On Monday 30^th June 2008, a surprise promotion was in the air.  Corporal Kirsty Newton was previously promoted to Corporal at the end of March 2008 and now at the end of June she gained another promotion to Sergeant.

There is now room for more promotions, maybe another Sergeant but definitely Corporals.  So, Cadets of 1300 Squadron, if you think you have the ability to be a Corporal then show yourself, don’t be shy!  Show the Staff you have the ability and another promotion will be in the air!

On Wednesday 18^th June 2008, Adult Warrant Officer Amanda Coleman was presented with her Cadet Forces Medal by the Central & East Region Group Captain,  Group Captain Brett Morrell RAFR.  Wing Commander Dave Speed RAF VR(T) was also on Squadron to congratulate her on her service to the Corps.

The Cadet Forces Medal is awarded for 12 years uniformed adult service to the Corps. 

Amanda also holds the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal given to all Service personnel, with 5 years or more service, in 2002.

Amanda’s career in the Air Training Corps started 22 years ago when she joined the ATC as a cadet at 331 (Chesterfield) Sqn.  She progressed through the ranks to Sergeant before leaving at the age of 18.  She rejoined the Corps in 1991 as an Adult member of staff becoming a Civilian Instructor, at 1082 (Brimington) Sqn going onto 1890 (Eckington) DF and 303 (Worksop) Sqn before transferring to 1401 (Alfreton & Ripley) Sqn where she passed her promotion board to Adult Warrant Officer in August 1995.  She transferred to 1300 (Sutton-in-Ashfield) Sqn in the summer of 1998 where she has been the Squadron Warrant Officer for the last 9 years.

Her other achievements in the Corps have been a Range Conducting Officer and most recently she was asked to take the Parade Marshal’s role in last year’s Remembrance Parade in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Cadets Martin Thomas, Matthew Parry, Seb Hudson and Hiral Ghandi were taken by Adult Sergeant Andy Young to RAF Syerston for a day of Air Experience Gliding on Sunday 15^th June.

Cadets Hudson and Ghandi have never been in a glider before.  All got up at least a couple times in a Vigilant T1 propelled glider.  Yes that’s right, a propelled glider.  Even Adult Sgt Young got a flight in a glider too.

On Sunday 8^th June 2008, thirteen cadets represented the Squadron at the Trent Wing’s annual Field Day Competition.

The team managers for the day were Pilot Officer Derbyshire and AWO Amanda Coleman, whilst Flight Lieutenant Phil Ridley spent the day on the drill square marking the drill competition.

The teams and events were as follows:

09:00    Tent Erecting – Flight Sergeant Matthew Turner (17), Sergeant Luke Chadburn (17), Cadets Tom Wells (15), Matthew Parry (14), Lee Moss (14) and Adam Taylor (15).  The time for setting up and dismantling the 12 x 12 tent was 7 minutes and 21 seconds.

10:00    Orienteering – Sgt Chadburn, Corporal Sarah Livermore (16), Cadets Matthew Parry and Stephanie Hudson (16).  The team didn’t come last with 5 points out of 45 because another squadron achieved minus 3 points.

11:00    First Aid – Flight Sergeant Luke Gamble (18), Corporal Kirsty Newton (18), Cadets Tom Wells and Hiral Ghandi (16).  The team wasn’t disappointed with this event; they came back with smiles on their faces.  Cpl Newton was miffed the casualty was stuck under a car!

12:15    Drill Competition – all cadets

13:30    Shooting – Flt.Sgt Turner, Sgt Chadburn, Cadets Moss and Martin Thomas (14).

15:00    Aircraft Recognition – Cpls Newton and Livermore, Cadets Parry and Thomas.

16:00    Physical Fitness – Flt.Sgts Gamble and Turner, Cadets Wells and Seb Hudson (14).  The team did equal the record of one of the events, up to that point.

Throughout the day the models were being marked – the diorama, novice and individual made by Cadets Thomas and Hudson.  One of the models did gain the position of 8^th.

There was also a Poster competition being marked through the day as well.  A recruitment poster was to be made for the Corps indicating Adult Recruitment and Cadet Recruitment.  The Adult poster was created by Flight Lieutenant Phil Ridley whilst the Cadet poster was created by Cadet Tom Wells.

No trophies this year but all cadets did enjoy themselves.

On Saturday 31^st May 2008, 3 cadets of 1300 (Sutton-in-Ashfield) Squadron were taken by their Commanding Officer, Flight Lieutenant Phil Ridley, to RAF Cranwell for Air Experience Flying.

Cadets Seb Hudson (14) and Hiral Ghandi (16) have never been flying before.  All got up for a 30 minute flight in a GROB 115 Tutor.

Corporal Sarah Livermore (16) also went flying and has been flying many times before in her ATC career.  To add to that experience, Sarah has now been chosen to gain her glider pilots licence via the Reid Buckle Bursary.  Only a handful of cadets each year manage to pass the interview process to gain the Bursary Scholarship.

The Squadrons last cadet to achieve this opportunity was Flight Sergeant Paul Cosgrove in 2006.  Flight Sergeant Cosgrove went onto join the Royal Air Force in 2007.

On Saturday 31st May 2008, seven cadets from the Squadron helped the Royal Air Force Careers with the Royal Air Force Town Show, setup this year in Mansfield’s Market Square.

Sergeant Luke Chadburn, Corporals Daniel Barnes and Sarah Livermore  along with Cadets Matthew Parry, Tom Wells, Alexandria Brown and Stephanie Hudson helped set up the Squadron’ recruitment stall.

They also helped out at the RAF’s Initiative Exercise stall and the Harrier GR3 cockpit throughout the day.

To find out more information log on to www.aircadets.org or call 0845 600 6601 for an information pack.

Nine cadets represented 1300 (Sutton-in-Ashfield) Squadron in the annual Wing Athletics Competition at Quibell Park, Scunthorpe on Sunday 11^th May 2008.

Corporal Daniel Barnes (15) was amongst the first to compete in the track events, 100m – Class B Youths.  He came 4^th in his heat but didn’t make it to the final.

Sergeant Matthew Cordon (18) also competed in the 100m – Class C Junior Men.  He too came 4^th but entered a fast time to compete in the final later in the day, but he only came 8^th.

Cadet Tim Wells (14) competed in his 1st and 2^nd track event of the day in the 400m and 200m – Class B Youths.  He came 3^rd in 400m and 1^st in 200m but didn’t achieve a fast enough time to win a medal.

Sergeant Cordon competed in his 2^nd track event, also in the 200m in his Class C category.  He came 4^th.

Cadet Martin Thomas (14) competed in the 800m – Class B Youths.  He came 6^th.

Cadet Tom Wells competed in his 2^nd track event of 1500 in his Class B category.  He came 3^rd in his heat but again missed out on a fast time to win any medals.

The only girl to compete in a track event was Corporal Sarah Livermore (16).  She competed in the 1500m – Class E Senior Girls.  She stated that she normally came last, not because she was slow but because all the other girls behind her dropped out.  Today was not the case; she didn’t come last – but next to last!

In the field events, the day started with Flight Sergeant Luke Gamble (18) throwing the Javelin and the Shot and then a last minute swap to the Long Jump in the afternoon – Class C Junior Men.  He came 5^th in the Javelin.

Corporal Kirsty Newton (18) was the only girl to compete in the field events in Long Jump and Javelin – Class E Senior Girls.

Corporal Barnes competed in his 2^nd event of the day in the Discus – Class B.

Cadet Adam Taylor (15), a newcomer to the Squadron, competed in the Long Jump for Class B Youths.  He gave us all a surprise by winning a Bronze medal.

Last but not least, Cadet Matthew Parry (14) competed in the Shot for Class A Boys.

The final events for the day were the 4x100m Relays.  The Squadron only had 1 team in the Class B Youths namely Corporal Barnes and Cadets Taylor, Thomas and Wells.

Report by Team Manager AWO Amanda Coleman

Assisted by Cadet Sergeant Luke Chadburn

Saturday/Sunday 26^th/27^th April, seven cadets from 1300 (Sutton-in-Ashfield) Squadron started a Duke of Edinburgh Award Bronze expedition.  For two of those cadets, Corporals Sarah Livermore and Daniel Barnes, it was their FINAL Bronze expedition.  The remaining five cadets, Sergeant Luke Chadburn, Cadets Matthew Parry, Alexandria Brown, Stephanie Hudson and Seb Hudson were walking their first Bronze expedition practice.

The expedition started at the Halifax Bomber Memorial in Farnsfield at 11:00hours.  A 13.3km walk through Farnsfield, heading towards Blidworth and finally camping out at the Abelwood campsite near Ravenshead.  They finished their first days walk at about 16.32 hours.

Once their tents were pitched they all started to make their evening meal and warm drinks on small gas stoves.  Only the staff got out of cooking and ordered a pizza! (RHIP!)

To keep the cadets entertained until bedtime, they played “Escape and Evasion” – that’s “Hide and Seek” to you and me!  But one cadet didn’t quite get the gist of hiding!

Bedtime was at 21:00 and lights out at 22:00 hours.

Reveille was at 06.30 but some were up a bit earlier.  All cadets cooked their own breakfast before packing up tents and rucksacks for day 2 of their expedition.

The cadets decamped at 08.30 and started their 14km walk through Ravenshead, heading towards Blidworth and, following mainly the “Robin Hood Way” route, to Mansfield, finishing off their total 27.3km 2-day walk at Thieves Wood arriving at about 14:00 hours.