Cadets

Cadet Halford aims to reach the top

Cadet Thomas Halford from 495 (Sutton Coldfield) Squadron Air Training Corps has got his hiking-boots on, and is in the middle of an endeavour to climb Mount Everest. There are no ice-axes or Sherpas in sight, because he decided to do this during the lockdown period by climbing his stairs to raise money for a charity close to his family’s heart – The…

Youngest qualified Aerospace Instructor graduates

Cadet Corporal Zain Aslam, aged 16, from 495 (Sutton Coldfield) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets, graduated from this year’s Qualified Aerospace Instructors Course (QAIC). QAIC is the Royal Air Force Air Cadet’s premier aerospace course. Aimed at senior cadets, the challenging syllabus requires a high level of commitment.  The course, now in its twelfth year, aims to provide youngsters from across the…

Lockdown activities: Cadet Force focus

In mid-March it was deemed that alongside many other organisations across the UK, face-to-face cadet activities would need to cease in line with social distancing measures in our Covid-19 response. The question that arose was: how do you maintain the spirit, activities and social side of an organisation if you can’t meet face-to-face? The Cadet Forces are a prime example of organisations who…

A great time to show your support by signing the Armed Forces Covenant

The Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of many groups in society, a shift in our attitude towards care workers, delivery drivers and shop workers, and many others.  This also has brought home the role the Armed Forces plays in the modern world.  Although it’s not always seen or heavily reported on, the role of our soldiers, sailors and air personnel has always…

Celebrating the women shaping our region

At the beginning of March West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association linked up with West Midlands Women’s Voice to take part in an event to celebrate the women defining our region. ‘Celebrate the roaring West Midlands’ was a day of inspirational panel discussions and presentations to explore and recognise the diversity and strengths of women’s experience across business, arts, culture and sport,…

Celebrating the success of the Cadet Expansion Programme

The Government’s Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) has successfully delivered the ambitious target of 500 parading schools across the UK, six months earlier than the proposed timeline. Originally launched in June 2012 by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, the programme aimed to deliver 100 new cadet units in English state-funded schools by September 2015. Following its initial success the Government committed to…

Volunteer scoops award for work with Royal Marines Cadets

A volunteer with the Royal Marines Cadets has picked up an award from his employer in recognition of his voluntary work. Acting Sergeant Dan Bradbury was carrying out an apprentice at KMF Precision Sheet Metal Ltd, based in North Staffordshire. As part of the programme their apprentices take part in an annual community challenge in which they are asked to take part in…