It is a rare opportunity for the whole wing to be able to get together, trying to manage other wing events, squadron and other activities in the busy programme of Trent Wing, but on the 24th January after months of planning that’s what happened.
Held in the Officer and Aircrew Cadet Training Unit’s Whittle Hall facility at Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Staff and Cadets from across the 5 counties of Trent Wing RAF Air Cadets, gathered for a full day of training and updates. After Wing Commander Wright opened the day, he handed over to Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, Commandant Air Cadets, her first duty of the day to present the Cadet Forces Medal to 3 worthy recipients.
The Cadet Forces Medal or CFM, is awarded by HM the Queen, for individuals who have given 12 years continuous service in uniform to the Cadet Forces. Presentations were made to Squadron Leader Rachel Waltz (Trent Wing Wing Staff Officer), Flight Lieutenant Steve Broomhead (Officer Commanding 1890 Dronfield Sqn) and Flying Officer Simon Bridge (303 Worksop Squadron).
Air Commodore McCafferty then took to the stage to give her address, covering several points on the RAF Air Cadets 2020 vision, training updates and of course touching on the imminent 75th Anniversary celebrations. Before joining the sector meetings that followed, the Commandant hosted a Question and Answer session, coaxing the questions out of an initially quiet audience, who soon picked up pace with their questions and suggestions. ‘It is a great privilege to be able to host the head of the organisation at the training day and I am really pleased that she was able to attend’ said Wing Commander Wright.
The rest of the day covered various topics including Cadet Cyber Safety, Total Safety, Fire Training and a variety of workshop sessions, looking at the key training areas, including First Aid, Media, Adventure Training, Safe Guarding, BTEC, Core Syllabus, Aviation, Shooting and Sports, to name a few.
In bringing the day to a close Wing Commander Wright, thanked all those who attended and looked ahead to the 75th Anniversary year of the RAF Air Cadets; “I am pleased to see so many of you here and I am sure that you will have found the day, both useful and informative. I wish you all every success in this important milestone year of the organisation”.