Dear Regional Commandants, we must ensure that all volunteers have viewed the content of the HS&E awareness/refresher training CD-ROM that I circulated to all ACO formations last year and I would be obliged if you would assist me by placing the following text into your next RRO and also on your HS&E section within BADER.

URGENT - ALL VOLUNTEERS

Following visit to ACO formations, my H&S Advisers have reported that although the vast majority are compliant, significant numbers of volunteers have not viewed the Health, Safety and Environment, awareness/refresher training CD-ROM, issued to every ACO formation last year. During a recent RA training course, not one volunteer had viewed the material.

As this is a fundamental part of the ACO, Safety Management System and a Comdt AC instruction, OC's are to ensure that all volunteers have viewed this material before commencement of any ACO activities.

Regards
Donald

Donald A W Gordon

MSc CMIOSH FRSH Dip2.OSH I.Eng MIET FTC

Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner

Head of Health and Safety ACO

Royal Air Force Cranwell

Introduction. A variety of outdoor activity instructor courses for ACO adult staff of all ranks including CIs, Instructor Cadets and staff from CCF (RAF) sections, have been arranged to help and encourage individuals to work towards and ultimately gain nationally recognized qualifications, to instruct/lead adventure training activities.

Adult members of The Sea Cadets and Army Cadet Force are invited to apply and will be allocated places on a “fill up basis”. The courses will be held at the Windermere, LLanbedr  and Llanwrst Training centres.

Site members can download the full course details and requirements from here.

Submitted by onlyme

It is with great pride that I read the many articles and hear the many stories of our Air Cadets and Staff supporting the Remembrance Day services and parades around the country. From the senior leaders in the Royal Air Force to the veterans around the world, praise of the Air Cadet Organisation has been universal.

I express my deep gratitude to all those in the Air Cadet Organisation who gave up their time to collect for the poppy appeal and support the acts of remembrance across this country and abroad. Well done to you all and congratulations for continuing to make the Air Cadets the best and smartest youth organisation in Europe. We continue to thrive together and I look forward to another successful year ahead as we approach 2009.

Ian R W Stewart
Air Commodore
Commandant of the Air Cadet Organisation
Headquarters Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Cranwell

Cadets from 327 (Kilmarnock ) Squadron Air Training Corps were recently trained on the skills of emergency life support (ELS) through the Heartstart UK initiative by Adult Warrant Officer Janice Millar - the squadron's First Aid Trainer.

The skills of emergency life support (ELS) are simple and can save lives, ELS is the set of actions needed to keep someone alive until professional help arrives. They include performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), dealing with choking, serious bleeding and helping someone that may be having a heart attack.

327 (Kilmarnock) Squadron Air Training Corps joined local dignitaries, politicians, the council and representatives of other public services including the police and fire and rescue services in the annual Remembrance Day service at the War Memorial in Kilmarnock.

Air Cadets of 379 (County of Ross) Squadron, based at Alness, Easter Ross remembered the service men and women, both past and present when they paraded on Sunday 9th November 2008, at the 90th Anniversary of Remembrance at the war memorial Alness.

Sunday morning of 26 October saw Cadets Morag Campbell of 1296 (Turriff) Sqn and Caryn-Ann Langley of 1990 (Ellon) Sqn up at the crack of dawn to travel to the Scottish Junior, Under 21 and Novice Indoor Archery Championships in Montrose.

Aberdeen wing had its annual cross country competition at the weekend, for a number of years this has been held at Mackie Academy but for various reasons an alternative was looked into. The result was to use Hazelhead Park in Aberdeen.

Saturday started clear and bright all be it crisp. Teams arrived to start at 10 and after some adjustments to the starting line up the first team of boys set off to do 2 circuits of the course. Other groups were quickly started and all the staff/marshals gave encouragement to the cadets on there way round.

The event was helped with the clear crisp day and the event finished off with the medals and trophies being presented by the wing commander Joan Gilbert-Stevens.

Congratulations to the overall winner 865 (Portlethan) Sqn, with the runners up 107 (Aberdeen) sqn.

The team for the inter wing competition on the 16th November was also selected and will be encouraged to undertake further training over the next few weeks by the convenor Flt Lt Norris.

It is with heart felt sorrow that 327 (Kilmarnock) Squadron are coming to terms with the passing of one of their favourite cadets Heather Stupart who died on 20th October 2008, aged 15.

Heather joined the squadron in February 2007 when she was 13 and quickly became a valued member of the squadron. Heather was in the drill team who won the Glasgow & West Scotland Wing competition and represented the squadron at Athletics.
Heather also took part in Veterans presentations hosted by Defence Secretary Des Browne. She also flew in the 2 seater Grob tutor aircraft from Glasgow Airport.

We were all shocked when Heather was diagnosed with a rare cancer in July 2007. Despite her illness and the gruelling treatment she had to undergo, Heather always had a smile on her face.

Although unable to participate in many activities, Heather still attended the squadron as much as possible and participated in charity fund raising that the squadron was involved in, she always lit up the room with her infectious smile.

One of the best memories that cadets have is a great trip to the Royal International Air Tattoo last year where they not only had a great day at the show but also a great deal of fun on the long bus trip there and back.

Special mention has to be made to Cadet Jennifer Gibson and Corporal James Davis who were Heather’s closest friends both in the squadron and out with the squadron and who supported her all through her illness.

Heather’s brother Sean was recently welcomed into the squadron and like Heather has become an active and valued member very quickly.

All of the uniformed and civilian staff and every one of the cadets have been inspired by Heather and how she coped with her illness. We will all miss Heather for her lovely smile, enthusiasm and courage - she has been an inspiration to us all.

J C P Downie

Flight Lieutenant

Officer Commanding

PO Scott Thomson has been awarded the ILM Award in First Line Management from CVQO.

PO Thompson is presently acting as OC 2368 (Airport) Squadron and this achievement demonstrates the importance and quality of the training which he has received through the Cadet training courses.

It also recognises professional development and managerial experience to the advantage of the cadets.

Scotland & Northern Ireland Region

Air Training Corps

Inter Wing Swimming Championships

Sunday 19th October 2008

Results

The Regional Pipes and Drums came together today to beat retreat at th 70th Anniversary of the Historic Mercury and Maia flight from Dundee to Orange River in South Africa on 6 Oct 1938.

At the time this was a historic flight by two piggy back sea planes.

A full gallery of pictures taken from the day is available on this site at this link ->

 http://aircadets-sni.org.uk/e107_plugins/sgallery/gallery.php?list.6.1 . 

The salute was taken by John Letford, Lord Provost of Dundee.    The event was also supported by Dundee Wing, with 6 Marquees forming a large tented display area in which Tayside Aviation, The Philatetic Society, The RNLI and a display of Radio Controlled Models by CI Colin Nicol of 1145 (Dunfermline) Sqn had stands.

In the centre front was a presentation created by the city archivist, detailing the flight and the story behind it.   In addition the article from Flight Magazine in 1938 was on display in large format.

13 members of staff attended the weekend training based on the Isle of Skye - one of the most dramatic areas in the West Coast on Scotland now relatively easy to get to over the Skye Bridge. The Black Cullins formed the backdrop for the weekend and the Skywalkers Hostel was a perfect venue.

A great opportunity for the walking group to gain quality mountains days in an unknown area under the capable direction of the Wing’s Technical Advisor.
On Saturday two groups went to Bruach na Frithe via Fionn Choire and descended via the NW Ridge – the weather was typical for that part of the country – wet and misty and unfortunately the fantastic views were only seen sporadically when the clouds did condescend to lift.

On Sunday two groups went to Sgurr Dearg via the West Ridge descending An Stac scree’s into Coire Lagan while a low level coastal walk took another group around the South of Loch Brittle where some great bird watching was possible while others went mountain biking in the Glen Brittle Forest.

It was a long drive home however the opinion was that it was well worth it – the opportunity to venture into an area which is remote and difficult to navigate gives a great opportunity to develop individual navigation and walking skills amongst the staff – helping gain confidence in teaching the cadets with navigation and walking skills.

And so today (31st October 2008) the Region bids a fond farewell to Squadron Leader Alan Foster, who has held the post of Assistant Regional Commandant (ARC) for the past 7 years.

Alan is not leaving the corps however. He is retiring to become a Civilian Instructor on his local unit (1145 Dunfermline Squadron) where he will be involved with the pipes and drums.

His sucessor is Squadron Leader Eddie Carr who will take post on 01 Nov 2008. Squadron Leader Carr was formarly the Wing Administration Officer for Dundee Wing, post that he has held since November 1996.

So who is the new pretender to the throne........ Read On......

Squadron Leader Carr joined 1192 (Kirkcaldy) Squadron ATC in 1959. He reached the rank of Cadet Flight Sergeant before joining the Royal Air Force, in May 1964 as a Supplier "A".

He passed-out from supply training as a leading aircraftsman and was posted to the Royal Air Force Cranwell in October 1964.

His first overseas tour was to RAF Wildenrath, where he was promoted to corporal and posted to RAF Rheindahlen to complete his tour.

In 1970 he was posted to RAF Wittering for his first taste of mobility with the newly formed Harrier Force. However, he was soon selected for a tour on Special Duties with the ANZUK Force in Singapore, where he enjoyed Tiger Beer, trips up the jungle with Wessex from 103 Squadron and playing volleyball.

The RAF Regiment Depot was the next stop in 1975, which included a short notice deployment to Belize with the Bofor Guns of 37 Squadron RAF Regiment.

Promoted to sergeant in 1978 he was posted to RAF Kinloss, where he spent most of his time on mobility duties, with the Nimrod Force, in Cyprus, Gibraltar and the United States of America.

After a tour on recruiting duties at ClO Edinburgh he was commissioned into the Supply Branch of the Royal Air Force in December 1983. Since then he has served at RAE Buchan, RAF Laarbruch, RAF College Cranwell, RAF Decimomannu, the Ministry of Defence, where he was the Trade Sponsor for the Supply Trade Group, Headquarters Logistics Command and 14 Maintenance Unit RAF Carlisle.

He is married to Linda and they have two grown up children.

He enjoys hill walking, keep fit, and cooking.

Laura White, 19 from Darvel, former cadet 327 (Kilmarnock) Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) has successfully completed her initial training at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. Laura is now based at Aldershot where she is training as a medical assistant.