In this report,  Flt Lt Dare, OC RAF Section Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and teacher of French, shares an account of recent activity in the CCF RAF section at Pocklington School in which the cadets have progressed with training, learnt new skills and competed in team challenges.

"We are tremendously lucky to be allocated powered flying Air Experience Flying days at RAF Linton-on-Ouse each year. Cadets fly with experienced RAF pilots and the level of tuition is fantastic. Cadets can try aerobatics and even fly a few manoeuvres themselves as the pilots initially invite them to “follow me through” and then to take the controls. We flew there twice in the Lent term and have two further flying days this academic year on 25 April and 20 June.

Powered flying is complemented by the ground training which takes place at RAF Topcliffe. Places are usually at a premium for this and we often only receive allocations once or twice a year for three or four cadets. But in May 2018 and again earlier this month we took advantage of last-minute cancellations from other schools and took seven and seventeen cadets respectively. After a basic familiarisation course, they follow ground training to both the blue and bronze wings Aviation Training Package standard. This means that when they go back to RAF Linton-on-Ouse they have the opportunity to qualify for their blue and bronze wings which they can wear proudly on their uniform.

RAF Topcliffe is also home to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. During our May visit cadets were lucky enough to clamber aboard and learn about the amazing work of the air ambulance crews, both from the flying side and the vitally important paramedic role. Having seen the helicopter fly over the Pocklington area in the past, cadets loved getting up close and personal with the aircraft itself. What an opportunity! The staff at both RAF Topcliffe and RAF Linton-on-Ouse are fantastic and very cadet- friendly, some of them having been cadets themselves “back in the day”.

In February, 13 cadets competed in the annual Air Squadron Trophy (AST) regional competition at INSKIP cadet training centre, near Preston. They were challenged across seven different disciplines: Command Tasks; Shooting on an indoor range; RAF Knowledge; Aircraft Recognition; Inspection; Drill and First Aid. We compete in the Scotnine region against CCF RAF sections from Scotland, Ireland, North Wales and the North of England, and finished a very creditable 6^th overall, with a notable 2^nd place and podium finish in the RAF Knowledge. Training for the competition always raises the standard of our section and it was great to see the cadets enjoying pitting themselves against other like-minded cadets from schools from all over the country.

CCF cadets also learn about leadership, first aid, map and compass skills, and basic and advanced navigation. We are encouraging all CCF RAF section cadets to take a fantastic British Heart Foundation course, called Heartstart, to learn valuable life-saving techniques. First aid is an essential part of the training syllabus for both CCF and ATC [Air Training Corps] cadets and we hope all 40 of our RAF cadets will be Heartstart-trained by the end of the year.

Nine of our cadets have qualified for their Air Cadet Musician badges and four for the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.  One of the best features of both the CCF and the ATC is that the cadets themselves lead much of the training, with staff acting as supporters and facilitators.

Summer camp is often the highlight of the year for cadets. Last year our section camped at RAF Odiham. On one day alone, cadets shot on the indoor range in the morning, went to MoD Boscombe Down for Air Experience Flying in Grob Tutor aircraft in the afternoon, go-karted after tea and ended the day with the camp highlight - a flight in an RAF Chinook helicopter! This summer our section has been allocated 10 places at RAF Halton from 6 - 13 July. All camps are different but each offers great experiences to the cadets who attend.

Cadets can also apply to attend summer camps in Sennelager, Germany and Akrotiri, Cyprus. There is an Aerospace camp at RAF Syerston in August, and Air Cadet Leadership courses throughout the summer at RAF Cranwell.  CCF RAF and ATC cadets really do have some fantastic opportunities. I was an ATC cadet myself while at school, and my squadron used INSKIP training centre as their regional HQ. I feel like I have come full circle now that our CCF region also use INSKIP to host the AST competition, as well as the annual Section Commanders’ Conference.

I joined the CCF RAF section when I first joined Pocklington School and this is my 18^th year as an adult RAFAC volunteer. I have loved my involvement with the Air Cadet Organisation and have had some fantastic opportunities. It is a pleasure and a privilege to work with the section and I look forward to offering cadets great opportunities for many years to come. The sky really is the limit!"

Flt Lt Dare, OC RAF Section CCF

To view a Flickr album from the CCF RAF section's recent activity, please click here. 

If you would liket to find out more about the Combined Cadet Force at Pocklington School, please click here.