Introduction: The RAF Air Cadet Ocean Youth Trust Scotland West Coast Challenge 2023 was an extraordinary offshore sailing expedition that brought together 11 cadets and one Cadet Forces Adult Volunteer (CFAV) for an unforgettable 12-day journey along the stunning west coast of Scotland. This voyage provided us with incredible memories and experiences that will last …
West Coast Challenge 2023 Read More »
20 October 2023 Kent Wing’s RAF Air Cadets 129 (Tunbridge Wells) Squadron has been awarded the prestigious Shackleton Trophy for its ‘Pedal Overlord’ cycling expedition to the Normandy D-day beaches (supported by The Ulysses Trust and RAF Charitable Trust). In May 2023, 129 Squadron’s Pedal Overlord expedition took 16 cadets aged 13-17, supported by 5 …
Shackleton Trophy awarded to 129 (Tunbridge Wells) Squadron ATC Read More »
On the 26th of July 2023, a team of twenty-two cadets and eight Cadet Force Adult Volunteer instructors embarked on Exercise Mountain Storm. This remarkable journey encapsulated the essence of the third aim of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets: “To foster a spirit of adventure and cultivate qualities of leadership and good citizenship”. The …
Mountain Storm 2023 Read More »
During the summer of 2023 twelve cadets and staff sailed on the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland’s Alba Explorer to complete their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition. Their voyage started in Oban and finished in Hartlepool ten days later. The cadets and staff were from RAF Air Cadets Scotland and Northern Ireland Region with the exception …
Gold DofE Sailing Expedition 2023 Read More »
Wednesday 12th July 2023: Today, under the sunny skies of Glasbury, our acclimatisation journey began. We set off bright and early, leaving London at 07:00am. The group is filled with anticipation and excitement for the upcoming four days. By 12:30pm, we safely arrived at our campsite and took a quick break for lunch before getting …
Gold Duke of Edinburgh 2023 (BDL Canoe Expedition) Read More »
Cirdan Sailing Adventure – 3 to 9 April 2023 1163 (Colne Valley) Squadron and 308 (Colchester) Squadron Air Training Corps Report compiled by Corporal James Taplin Day 1 – Monday 3 April Not that we knew it yet, but as the cadets loaded the minibus and trailer at our HQ with 12 cadets and 2 staff from 1163 …
Achieve Together 2023 Read More »
18 Cadets and 5 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers travelled from Tunbridge Wells to take part in an overseas bike expedition along the beaches of Normandy, France. Many training evenings took place to help the cadets gain experience and confidence when using the trailers attached to the bikes and for each cadet to be sized up …
Pedal Overlord 2023 Read More »
Over the Bank Holiday weekend of 28 Apr to 01 May over 80 cadets and staff from across Derbyshire Sector RAFAC (Trent Wing) descended upon Barn Farm campsite near Birchover for the Sector DofE Expedition weekend for 2023, fully supported by the Ulysses Trust and RAF Charitable Trust. The teams were a mix of Silver …
Dofe 2023 Assessed Read More »
Over the weekend of 31 March to 02 Apr 2023 over 20 cadets and staff from 1401 (Alfreton & Ripley) Sqn and 2326 (Clay Cross) Sqn RAFAC assembled at Lea Green Activity Centre in the southern White Peak to undertake a weekend of Silver DofE Practices ahead of an assessed expedition at the end of …
During the February school half term, 40 RAF Air Cadets and 13 volunteer staff from across the South of England travelled to Germany. They participated in an expedition that was to see them undertake a full six-day programme of ski training and skiing at a variety of resort locations in Southern Bavaria and Austria. This …
Alpine Adventure 2023 Read More »
Exercise Snowpiercer – RAF Air Cadet Ski Expedition to Pila, Aosta Valley, Italy. 30 December 2022 – 06 January 2023 33 cadets and 9 Cadet Force Adult Volunteer staff undertook an overseas ski expedition to Italy, the first overseas expedition of this magnitude for Trent Wing, and for Derbyshire Sector – following the relaxation of …
Snowpiercer 331 2022 Read More »
Early August 2022, 40 air cadets from across No.2 Sector London Wing (North East London) travelled to Stubbers Outdoor Activity centre in Essex for a weekend residential to carry out adventurous activities to challenge each individual and carry them out of their comfort zone. Schools closed for the Summer Holidays and was the prime time …
Stubbers Elite 2022 Read More »
This summer RAF Air Cadets staff & cadets from 1019 (City of Stirling) Squadron, 2284 Dunblane Squadron , 1145 Dunfermline Squadron and 161 – 1st Highland Squadron set off on the adventure of a lifetime onboard Ocean Youth Trust Scotland’s Alba Explorer. The 3 staff and 9 cadets spent 12 days on the boat completing …
Gold DofE Sailing Expedition 2022 Read More »
After a long journey by air and road cadets initially established themselves at the camp site in Rjukan before their first full day. The day dawned bright and warm as the cadets initially went on an acclimatisation walk to stretch their legs and test their kit as they followed the steep zig-zag path under the …
Telemark Cadet 2022 Read More »
HQ RAFAC/OYT Scotland West Coast Challenge Offshore Sail Training Expedition 7th – 14th August 2022 Introduction In August 2022 eleven Staff Cadets from across the UK took part in the 18th annual HQ RAFAC offshore sail training expedition hosted by Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. The below report has been produced by Cdt FS Georgia Greenwood …
West Coast Challenge Read More »
Over the early May Bank Holiday weekend the seven Sqns from Derbyshire Sector RAFAC, Trent Wing undertook a Sector Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Expedition weekend, the first for many years and for most Sqns the first AT activity of any sort since the Covid 19 restrictions had eased. The weekend was possible due to …
Some 48 Cadets and 12 staff from Derbyshire Sector RAFAC, Trent Wing have recently returned from a multi-activities weekend based out of Thornbridge Activity Centre, Bakewell. The primary aim of the weekend was to give an opportunity for new (post Covid) cadets from across the seven Units in the Sector to undertake their first residential …
Multi Activity Weekend 2022 Read More »
Kirsty Thomas, English Teacher turned sailor, gives her account of an incredible weekend racing with students round the Isle of Wight. The weekend of 24-26 June was the culmination of many months of organisation and fundraising, but the rewards were paid in dividends. Ten lucky students and two teachers completed the Round The Island yacht …
Round the Island 2022 Read More »
