South and East Midlands Wing’s Warrant Officer’s dream of a Nottingham inter cadet service competition came true this week as Nottingham’s Army Cadets Force (ACF) and Air Cadets battled it out for the honour of being Nottingham’s Top Cadets.
Unfortunately the Sea Cadet Corps could not field a team, however eight Nottingham squadrons provided staff and cadets to make a team that battled against a strong ACF contingent.
Warrant Officer (ATC) Dan Haywood, the Wing Warrant Officer, had nursed his dream into fruition over many months of careful planning. By kind permission of the Commander, Chetwyn Barracks, Chilwell, and his staff, the event was held and supported by this great military facility on the outskirts of Nottingham.
The competition involved many activities that all the cadets forces have in common including shooting, First Aid and initiative and physical exercises that tested teamwork and leadership.
Apart from the competition, the day’s highlight for many was an experience flight in a 60 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Griffin Helicopter,
In Warrant Officer Haywood’s opinion; “The day went exactly to plan with both cadets and staff enjoying the inter service rivalry and the inevitable banter. It would not have been possible without the help of the Garrison Staff, the East Midlands Ambulance Service wit their Incident response Unit who set up and ran the First Aid exercise, the RAF Youth Engagement Team from RAF Wittering, East Midlands RFCA who provided sponsorship and encouraged Notts TV and the Nottingham Post to attend and, of course, 60 Squadron and the Griffin crew from RAF Shawbury who ensured all the cadets flew. I am over the moon with the whole event and hope we can repeat it next year”
The day ended with a traditional Tug O’ War and a barbeque. Cadet Flight Sergeant Jade Cox of 1360 (Stapleford & Sandiacre) Squadron considered it; “a unique experience”
As it was a competition, there had to be a winner and that honour was achieved by the Air Cadets. It would probably be true to say that as all the cadets appeared to enjoy the experience, there were no losers.