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Cpl O'Loughlin: 20th March 2007
How I became a Corporal
On a chilly evening, on Tuesday 27th February 2007, a cadet from Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing, in Flight One of 2286 (ARDEN) squadron was promoted to ‘the first step on the ladder’ (quote from squadron leader Harrisson) a corporal.
Hello my name is Cpl O’Loughlin and I was this cadet. In the following passage I will reveal the journey I undertook to become a corporal.
I joined cadets on the 14th October 2005, where I already knew various members of the squadron. I received my uniform two weeks later, and with the help of a number of cadets and NCOs, they helped me to improve my uniform to the standard it is now.
The first milestone came when I was noticed for my initiative and culinary skills, of making tea’s for the members of staff. Soon I became a dab hand at it, (or maybe not, as WO Collins tended to remind me). My consistent attendance enabled me to not only achieve my first class and leading classifications the first time, but also my senior and I am now awaiting my staff results. My voluntary skills enabled me to do a lot for the squadron and therefore enable me to get a lot out of cadets. One of these was the radio operator’s course which I have just recently been on. This course enabled me to prove to the officers and members of staff that I was a good cadet and to show that I had initiative and deserved to get promoted.
On an October parade night I was informed that I was going on the November JNCO course. This was a great milestone for me as it gave me the opportunity to prove my self to the officers and show that I had the quality’s to be an NCO. I passed this course with a distinction and received the reward ‘Best in syndicate’. I think the secret to doing well on this course is to, listen up, speak up and be prepared for any eventuality.
In conclusion I think to make it to an NCO you have to try your hardest, constantly keep you uniform at a good standard, have consistent attendance and most of all perform to the best of your ability and enjoy it while doing so.
Cdt Harris: 20th March 2007 Shooting; Spotter's Point of View On the 10th March 2007 it was the Green Howards shooting competition and I was the spotter for the team. The 2 other squadrons that were there were 495 and 163. The team had a few minutes practice before the other teams arrived and I got to practice my spotting which I'd never done before. I thought it would be quite easy and was surprised at how difficult it was. In the competition we were brilliant. Sgt Brown was a good shot and everyone did really well, even me! My job was really weird because you are watching the target and then all of a sudden a hole just appears from nowhere! The team was lucky I was spotting and not shooting because I wouldn't have done as well at that!
Cdt Rachel Freestone How I achieved my bronze D of E award! When I first joined cadets I didn’t really know anything about the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, but from what everyone was saying it sounded really fun and plus I liked the badge you got when you had completed it. There are four different areas which are your service, skill, physical recreation and finally the expedition you have to participate in all of these to successfully complete you’re bronze D of E. For my service I went 2 cadets for 6 months, I used my leading exam as my skill and then for my physical recreation I represented the wing in hockey. Ok that’s the easy bit done….time for the hard part! The expedition.. not 1 but 2! The first is the practice the second is the actual. For my practice I went to élan valley with the best sqn ever which is 2286! And 163sqn (eww hehe) I can't remember how far I walked but it seemed to go on forever. When we had finished the walk I collapsed on my bed because I was tired and it because it was so hot. We also had the honour of the officers cooking for us! Then in the evenings we had to do our route cards, for the rest of the night we had time 2 relax. The next day we had 2 walk again. I was really tired. When we finally finished the walk I felt a real sense of achievement and I was proud of myself. For my actual i went to élan valley once again but this time I went with 2030sqn. In a stage of the walk we were on top of a massive hill and there was no were to run and there was loads of cows…big hench cows and guess what…they where standing exactly on the path were we where meant to be walking along. The people that have been in my group will know I am scared of cows!! The second day towards the end of the walk we had 2 walk down a small path on a mountain but we couldn’t find the path so we where just randomly walking down the mountain. It must have been a river or something because it was boggy. The grass came above my hip so I couldn’t see were I was stepping and the ground was very uneven. I kept falling over because my bag was heavy then everyone in my group started laughing at me and then they fell over because they were laughing soo much. It took ages to get back up because we were tired as well. When we eventually finished the walk we were an back an hour early so we just chilled in the shade until some one came and got us. I really enjoyed the expedition, because it was like you were out in the wilderness left to fend for yourself. Its also a really good way to make new friends and is a good laugh. I have started to work towards my silver award now and cant wait to go on other expeditions and meet new people