Cadet Flight Sergeant MacQuarrie on the ‘Cantilever’ on the Glyderau mountains!
Exercise Red Dragon Gets Cadets Hot Under The Collar!
Last week, 22 cadets and 8 staff from 2158 (Sevenoaks) Squadron ventured out to North Wales to conduct Exercise Red Dragon for the first time in the squadron history. The exercise was a week-long adventurous training camp based in Snowdonia planned, delivered and executed solely by the squadron.
Based at Capel Curig Training Camp, a military adventurous training facility, the camp was the first of its kind for Sevenoaks Air Cadets and was aimed at giving the maximum number of cadets the opportunity to experience a wide variety of adventure training activities. These included: hill walking, mountain biking, climbing, abseiling, coasteering, kayaking and mine exploration - all in the same week! At the same time, the squadron also ran a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Assessed Expedition where 6 cadets planned, organised and completed an arduous four day expedition through the mountains of Snowdonia.
Cadet Flight Sergeant MacQuarrie on the ‘Cantilever’ on the Glyderau mountains!
Cadet Flight Sergeant David MacQuarrie, one of the squadron’s most senior cadets and the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Kent said:
“Adventure training is just one of the activities that the Air Cadets offers, but it teaches you a lot about yourself – taking part in adventure training has given me confidence and really helped my teamwork skills, as you have to look after the whole group when you are in a mountain environment, or on any activity. Everyone should try it!”
Civilian Instructor Lucy Welch delivering map reading instruction to some cadets
The week was highly successful, and resulted in the cadets overcoming fears, improving their teamwork, communication skills and physical fitness all through the exciting and fun activities provided by the squadron adventure training instructors.
Cadets enjoying the scenery on a mountain bike ride
Flight Lieutenant Russell Dowling, Officer Commanding 2158 (Sevenoaks) Squadron, said:
“Exercise Red Dragon was the very first squadron week long adventure training camp and was highly successful thanks to the hard work and dedication of the team of volunteers who give up their time to obtain the qualifications necessary to run these activities. Few squadrons can deliver this kind of activity solely in-house and I am proud of the team of volunteer staff who made this happen, as well as the cadets who worked so hard during the week and got so much out of the activities.”
Sevenoaks Air Cadets is recruiting now for an intake on the first of September. Fancy trying out some of these activities? Visit http://www.2158atc.co.uk for contact details and more information!