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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

August Inspection

Inspection results for August 2011.

Top NCOs on parade was Cpl Cantrell.

Two Cadets recived the same number of marks on parade, CDT's Carney and Graydon.

Top Cadet was awarded to CDT Graydon.

Well done to all who turned out on parade.

Enrolment

Congratulations to the new intake of cadets, who were enrolled by the Wing Padre, Trevor Dixon on Wednesday. They made their pledges in front of familes and the Squadron in the drill hall at the TA Centre

The top cadet of the intake was CDT Benton.

Congratulations also go to CDT's Bateman, Norcliffe, Sorsby, and Thoman who were promoted to CPL and CPL's Bata and Hosier who were promoted to SGT.

Familes joined the staff and cadets afterwards for refreshments.

Our thanks go the TA Centre staff for use of their facilities and to the Wing Padre. If anyone knows of a member of the clergy who may like to take on a role at squadron level please could you contact the O.C. Flt Lt Green.

Enrolment Evening

Our latest intake of cadets will be enrolled into the Royal Air Force Air Cadets on Wednesday 20th July.

Cadets are required to wear their wedgewood blue uniform (No2A home dress) and will need to attend at the normal time.

Gates will open from 1910hrs for parents, and the ceremony will start at 1930hrs.

The event will conclude at 2100hrs with refreshments afterwards.

We hope to see you all there.

July Inspection Results

The results for the inspection in July are as follows:

Top cadet on Parade: CDT SORSBY with 17/18

Top JNCO: CPL CANTRELL 15/18

Special mention to new Cadets BENTON and DOVEY who both scored 15/18 better than a considerable number of the more experienced cadets

Standown

Please note that 218 Rotherham Squadron will be stood down thie Friday 8th July due to staff committments at the 860 Squadron Summer Ball.

Cadets will be back on Wednesday 3th July to do circuits for the DoE Award physical section. Remember your PT kit

RAF Waddington Airshow

Cadets and Staff enjoyed a visit to the RAF Waddington Airshow on Saturday 2nd July 2011.

The display inlcuded amongst others the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Red Arrows and the American F16 (Fighting Falcon) Thunderbirds team, but the star of the show was an impressive display of raw jet power from the Vulcan.

Turn up the volume and watch the video below (sorry about the shakes it was taken by iphone)

Reminder

Just a brief reminder that it is Squadron photographs on Wednesday night (08th June 2011).

Uniform for the evening is Wedgewood blues.

June Inspection

Inspection results for June 2011.

 

No Jumper on parade so all cadets scored zero in this category, which brought the overall scores down.

Top NCO's  on parade with 16 out of 20 - Cpl Bata and Cpl South. Cpl Bata awarded top NCO.

Top Cadet with 16 out of 20 -  CDT Sorsby.

 

Well done CDT Sorsby for winning for a second time this year.

Well done!

Squadron standown for DoE actvities

Squadron will be stood down on Friday 27th May due to staff and cadets attending a DoE practice expedition.

Wednesday cadets will be back as normal and require their PE kit

Annual Squadron Dinner

On Saturday 21st May, the Squadron held its annual dinner.

Former OC Flt Lt Steve Mawson and Former Squadron Officer Tim Smales were dined out along with CWO Dani Barnett who has aged out.

Guest of honour was Sqn Leader Trevor Souter, Chief of Staff at South and West Yorkshire Wing.

The following cadets received awards:
The 218 Squadron Challenge Shield - Cpl Hosier
The Endeavour Shield - CDT Carney
The Royal Air Force Association Shield for Cadet of the Year - Cpl Cantrell
The Warrant Officer D. G. Williams cane - FS Briston
The Dr David Kay Trophy - CDT Faulkner
The Presidents Cup for Commitment - CDT Sorsby
The Commanding Officers Trophy for Endeavour - Cpl South
The Warrant Officer G W Turner Memorial Trophy for Best Cadet of the Year - Cpl Bata

Well done to all the cadets and staff at 218 Rotherham Sqn and best wishes for another successful year

May Inspection

Inspection results for May 2011.

 

Unfortunately a large number of cadets were out of uniform as they were busy practising for the Wing Drill Competition.

Top NCO on parade with 13 out of 18 - Cpl Bates

 

Top Cadets with 14 out of 18 - CDT's Knapman, and Stanley. CDT Stanley judged first overall.

Well done!