Throughout the summer holidays, cadets from 22 (Sandy) Squadron have attended four different camps in the UK and Overseas in Gibraltar.
The first camp during the holidays was the Corps Drill & Ceremonial camp, starting on July 25th, attended by Corporal Ian Mansion. Throughout the week, Corporal Mansion undertook various activities, such archery, radio communications, continuity drill, and learning rifle drill in preparation for a large parade at the end of the camp with the Air Cadet National Marching Band.
Three days after the Drill & Ceremonial camp, Corporal Ian Mansion and Sergeant Peter Hessey were headed on an overseas camp to Gibraltar. There they had the opportunity to visit the historic Siege and WWII tunnels, police dogs and fire sections, high ropes course, as well as enjoying the weather on the beach and a Water Park.
The next camp for the Squadron was held at RAF Shawbury, Shropshire, starting on the 22nd August, with Corporal Matthew Foster, Cadet Elliot Croucher, Cadet Louise Keetley and Cadet James Prentice attending, as well as two staff members with Civilian Instructor Jeffrey Henshaw and Flight Lieutenant Brian Storey RAFVR(T), who was also in command of the camp.
During camp at RAF Shawbury, the cadets undertook many activities, including archery, Air Rifle and Clay Pigeon shooting, rock climbing and swimming, as well as a visit to the Aircraft Maintenance & Storage Unit where they got to look around and sit in a Red Arrows Hawk, a tour around a Merlin helicopter, and all the cadets on camp went flying in either Squirrel or Griffin helicopters, as well flights in Tutor training aircraft.
The final camp of the summer was held at RAF Waddington, starting on the 29th August, with Cadet George Arnold, Cadet Leon Obi and Cadet Jack Smiths attending. Here they were treated to a 1 hour 30 minute flight in a King Air training aircraft, as well as using the flight simulator and visits to the RAF regiment.
Sergeant Peter Hessey said of Gibraltar camp, “It was an amazing camp, I really enjoyed the experience and feel like I gained a lot from it”.
Cadet James Prentice commented on RAF Shawbury camp “Camp was amazing. My favourite part was flying in a Tutor aircraft and getting to control the aircraft”.