Promotions - Jun 06
Early last month the Cadets were invited to apply for the cadet rank of Sergeant. Four Corporals applied for the Senior NCO role, and then went away to prepare for the interviews which were held at the Sqn HQ.
The four candidates were asked a wide range of questions, in order to try and find out what they would be required to do as Sergeant, how they would deal with certain situations, and how they would react if the were unsuccessful.
It's a bit like taking part in the X-factor you get a number of people auditioning for the part most of which are very good, however there can only be one winner and ultimately the rest will go away disappointed. The real winners are those that leave the competition, regardless of whether they have won or not and take something out of the experience and go on to be successful despite the outcome!
After a good interview in which she demonstrated a good understanding of the role, the corps and a mature approach to dealing with problems, Cpl Sarah Ladlow was promoted to Sergeant
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Drill Hall Weekend - Mar 06
The weekend of the 24-26 Feb saw the cadets at the Squadron headquarters for an intensive weekend of shooting, sports, and a leisurely walk around Blubberhouses.
The training started on Friday night with No 8 rifle firing practice. The cadets started with 5rd groupings with the "aim", if you pardon the pun, of zeroing the weapons (See the shooting section). Once all the eligble cadets had shot, we then embarked on a competition which encompassed all the different shooting disciplines - Grouping, Deliberate, Snap & Rapid.
Meanwhile, off range the cadets were taking part in a variety of sports.
The late night movie was the showing of the Dukes of Hazard, with excellant snacks provided by Mrs Ahmad - you can come again!
The Saturday continued with the same activitiies in the morning, after the CO had made some very delicious bacon butties for breakfast.
Saturday afternoon we travelled to the Richard Dunn Centre for some fun in the pool. Boasting two large water slides and what can only be described as a funnel at the end of one of them, the cadets had two hours of wet entertainment, while most of the staff sat on the side cooking in the humid conditions.
The Trg Off then created an amazing concoffany of the finest Italian Pasta, fresh herbs, onions, mushrooms, rich plum tomatos and the leanest steak mince beef (To you and me, thats Spag Bol from a jar of Dolmio), followed by a perfectly made fruit pie, drizzled with crushed sugar with lashings of whipped cream (Mr Kiplings apple pies with squrity cream). A vertiable feast fit for a King.
After finishing off the shooting competition, the cadets watched a dvd on the homemade Cinema and took part in Cheesy Puff throwing competition.
Then on Sunday, it was off to Blubberhouses for the James Preston Memorial Walk.
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Royal British Legion Recognise Cadets - Jan 06
The Cadet Services in Keighley have been recognised for their efforts during last years Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. In total over £1800 was raised by the cadets.
The presentation evening was sponsored by Skipton Building Society who provided medals for the two cadets that raised the most money from each Service.
The manager of Skipton Building Societies Keighley branch, presented Cdt Ahmed and Cdt Goff who won this years award for the highest collections.
The Mayor of Keighley, Councillor Tony Wright also presented the plaque to the unit that collected the most money - the Army Cadet Force.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Exam Results - 24 Jan 06
Cpl Hall and Cpl Wardley have both passed their Staff 1 examination. By passing this exam they will both receive a BTEC award in Aviation studies.
Like the GCSEs the cadet work on at School, these examination are nationally recognised and will help the cadets when searching for a job.
Cpl Wardley has been working on his BTEC award since Dec 04.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Annual Camp Announcement - 16 Jan 06
The 2006 annual camp is being held at RAF Leuchars in Scotland. The venue has come has a little of a surprise as last years camp was also held at a flying station, RAF Brize Norton.
RAF Leuchars is located in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland and is the home of three Tornado squadrons, as well as several other flying units such as the Army Air Corps and the University Air Squadron.
Although the final numbers have not been confirmed, we have been offered 11 places in June. The camp lasts for week and will give the cadets the opprtunity to experience life in the RAF, develop their leadership qualities and build upon the team skills.
We are expecting the program to be very varied and interesting, with flying and shooting being some of the highlights for the cadets. They will also be looking forward to getting a close look at the Tornado F3 as well as speaking with the pilots.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Remembrance Weekend - 13 Nov 05
This weekend members of the Keighley squadron took part in a remembrance service at the top of Buckden Pike nr Starbotton as well as poppy collecting in the shopping centre on behalf of the Royal British Legion. The following day, on Sunday, the cadets and staff took part in remembrance parade in Keighley town centre.
**********************************************************************************************************************
New Squadron Training Officer - 13 Nov 05
Flight Lieutenant Chris Rickerby has just joined the Squadron and will taking on the role of Sqnadron Training Officer.
Flt Lt Rickerby who is 32, has been in the Air Training Corps since joining as a cadet in 1988. He moved to Coventry for 8 years where he was commision and took command of 163 (Coventry Phoenix) Sqn. He then moved back to Skipton where he started as a Cadet, and took command of 264 (Skipton) Sqn.
Due to the pressures of work he has now moved to Keighley and brings with him a wealth of experience which the cadets will benefit from.
Chris is a a qualified Weapons Instructor and Range Conducting Officer which will be an immense benfit to the Squadron.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Sqn Officer Retires - 4 Oct 05
One of the Sqaudrons long standing uniform staff has this week retired from the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training). Flight Lieutenant Charlie Bolt has served with the Squadron for over 12 years, and intends to remain with the Squadron as a civilian intructor.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Early last month the Cadets were invited to apply for the cadet rank of Sergeant. Four Corporals applied for the Senior NCO role, and then went away to prepare for the interviews which were held at the Sqn HQ.
The four candidates were asked a wide range of questions, in order to try and find out what they would be required to do as Sergeant, how they would deal with certain situations, and how they would react if the were unsuccessful.
It's a bit like taking part in the X-factor you get a number of people auditioning for the part most of which are very good, however there can only be one winner and ultimately the rest will go away disappointed. The real winners are those that leave the competition, regardless of whether they have won or not and take something out of the experience and go on to be successful despite the outcome!
After a good interview in which she demonstrated a good understanding of the role, the corps and a mature approach to dealing with problems, Cpl Sarah Ladlow was promoted to Sergeant
*********************************************************************************************************************
Drill Hall Weekend - Mar 06
The weekend of the 24-26 Feb saw the cadets at the Squadron headquarters for an intensive weekend of shooting, sports, and a leisurely walk around Blubberhouses.
The training started on Friday night with No 8 rifle firing practice. The cadets started with 5rd groupings with the "aim", if you pardon the pun, of zeroing the weapons (See the shooting section). Once all the eligble cadets had shot, we then embarked on a competition which encompassed all the different shooting disciplines - Grouping, Deliberate, Snap & Rapid.
Meanwhile, off range the cadets were taking part in a variety of sports.
The late night movie was the showing of the Dukes of Hazard, with excellant snacks provided by Mrs Ahmad - you can come again!
The Saturday continued with the same activitiies in the morning, after the CO had made some very delicious bacon butties for breakfast.
Saturday afternoon we travelled to the Richard Dunn Centre for some fun in the pool. Boasting two large water slides and what can only be described as a funnel at the end of one of them, the cadets had two hours of wet entertainment, while most of the staff sat on the side cooking in the humid conditions.
The Trg Off then created an amazing concoffany of the finest Italian Pasta, fresh herbs, onions, mushrooms, rich plum tomatos and the leanest steak mince beef (To you and me, thats Spag Bol from a jar of Dolmio), followed by a perfectly made fruit pie, drizzled with crushed sugar with lashings of whipped cream (Mr Kiplings apple pies with squrity cream). A vertiable feast fit for a King.
After finishing off the shooting competition, the cadets watched a dvd on the homemade Cinema and took part in Cheesy Puff throwing competition.
Then on Sunday, it was off to Blubberhouses for the James Preston Memorial Walk.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Royal British Legion Recognise Cadets - Jan 06
The Cadet Services in Keighley have been recognised for their efforts during last years Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. In total over £1800 was raised by the cadets.
The presentation evening was sponsored by Skipton Building Society who provided medals for the two cadets that raised the most money from each Service.
The manager of Skipton Building Societies Keighley branch, presented Cdt Ahmed and Cdt Goff who won this years award for the highest collections.
The Mayor of Keighley, Councillor Tony Wright also presented the plaque to the unit that collected the most money - the Army Cadet Force.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Exam Results - 24 Jan 06
Cpl Hall and Cpl Wardley have both passed their Staff 1 examination. By passing this exam they will both receive a BTEC award in Aviation studies.
Like the GCSEs the cadet work on at School, these examination are nationally recognised and will help the cadets when searching for a job.
Cpl Wardley has been working on his BTEC award since Dec 04.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Annual Camp Announcement - 16 Jan 06
The 2006 annual camp is being held at RAF Leuchars in Scotland. The venue has come has a little of a surprise as last years camp was also held at a flying station, RAF Brize Norton.
RAF Leuchars is located in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland and is the home of three Tornado squadrons, as well as several other flying units such as the Army Air Corps and the University Air Squadron.
Although the final numbers have not been confirmed, we have been offered 11 places in June. The camp lasts for week and will give the cadets the opprtunity to experience life in the RAF, develop their leadership qualities and build upon the team skills.
We are expecting the program to be very varied and interesting, with flying and shooting being some of the highlights for the cadets. They will also be looking forward to getting a close look at the Tornado F3 as well as speaking with the pilots.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Remembrance Weekend - 13 Nov 05
This weekend members of the Keighley squadron took part in a remembrance service at the top of Buckden Pike nr Starbotton as well as poppy collecting in the shopping centre on behalf of the Royal British Legion. The following day, on Sunday, the cadets and staff took part in remembrance parade in Keighley town centre.
**********************************************************************************************************************
New Squadron Training Officer - 13 Nov 05
Flight Lieutenant Chris Rickerby has just joined the Squadron and will taking on the role of Sqnadron Training Officer.
Flt Lt Rickerby who is 32, has been in the Air Training Corps since joining as a cadet in 1988. He moved to Coventry for 8 years where he was commision and took command of 163 (Coventry Phoenix) Sqn. He then moved back to Skipton where he started as a Cadet, and took command of 264 (Skipton) Sqn.
Due to the pressures of work he has now moved to Keighley and brings with him a wealth of experience which the cadets will benefit from.
Chris is a a qualified Weapons Instructor and Range Conducting Officer which will be an immense benfit to the Squadron.
**********************************************************************************************************************
Sqn Officer Retires - 4 Oct 05
One of the Sqaudrons long standing uniform staff has this week retired from the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training). Flight Lieutenant Charlie Bolt has served with the Squadron for over 12 years, and intends to remain with the Squadron as a civilian intructor.
**********************************************************************************************************************
2431 (Keighley) Squadron Air Training Corps
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