Call Us 0300 163 8237
Email Us media.dnl@rafac.mod.gov.uk
Menu

Tag: Cadets

Silver Gliding Wings for Bedlington Air Cadet

Congratulations and well done to Sgt Esmee Webley, an Air Cadet with 2522 (Bedlington) Sqn, who has been awarded with her Silver Gliding Wings after completing the new Silver Gliding Course. Sgt Webley was the only cadet selected from the North Region and has spent a week at RAF Syerston where she completed 43 launches in the Grob Viking Glider as part of the course which ended with her completing a solo flight in the glider. This is a great achievement for Sgt Webley, who lives in Morpeth and attends the Air Cadet unit in Bedlington. It is a great experience and one step closer to her goal of becoming a pilot in the Royal Air Force.

Read More ›

Cadets Selected for Prestigious Flying Scholarships

Four Cadets from Durham/Northumberland Wing have been selected by North Region for the Air Cadet Pilot Scheme 2017! Congratulations to CWO Richardson of 1114 Gosforth Squadron - Air Cadets, CWO McAree and Sgt Newton of 861 (Wideopen) Squadron ATC, and Cpl McGowan of 2344 (Longbenton) Air Cadet Squadron! We are looking forward to seeing some photos of your progress over the next few months! Well done also to FS King of 1932 Blackhall ATC Squadron and Cdt Scott of 2344 (Longbenton) Air Cadet Squadron who have been selected as reserves - fingers crossed you get a place! Here's a photo of one of our Cadets from 1507 (Chester-le-Street) Squadron who completed his Flying Scholarship last year...

Read More ›

DNW Smash Their D of E Record!

Air Cadets from across Durham/Northumberland Wing area achieved an outstanding 234 Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards in 2016, breaking all previous records. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a key element of the Air Cadet offer, and every young person in the organisation is encouraged to enrol and take part. From Volunteering with their local Brownie pack, to learning new skills such as Aeromodelling, Website design and Music, the Cadets can participate in a hugely wide range of activities. Cadets in the 35 Squadrons across the Durham/Northumberland area can register for the Bronze Award as soon as they are in Year 9 at school, and many then progress on to the Silver and Gold Awards, culminating in a visit to St...

Read More ›

Air Cadets in Sunderland Remember ‘The Few’

Over 60 air cadets and veterans from across Sunderland paraded against the magnificent backdrop of Mowbray Park to remember the bravery, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph of the men Winston Churchill dubbed ‘The Few’. It is 76 years since the Battle of Britain raged in the skies above England as the RAF fought to gain air supremacy against Hitler’s Luftwaffe and bring to an end the Fuhrer’s invasion plans. Yesterday veterans and Air Training Corps cadets from across Sunderland and South Shields, formed up at the bandstand marching for a special service of commemoration and laying of wreaths. Spectators turned out in their droves to show their support and remember the 544 British and overseas air crew who died defending our nation...

Read More ›

Tall Ships Blyth 2016

Over the weekend, Cadets and Staff from across the Wing took part in the Tall Ships event at Blyth. The Wing Media trailer and marquees provided the backdrop for Cadets and Staff to tell visitors to the event about our organisation, and encourage some of them to join us! Cadets and Staff attended from Squadrons local to Blyth, including 1000 Blyth Squadron, 2522 Bedlington Squadron, 242 (Cramlington) Squadron and 1110 Ashington Squadron, as well as from further afield, including 131 (City of Newcastle upon Tyne) Squadron, 36 (Hetton-Le-Hole) Squadron, 346 (Tynemouth) Squadron, 1507 (Chester-le-Street) Squadron, 1509 (Blaydon) Squadron, and 1151 (Wallsend) Squadron. Well done to everyone - you put on a great display and were great ambassadors for our Wing!

Read More ›

DNW Cadets Aim for Gold!

Air Cadets from across the Durham/Northumberland Wing area have completed the expedition section of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award this week. The 18 Cadets and Staff, aged between 16 and 23, spent four days in the Cheviot Hills, completing a journey that they had planned themselves, taking them from Wooler on the northern side of the hills, to Alwinton in the south. They were entirely self-sufficient throughout, carrying all their own equipment and food, camping out in tents, and even collecting and purifying their drinking water en route! Most of the Cadets, who were drawn from Squadrons as far apart geographically as Ashington and Newton Aycliffe, had already completed the Bronze and Silver levels of the Award, and so...

Read More ›

Intrepid Air Cadets Complete Arduous Nijmegen Marches

A team of six Cadets and one Instructor from Durham/Northumberland Wing Air Cadets have overcome a series of challenges to complete the prestigious Nijmegen Marches in Holland. The journey started over 16 months ago, when DNW set themselves the challenge of recruiting and training the first Nijmegen Marching team for over 30 years. A training regime was set up, and Cadets from across the Wing volunteered to take up the challenge. As the weeks and months went on, it became clear who the front runners were and a team started to gel. Fitness was increasing, that famous team spirit was rife and a team of ten was eventually selected for a qualifying march at RAF Cosford. Despite their best efforts,...

Read More ›

DNW Cadets are On Target Again!

Cadets from Durham Northumberland Wing have yet again hit the target at the prestigious Inter-Services Cadet Rifle Meeting held at Bisley this year. The 30 Cadets, representing 9 Squadrons from across the Wing, travelled to Bisley in Surrey with the aim of achieving a Cadet 100 and bringing back some silverware. They took part in an intensive 5 days of training before embarking on the Wing Fullbore Target Rifle Competition on day 6, and then the main programme of competition shoots at distances of between 300 and 600 yards. The news that a record 8 Cadets had achieved the Cadet 100 badge was received with great excitement, and to top it all off, 1027 (Jarrow) Squadron were named as the runner up ATC...

Read More ›

Cadets March Through City to Mark 75th Anniversary

Almost 700 Air Cadets and Staff from Durham/Northumberland Wing and across North Region took part in a celebratory parade on Saturday 23rd July to mark 75 years of the Air Training Corps. The Cadets and their officers and senior NCOs marched through the City of Durham and held a service of thanksgiving at Durham Cathedral. They were joined by dignitaries including the Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, Mrs Sue Snowdon, a number of local Mayors, and members of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. Mrs Snowdon gave an address during the Service, praising the work of the organisation in delivering challenging opportunities to the young people of the region. The occasion also saw a new North Region banner being dedicated. The...

Read More ›

Shooting

Target shooting is a great experience for cadets of all ages. RAF Air Cadets use three different rifles: the No. 8, L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle and the L81A2 Cadet Target Rifle. Cadets begin by shooting at distances of 25 metres, and can advance to distances of up to 1,000 yards! In addition, Cadets can take part in shotgun shooting. Cadets have the opportunity to gain a range of marksmanship awards and badges, and compete in annual shooting competitions. Safety precautions are taken at all times, and strict regulations are followed to ensure that this remains both an enjoyable and safe experience for cadets. All cadets are given intensive training and must pass a Weapons Handling Test (WHT) before being allowed...

Read More ›