A weekend at the end of March saw 126 (City of Derby) Squadron’s first camp of the year. Fifty-two Cadets and twelve staff members were in attendance at the Beckingham Training Camp in Lincolnshire.
For the last month the Cadets have been preparing themselves for the camp during parade nights, especially the Junior Cadets who were gearing up for their first camp within the Air Cadet Organisation.
Upon arrival to the camp on Friday evening Cadets were briefed on the tasks and training that lay ahead including a familiarisation exercise of the area whereby Cadets had to locate thirteen check points around the training area. Each check point had a letter attached and Cadets had to decipher the anagram in order to establish where the location of the casualty evacuation exercise was being held the following day. Needless to say, the Cadets were successful in identifying the location.
After breakfast, kit and accommodation inspections the Cadets split into various groups for a series of exercises which lasted all day. The activities included casualty evacuation, fieldcraft patrol skills, orienteering, leadership and initiative skills.
Casualty evacuation was led by Civilian Instructor Elizabeth Cwilewicz. Cadet Chelsea Ennis said, “I really enjoyed the casualty evacuation. It was brilliant to use our first aid skills in a realistic situation.”
Sunday saw the Cadets put all of the newly refined skills into action in the day exercise when their commander for the weekend, Cadet Flight Sergeant George Burke, received a brief where the Cadets had to locate the Staff’s position and observe the situation without being detected. The rest of the exercise involved them using negotiation techniques, sealing all possible escape routes and treatment of any simulated casualties.
The camp was a great success with all attendees saying that they can’t wait for the opportunity to go again.