and the event proved so successful that the aim is to enter a team in the 2017 event made up solely of DNW Cadets. Cadets and Staff undertook a lengthy march on the old airfield site, and started the important process of teambuilding which is an essential element of any successful effort! The candidates will need to attend monthly training weekends between now and next summer to prepare for this challenging task.

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Bishop Auckland Cadets Remember the Fallen Overseas

On Friday 2nd September 2016, 18 cadets and 6 staff from 2505 (Bishop Auckland) Squadron were privileged to visit the WW2 Mohne Dam in Germany, famous for the ‘Dambusters’ raid led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC. During the tour they learnt much of the history and remembered those from all sides who died during the attack. On Saturday 3rd September, the cadets and staff represented the whole of the North of England at the Airborne Forces March near Arnhem in Holland. Having marched past a dais of dignitaries, they completed the fantastic 10km march in uniform. This followed part of the route of the WW2 battle. On route they laid wreaths at one of the many Commonwealth War Graves...

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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...

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DNW Cadets Aim for Gold!

Air Cadets from across the Durham/Northumberland Wing area have completed the expedition section of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award this week. The 18 Cadets and Staff, aged between 16 and 23, spent four days in the Cheviot Hills, completing a journey that they had planned themselves, taking them from Wooler on the northern side of the hills, to Alwinton in the south. They were entirely self-sufficient throughout, carrying all their own equipment and food, camping out in tents, and even collecting and purifying their drinking water en route! Most of the Cadets, who were drawn from Squadrons as far apart geographically as Ashington and Newton Aycliffe, had already completed the Bronze and Silver levels of the Award, and so...

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Local ATC Volunteer Pedals to Paris for the Legion!

Flying Officer David Anderson, 27, an officer at 2344 (Longbenton) Squadron Air Cadets, is in training to take on a gruelling challenge for The Royal British Legion by cycling from London to Paris in just four days. Next month, David, who works full-time as an M&S Section Manager, will join more than 350 other cyclists at Greenwich Park, London, next month at the start of the Pedal to Paris bike ride to raise money for the British Armed Forces community. The 300 mile route takes in the Kent countryside, the white cliffs of Dover, Calais, the rivers Somme and Seine before finishing in the heart of Paris. A Service of Remembrance will be held at the Arc de Triomphe. Pedal to Paris...

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