Friday 31 August 2012

2 September 2012 - Wentworth Woodhouse Classic Vehicle Show

This Sunday (02.09.12) there is a Classic Vehicle Show at Wentworth Woodhouse, for classic cars, motorcycles, military and commercial vehicles etc. This will be the first event held on the grounds since the 1920's and the Cadets will be there to lend a hand. We will also have a tent situated on the grounds with information and some fun and games.
 http://www.barnsleynews.co.uk/general-news/2024-public-visits-to-wentworth-woodhouse-prove-a-september-sell-out.html


Wednesday 4 July 2012

Sunday 1st July

We went on our annual trip to the Waddington Air show. This was as always a great day out with some fantastic displays.

w/e 29th June 2012


The weather was good again Wednesday so we spent the night doing one of our favourite forms of PT, volleyball. This can get extremely competitive...
On Friday we wore DPM for an evening of Field Craft.  The weather thankfully held up for most of the parade night so the cadets had the opportunity to get outside and take part in various team building activities. The Cadets had great fun warming up while Cdt Bracken entertained us with his vocal skills. The Cadets were later given the task of preventing various objects from being taken by the enemy while blindfolded.

Monday 4 June 2012

w/e 1st June 2012

Thanks to the good weather we managed to get outside and play some team sports this week.


Radio training continued, with Cdt Webb now having past his initial training and joining the others in making use of the equipment.


On Friday we wore DPM and practice challenging and car searches. Thanks to Cpl Dovey who with her father made a number of imitation IED's.


We had a number of first flyers visit 9 AEF with the assistance of CI Bennett.


Cdts Deakin and Kime attended the JNCO course at Wing HQ for the weekend. Cdt Kime also past his final exam to attain his leading classification.


Staff continued confirming plans for the Annual Dinner and Awards, including shortlisting potential award winners (so be on your best behaviour)



Sunday 20 May 2012

w/e 18 May 2012

We had a great turn out on Saturday morning as part of the new Mayor's parade. Once again members of the public past on their congratulations and thanks for participation. We also has a contingent of ex-serving airmen join us in our ranks, we would like to thank them for their involvement and enjoyment, it shows the high regard that they have for the young people of Rotherham and our Squadron in particular. As veterans at some point in their life they wrote a blank cheque, made payable to Queen and Country for an amount up to and including their life. They are a great honour to our nation.


This week we had an evening of physical training and an evening given over to projects. Cpl Haywood gave a talk to cadets about his kitting for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. Cdts Robson and Deakin lead a radio comms evening and are aiming to get a small group through their communications qualification.


We learnt that Cpl Dovey, Cdt Richardson and Cdt Finnie have been selected to represent our Wing in athletics at the Regional competition.


We also have two cadets attending the JNCO course next weekend at Wing HQ.


Finally, good luck to Plt Off Barnes, this week he undertakes his initial officers course at the Adult Training Facility, RAF Cranwell.


Monday 14 May 2012

Wing competition day

After weeks of practice, we made perfect!


218 Sqn once again have taken the drill competition, it was a short margin and other squadrons have made great gains in the standard of their drill.


All cadets who took part on the day from across the whole of the South and West Yorkshire Wing deserve praise for the effort they have put into this important competition.


In terms of the top three, 218 Sqn took first place with 366 (King Ecbert) Sqn coming second and 868 (Mirfield) Sqn making up the top 3.


Our members will now represent the Wing at the Regional competition day which takes place on Sunday 17th June against the best of the 5 other Wings in the North region.


Congratulations to all the cadets and staff who have helped in the squadrons endeavour, everyone who has given 100% deserves the plaudits of this prestigious award.


A film of the winning display was taken by the parents of Cdt Grundy and may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6balXZIFEdU, thank you for posting this for the Squadron.

Saturday 5 May 2012

Friday 4th May 2012

All Tucano Flight passed their History of the ATC this week and have now studied History of Flight: Lighter than air flight. They also worked on marching and about turn on the march.


Leadership and Team building tasks took place this week, along with the  monthly inspection with flight meetings.


We had a visit from the Sector Commander who checked on our Arms and Ammunition and did our Health and Safety audit. Please note that the Duty Corporal is to sign visitors into the Squadron as quickly as possible and brief them on the health and safety arrangements for the building.


We had some radio kit kindly donated by Colin Shipton and we give him our sincere thanks. CDT Robson helped with setting up the base station and radios. He had 362 (Elm Tree) Sqn broadcasting by the end of the evening. We are working towards getting some of the Cadets their radio certification.


Please remember Duke of Edinburgh Award circuits on Wednesday. Please bring your PT kit, this includes the ladies and gents in Tucano Flight.


Also get your menu choices returned for the annual dinner and presentation evening. The staff are currently reviewing the year to make their choices for the awards.

Sunday 29 April 2012

Friday 27 April 2012

This week rain stopped play for most planned activities. 


Tucano Flt raced through History of the ATC and History of Flight, they continued to learn new moves in drill and work particularly on saluting.


The drill squad worked continued to practice when the rain stopped and inspected uniforms to help with their standards.


We had a visit from the Wing Training Officer who discussed new courses and reviewed existing ones. 


Flt Lt Green called at stores on RAF Waddington to pick up an SD hat for Plt Off Wright, so that he could get back into uniform for parade nights. Unfortunately when it was tried on it was found to be a ladies hat, so if anyone needs a size 59 (massive head) female officers SD hat please get in touch with him. Well done boss.

Well done to Cdts Robson and Lindley who passed Principles of Flight on the Ultilearn system

Thursday 19 April 2012

Wednesday 18 March 2012

The recruits in Tucano Flt were tested on their knowledge of the History of the Royal Air Force tonight, they will move on to the history of the ATC next. They haven't made much progress in drill yet as the weather has simply been too bad since the intake started.


The members of the drill team arrived early to practice and then work on their uniforms.

The rest of the squadron did some aircraft recognition then projects. The cadets who attended the recent sector training in Radio Comms practised their skills with the squadrons handsets.

Good luck to all the cadets who are making the effort to attend the Wing athletics this weekend. Events like this are taken into account when deciding on awards and promotions. The coach for the team will be outside the TA Centre at 07.15 hrs on Sunday morning and dependent on conditions and organisation should be setting back about 16.30. Please remember your consent forms, F3822's, sports kit and food.

Friday 6 April 2012

Wednesday 4th April

We had 12 new starters today, with ice-breaker exercises they got to know each other. They had a talk from Flt Lt Green about 218 (Rotherham) Sqn, and were introduced to Plt Off Wright, CI Bennett and CI Burns.


CI Burns organised the cadets into events for the upcoming Wing athletics (22nd April) and the cadets selected for the Squadron drill team worked on uniform maintenance.


With Friday being a bank holiday (Good Friday) it was decided to stand-down the squadron for the night. The training programme was changed and next Wednesday will be inspections, subs and flight meetings for all except Tucano Flt.


Good luck to the cadets who have been selected for the Wing Activity Week at Windermere next week.



Thursday 29 March 2012

Wednesday 28th March

11 potential recruits and their families watched a presentation about the air cadets lead by Plt Off Barnes and supported by FS Woods and Plt Off Wright.


They have been invited to start their training on Wednesday 4th April.


Cadets helped with gate and car parking duties, setting up in the drill hall and manning some displays for the parents to see. They also undertook physical training. 


We have 4 cadets attending a radio operators course at 362 (Elm Tree) Sqn this weekend and Cpl Green and Cdt Zaman will be at Wing HQ from Friday evening to complete the JNCO course with the cadet training staff.

Monday 26 March 2012

Wednesday 21st March

Tonight cadets practised the new moves from the drill manual AP818. Those in DPM took part in leadership and team-building exercises.


Congratulations to Sgt Barnes, who completed the Officer and Air-Crew Selection Course at RAF Cranwell 8 weeks ago and finally received his result. He is promoted to Officer Cadet Barnes and has booked at attend his Initial Officer Course in May. 

Friday 16 March 2012

Friday 16th March

Members of the drill squad continued with their training for the Wing Drill competition.
Cadets had lessons with our Service Helper Cpl Haywood completing First Class training for our last intake.
CI Barnett and our Honorary Treasurer Mr Ellis made flying visits to the squadron.

Thursday 15 March 2012

Wednesday 14th March

Today cadets helped with adding new items to the inventory. Those shortlisted for the drill squad worked hard on preparation for the wing competition.
After break PT was lead by our new Sports Officer CI Burns.


New notices were places on a sector radio course, places at the Rheindahlen summer camp, Cdt Zaman, Cpl Green and Cdt Schofield have been confirmed to attend the JNCO course at Wing HQ.


Cadets were reminded that we have a recruitment evening scheduled for 28th March, if you have anyone interested in joining please have them fill out the contact form at http://www.218sqn.org/contactus.html#contactform

New appointments CI Burns - Sports Officer, CI Bennett - Radio Officer

Sunday 15 January 2012

Inter-Squadron Cross Country


The South and West Yorkshire Wing Cross Country competition was held at Thornes Park Athletic Stadium in Wakefield this morning. In freezing conditions CPL Cantrell and Cadets Bedford, Bracken, Cronly, Dovey, Hepplestone and Webb battled their way around the 3 mile circuit undulating circuit
Well done to all in the 218 team, of particular note was CDT Hepplestone who won gold as he finished first in the boys category and CDT Dovey who fought hard in the Junior Girls event to come home in fourth position.
The regional competition is in the near future and the above two are certain to go through to the wing team to represent us against the top athletes in the North of England.