Best Cadet Award
Five months of hard work and dedication were rewarded this week when the cadets of Intake 2/15 of 2160 Sleaford Squadron graduated. For sixteen young people the graduation parade in front of their parents and friends marked the end of one phase of their training, and the beginning of the next.
With each cadet having to march out from to receive their 1st class cadet certificate it allowed them to demonstrate, to an admiring audience, just how much their training had impacted on their confidence and bearing.
Following the award of their certificates individual awards were made to the Most Improved Cadet, Cadet Stephen Farnsworth and Best Cadet of the Intake, Cadet Ella Hansford. The reviewing Officer was Wing Commander Dharamraj from Headquarters Air Cadets at RAF Cranwell.
Most improved Cadet
Wing Commander Dharamraj said to the assembled cadets and their parents: “I am an Officer in the regular RAF so when I accepted the posting to HQ Air Cadets I thought the organisation would be pretty much the same as the regular RAF, I was wrong; the cadets were keener, smarter in appearance and outlook, the staff were more dedicated than I ever could have imagined, in short it was a complete and pleasant surprise. The Air Cadet movement is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the formation of the ATC this year and what I have seen this evening, with these young people, strengthens my belief that the organisation is still in very good heart.”
The parade concluded with the cadets repeating their promise to the Squadron Padre, Reverend Robinson.
At the end of the formal ceremonies the parents and guests were treated to refreshments followed by a tour of various training stands which illustrated what their offspring could look forward to in the coming months.
For the Intake training team the whole process begins again almost immediately when “Intake 1/16” arrives next week for their induction night.