INFORMATION BOOKLET216 SQUADRON ATC

2 IntroductionSo who are we and what do we do?

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 Air Cadet Organisation (ACO). Better known as the ‘Air Cadets’, we’re a UK-wide cadet force with more than 40,000 members aged between 13 and 20 years.

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 you succeed in whatever you want to do.

The ACO is made up of two areas:

Air Training Corps - The ATC is the RAF’s •cadet force, divided into six regions, 36 wings and more than 900 squadrons within communities around the UK.Combined Cadet Force (RAF) - The CCF •(RAF) is our section of the CCF which is made up of cadets from all three services, coming together in approximately 200 independent and state schools across the country.

Our aims are to:

Promote and encourage a practical •interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force among young people Provide training which will be useful in •the Services and civilian life Encourage the spirit of adventure and •develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship And there’s one more important thing - •it’s a lot of fun!

The Cadets

VentureAdventure

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Air Cadet Moto

216 Redditch Squadron has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and has a long proud history within West Mercia and also the Wales and West region. The squadron is based at the T.A Centre in Winyates, Redditch and operates 50 weeks a year. With a number of hard working staff and over 30 cadets the squadron has loads of opportunitiesforitsmembersrangingfromflyingto shooting to sport. This booklet will hopefully highlight what the squadron does and what is availble to you as a member of the Squadron and of the Air Cadets.

4 FlyingGet your head in the clouds

Gliding Induction Course

Designed to give you a taste for Air Cadet Gliding, the GIC consists of three levels of instruction. Onyourfirstvisityou’llbe taught the GIC 1. Later visits will cover GIC 2 and 3. In these levels you’ll learn all about aerodynamics and controlling the aircraft, firstinaclassroom,then taking control and practicing what you’ve learned in the air. After you’ve completed the course, you’ll be awarded a GICcertificate.

The Air Cadet Pilot Scheme

Genuinely interested in a high-flyingcareer?Whynot aim for one of nearly 140 light aircraft courses available to air cadets each year at Tayside Aviation in Dundee? A further 27 places are available at the Air Experience Flights (AEF) embedded with the RAF’s University Air Squadrons across the UK.

Toapplyyou’llfirsthaveto complete your non-solo flyingcourseandwinyourblue wings or, preferably, have achieved a gliding solo and won your silver wings.

Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Scheme

Want to wear the coveted pilot navigation badge? You could be one of up to 30 cadets that win a place each year on the Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Scheme - run at Air Experience Flights.

Pilot Schemes - Just a Sample

The ATC is the cadet organisation of the Royal Air Force, so naturally we give ourcadetstheopportunitytogoflyingin powered aircraft and gliding in motor gliders.Formostpeople,“flying”meansgoing on holiday; they never take control of an aircraft themselves. Cadets at 216 do just thatontheirveryfirstflight.Thepilotwilltaxiout,takeoff,findclearairspace…thenit’s your turn. Anumberofflyingandglidingscholarships are open to air cadets, which aimtotrainthemfortheirfirstsoloflight,often before they can legally drive solo! On completion, cadets are awarded their coveted “SoloWings”

Within 216 squadron. you’ll get the chancetoflyintheGROBTutor,glideintheViking and Vigilant and also the opportunity toflyinanumberofserviceaircraftsuchastheGriffinhelicopter,orevenaHawktraining jet.

Last time I asked to do some aerobatics and we did 6 loops - It was better than anything at Alton Towers. You’re shaking when you get back to earth - from sheer enjoyment.

6 ShootingRight on target...

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Aside from being and important military skill, target shooting requires skill, patience and the application of some very in-depth training. The range is ALWAYS an extremely disciplined environment. We are lucky enough not to have to go elsewhere for our shooting, as we have use of an indoor range which we share with the TA and ACF, meaning we can practice more than some of the other less fortunate units. Obviously, you can’t just pick uparifleandshoot!Youhavetoundergodry training (using DRILL ammunition) and pass a weapons handling test. This qualificationlastssixmonths,butthetraining can be done over a weekend. Once this is out of the way, you can go ontherangewithoneofourqualifiedrangeconductingofficersandfireREALammunitionusingourLeeEnfieldNo.8/0.22rifle.

216 Squadron also has regular visits to larger outdoor ranges where after beingqualifiedontheNo.8canshootthemoremodernL98rifle,partoftheSA-80family currently in service with the British ArmedForces.ThiscanonlybefiredbycadetswhohavealreadyfiredtheNo.8/0.22rifle,passedthe1stclassexamandareover 14 years of age. OncefamiliarwiththeL98,thecadets can achieve the Corps Marksmanship, which involves more accuracy and speed shooting. Exceptionally skilled cadets can be nominated to participate in the trails for the Cadet 100, an award for the best 100 shots from the Air cadets, Army Cadets and Sea cadets; a challenge to say the least, but not impossible.

Grouping - You select a single point on the target and fire a number of rounds at it. The aim is for all rounds to form the smallest group possible.

Deliberate Fire - Firing at a target with marked scoring rings, your score is marked depending on how near to the centre of the target you manage to get. Take as long as you need - the goal is accuracy.

Rapid Fire - Just like it sounds, speed is the thing here. Get the round within the target area, but within a time limit.

Snap Fire - Now it gets more chal-lenging. For this you have to get all rounds to fall within a target area. But, the targets only appear for a short time before vanishing again. You must hit it before it disappears.

Types of Shooting

When you hit the target its a great feeling, you’ve done it!

FieldcraftIn the wild

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We spent a weekend at an army training base, we did everything from camouflageandconcealment to sentry drills. All the time we were out there we had tobeself-sufficientfrom our ration packs and equipment we were carrying.Cadet Corporal McTighe

Of course, the cadets don’t spend all their time in there working blue uniforms. Sometimetheyget“downanddirty”inourDPMcombatgearforfieldcrafttraining.Fieldcraft plays a large part in cadet life. We will run weekend and week-long camps to various places to perform training exercises in many different activities. Fieldcraft is an important military skill and is quite a large part of cadet life. It focuses on a number of different areas such as shelter building, patrolling, sentry duties, target indication and a number of other basic military skills. Fieldcraft exercises vary widely and each places emphasis on different aspects of how to survive and conduct yourselfinthefield.Manyinvolvetwoteams being pitted against each other.

You and your team might need to move quietly, avoiding detection as you sneak upon an ‘enemy’ installation. Sound easy? Think again. Speed might also be a big factor of your success. Do you risk exposing your position at the cost of achieving your objective more quickly? Decisions like these are challenging and need to be made ‘on-the-fly’. Amassiveadvantageoffieldcraftexercises is that they force you to use your own initiative, sometimes affecting your teammates. What would happen if the commanders of your team ‘went down’? Would you take control? If you have natural leadership qualities,they’lldefinitelyshowthemselveshere

10 Adventure TrainingSomething for everyone

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Adventurous 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. Remember, whatever your personal tastes, nothing is compulsory. There is a wide range of adventurous activities to get stuck into, so if climbing isn’t for you perhaps canoeing is. Sometimes what’s on offer depends on the squadron you attend, but everything you do issupervisedbyqualifiedtrainerswhowillensureyougetthe most out of it. Between local activities and visits to camps, you will have the chance to experience kayaking, hill walking, camping, caving, mountain biking, offshore sailing and winter sports to name just a few.

Recently I was part of a week long camp at Llanbedr in Wales. We did Kayaking, climbing, trekking, caving and loads more. Fantastic but exhausting!Cadet Corporal Cooke

12 Duke of Edinburgh Award

A true challenge

13SportFeeling competitive?

You may of heard of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), but don’t know what it is or whether it’s for you. Well, it’s for everyone who likes a challenge. Their mission is simple - ‘to inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development, and recognise their achievements’. To put it another way, they help you succeed. With the same sense of adventure that drew you to the AirCadetsinthefirstplace,theDofEtakesyouthrougha programme of activities that will leave you a more confident,motivatedandcapableperson. We’re proud to be the DofE Award’s largest participant. If you’re 14 or over, then you can begin - just ask the instructors in your squadron and they’ll help you get started. There are three levels which, when successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold DofE Award. And it’s never too late to get in on the action - depending on your age you may be able to jump straight in at Silver or Gold level! It’s not a walk in the park. You’ll get your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through persistence and commitment - but as an Air Cadet you’ll already know all about that. Over time you’ll develop personally and welcome each new challenge. At the end of it all you’ll have the world’s leading achievement award for young people under your belt, recognised by employers and universities alike.

But there’s one person who’ll truly appreciate that achievement the most - you.

Ifirmlybelieve that D of E shapes young people’s lives

Mr Hayes, Burnley FC

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’llhelpimproveyourphysicalfitnesslevelsand your team 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 will have a shot at representing the entire cadet corps, nationally and even internationally.

Work hard, play hard

Mixing work and play is at the heart of the Air Cadets. Getting stuck into sport is fun, and you’ll build friendships and learn how to use your strengths to best effect in a team. And it doesn’t stop at the sports we’ve mentioned. Each squadron runs loads of different sport activities. These could include 5-a-side, table tennis, volleyball, racquet sports or many others. You’ll be playing for fun but we’ll encourage you to unleash your competitive side. Don’t worry if you don’t think sport is your strength. You don’t have to be the next Olympic star, just take the opportunities and enjoy yourself

14 Training & EducationPut your passions into practice

Getting highly skilled in your favourite area of study means that you could end up with a number of widely recognised BTEC qualifications.

Certificate in Aviation Studies Once you achieve the ‘Staff Cadet Part 1’ training syllabus you’re automatically entitled to thisqualificationwithoutany further work. And it’s free to cadets.

Award in Aviation Studies You’re eligible for this once you’ve completed ‘First Class’ and ‘Leading Cadet’ training. There is a registration fee for this award.

First Diploma in Public Services This internationally respectedqualificationmixes theory and practical elements with an emphasis on leadership, teamwork, communications, problem solving and fitness.Improvingyourlife skills, the syllabus includes professional CV preparation, interviewing techniques, communication,firstaid,adventure training, health and nutrition. Most of the content is covered by activities you’ll be doing normally, and you also complete an additional project and workbook. Plus, it’s free to if you’re between 16 and 19 years old!

First Diploma in Music This course helps you develop a basic understanding of music as a profession, and combines both technical skills with practical elements and research. Bythetimeyoufinish,you’ll have demonstrated an understanding of all aspects of performance, including solo and ensemble work and how to manage rehearsals. You’ll also learn how to market, budget, advertise, programme and publicise a music event. You’ll be expected to be able to play a musical instrument prior to enrolling n the course, but do not have to be able to read music. This award is also free if you’re 16-19 years old.

BTEC Awards

Aside from all the great experiences and new skills you’ll gain as an air cadet, you can also takeawayrealqualificationsthatwillsetyou apart from the crowd when you head to university or begin your chosen career. For starters there’s the Duke of Edinburgh Award that employers everywhere recognise as a great achievement. You can take on the challenge as part of your adventurous training, working your way up through the levels all the way to Gold - something to be really proud of.

But did you know there’s also:

Leadership training, where you can •really prove your worth as leader - a skillthatwillbuildyourconfidenceandyour ability to deal with different kinds of people. If you can handle it you could get to the Junior Leaders course - it’s gruelling but what you get out of it will be invaluable to you for the rest of your life.

BTECs are always popular and a widely •recognisedqualification-morethan4,000 cadets have registered for the First Diploma in Public Services and over 6,000 have signed up for the First Diploma in Aviation Studies. There’s also the increasingly popular First Diploma in Performing Arts (Music) for budding musicians. First Aid is another essential skill you •can pick up - train in this important area and you may be awarded a certificatefromStJohnsAmbulance.Ifthose skills were called upon you could make all the difference in a life or death situation. City&Guilds-cadetscanalsobenefit•fromcertainvocationalqualificationsin management, as can our volunteers.

First Aid is taught to every cadet in the Squadron, covering the basics up to full CPR.

GCSE’s can be gained from your BTEC’s and just your normal classes. Anywhere between 2 and 4 GCSE’s at A to C level are available.

The Classification system is a major part of the Air Cadets, progress from first class cadet up to master cadet learning all about the RAF, airmanship, map reading, radio communications and much more!

Training Fact File

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16 Want to join?What to do next...

Weguaranteethatyouwon’tfindtheincrediblecombination of adventure, opportunity and fun that Air Cadets offers anywhere else, and with nearly 1,000 units nationwide we’re probably closer than you think. Cadets and adult volunteers all gain the same second-to-none experience where you can make lasting friendships and build uponyourconfidence,skillsandachievements.

Check out these pages and each section depending on who you are. Contact details are on the next few pages.

So,areyoureadytotakethefirststep towards all the opportunities andbenefitsthattheaircadetscanoffer you?

It’s important to know that we’re not a recruiting organisation for the Services (but it’s great if you decide you want to join later on). We’re not interested in anything but you and your potential, and will help you get the most from your experience as a cadet.

Worriedaboutfittingin?Equalityis a central part of the Air Cadets’ ethic. The cadet experience is open to everyone, so whatever your nationality, background or ability, whether you’re male or female, if you’re between 13 and 17 years old you can join us.

Cadets

Over 20? Seeking a new challenge? Would you like to develop skills, leadership qualities and gain qualificationstoo?

At Air Cadets, we constantly assess our past achievements, implement changes to meet the challenges of today and make plans for the future. And a huge part of that planning is you. As the backbone of our organisation we’re always on the look out for high-calibre individuals to become volunteers, helping to run the activities that play such an important role in the lives of our young members.

All kinds of people make up our volunteer staff, coming from a range of backgrounds and interests. Obviously if you have direct experience of working with young people, or any relevant skills such asflyingorgliding,youwouldbeparticularly welcome. These aren’t essential though, as we will train and support you at every stage.

That said, you’ll have some personal qualities that are essential, such as patience, maturity and responsibility along with an understanding of young people and their needs. You needn’t be an athlete, but a good levelofphysicalfitnessalsohelpsto ensure you can keep up with the cadets!

Adult Volunteer

Why air cadets? It’s a fair question, but ask anyone who has taken part as a cadet, adult volunteer or parent and you’ll know how special the organisation is. It offers young people from all walks of life a chance to get active, learn new skills and make new friends in an inspirational and safe environment.

It doesn’t interfere with their school responsibilities and cadets take an invaluable set of experiences and strong personal ethics with them when they leave that they can put to good use at university or in the career of their choosing. It’s true that some cadets do take up a career within the Services, but there is no liability for them to join up after leaving the organisation. Their personaldevelopmentasconfidentand spirited young people is our main aim.

Under the guidance of our fully qualifiedvolunteerstaffwe’llofferyour son or daughter many activities to take part in and every opportunity to build their strengths and improve theirconfidence.Wehopethattheystay with us for several years and thoroughly enjoy their membership - our volunteer staff are always on hand to assist parents with any questions or concerns.

Info for Parents

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18 Squadron ContactsInterested,findoutmore...

So if you have read through this booklet and you want to know more, or just have a question you would like to ask then please contact us.

Either give us a ring at the Squadron, send us an e-mail or just grab one of our representatives at the next recruitment and awareness event (details available on the website).

If you would like to come down to the Squadron wedoaskthatyoucontactusfirstasweareonasecure compound and need prior knowledge of your visit for you to be allowed entry.

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Telephone01527 65840Mon & Thurs 7-9.30 (24 hour answer service)

E-Mail216@aircadets.org - General Enquiresoc.216@aircadets.org - Officer Commanding

Squadron Address216 Redditch Air Training CorpsT.A. Centre,Winyates Way,North Moons Moat,Redditch,WorcestershireB98 9PJ

PersonsOfficer CommandingFlight Lieutenant K. Cheston RAF VR(T)

Squadron AdjutantFlying Officer R. Bissell RAF VR(T)

Contact Details

I can now say, being apart of 216 Squadron was one of the best things I did. I made friends for life, did things I never imagined I would and just had an amazing time.Laura Roberts - Ex Cadet

Images courtesy of Google Maps

01527 65840

THE AIR CADETSWith almost 41,000 members, aged from 13 to 20 years, in over 1,000 Squadrons across the UK, the Air Cadets is the world’s largest premier youth air training organisation.

For more information call

www.216atc.co.ukor visit

216 Squadron (ATC) is a member of the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO) which is a registered charity in the UK (256391)

Booklet produced internally by Sgt (ATC)N. Lyons