RAF Police, Paramedics and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue have all been on the agenda for 1461 (Wigston) Squadron during October, with visits from the Paramedics and the RAF Police and then a visit to the local Fire Station.
During the Police and Paramedic visit, Cadets viewed a presentation about joining the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the RAF police (RAFP) trade, how the recruit training is structured, how you progress through it and where you go after basic recruit training at RAF Halton. They were then taught the different aspects & roles within the RAFP, dog handling, aircraft security and much more. Then came the practical side which involved a bit of close quarter protection techniques!
Following on from this, Officer Commanding 1461 Squadron, Flt Lt Tim Hargraves, who is a Team Leader in East Midlands Ambulance Service, was able to talk and show videos about how to become a Paramedic and how they respond to emergency calls. There was also an opportunity for the cadets to get hands on with a fast response vehicle and the lifesaving kit it carries.
Two weeks passed and it was time for another visit but this time, the cadets made their way to Wigston Fire Station. It was a dark and drizzly night but the cadets turned out in force, 62 in total, for a questions & answer session, a tour around the station and then a practical demonstration of what they do at a Road Traffic Collision. Wigston Fire Station is an operational station which was demonstrated on the night as they received two calls!!
This isn’t the end of this years visits as Leicestershire Police Firearms section will be visiting in December to talk to the cadets about what they get up to!
“This month has been fantastic! It has been really interesting and insightful getting to know what the emergency services, both military and civilian, get up to. I also think it’s very important that there is an awareness of what they do because society just would not function without them. I can’t wait for December now!”- Cadet Sergeant Hollie Woodford