***Important Announcement***
Contrary to the Training Program indicating that the Squadron was to be Stood Down on Friday 27th September, The Squadron will now Parade as normal, uniform for the night will be MTP/CS95.
All, Please be aware that the Squadron will be stood down on Monday the 29th August for the Bank Holiday.
We will return on Friday the 2nd
Fg Off K Haywood
Due to Staff commitments we are unable to open the sqn this Friday (13/05/2022) and will have to stand down the Sqn.
Sorry for any inconveniences.
WO Roberton
Due to weather forecast the sqn is being shut down this Friday.
It is with great pleasure that I am able to inform you that our unit has now been granted permission to reopen and we are in the process of making final preparations, as such I have written to all of our Cadets advising them of what happens next. After a pause that proved to be much longer than any of us expected, we are very grateful to finally get back to a new normal and working with our Cadets once again
As a key action, can all Cadets confirm their intention to return to the Squadron so that we can organise the COVID bubbles
Regarda Flt Lt Haywood
As 2020 draws to a close I would like to thank all of the Parents, Guardians & Cadets for your continued commitment and support to the Squadron, in what has been an extremely challenging year for all of us.
Nobody could have predicted the events of this year and moving our activities from face to face to a virtual platform was a huge challenge for both the RAF Air Cadet organisation and the unit staff. I would like to personally thank my staff for their commitment and support in moving to the virtual platform and delivering a wide variety of activities and lessons throughout the year.
The Cadet NCO team have been very active in assisting the staff team to deliver activities and I would like to thank them for their support and professionalism. They have delivered presentations and some amazing Quizzes, which have been popular with both Cadets and staff. The Cadet NCO Team have been consistent in their attendance and support of online activities throughout the year, as well as keeping up the morale and interest of the younger Cadets.
Despite the challenges posed by both the COVID-19 pandemic and our new learning environment the Cadets have continued to achieve a lot throughout the year. We have delivered two blocks of Aviation based training that has allowed Cadets to continue to work towards their BTEC Qualifications as well as pass their Classification exams.
In addition, we have delivered presentations on Cadet activities such as Annual Camp, Flying, Gliding, Shooting and the Squadron’s own Section Commanders Course. The Squadron has also been able to deliver online Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme training as well as Fieldcraft, Drill and Uniform upkeep.
We even managed to hold a Squadron Promotion Board. Congratulations go to Cadet Gentle who successfully passed the Promotion Board and has now been promoted to Cadet Corporal.
A number of external courses have also been made available to the Cadets including Radio and Cyber Courses. Some of the Cadet NCOs have also been able to attend Promotion courses online as well.
My Staff have also been busy with Sergeant Bower, Sergeant Way and Pilot Officer Williams all virtually attending their Initial Courses at RAF Cranwell allowing them to become fully qualified in their rank and remove the dreaded ‘white tapes’. In addition, staff have continued to do the necessary annual mandatory training to keep them up to date with their qualifications.
My Staff have also been busy working with the wider RAF Air Cadet organisation behind the scenes, in order to get the Squadron back to face to face training. Given the current circumstances it is unclear as to exactly when this will be, however I will keep Parents and Cadets updated as things develop.
In closing I hope we can look forward to a better year for all in 2021 as well as a return to face to face training as a Squadron. I would like to wish Staff, Parents, Cadets and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to a new year of Cadet activities in 2021.
Yours Sincerely
Flt Lt K Haywood
Update 15 Nov 20
Unfortunately due to none COVID related issues this camp is now cancelled.
Sgt H Bower
All,
There is a Wing run shooting camp due to take place from 12/02/21 to 16/02/21 (COVID19 restrictions permitting) at Longmoor camp.
This is intended for cadets who have never undertaken any training or live firing on the L98A2 previously, and will provide the full course of initial weapons training on the L98A2 followed by two days of live firing.
The only pre-requisite for the camp is that cadets are sufficiently mature and physically fit to operate the weapon (e.g. no temporary injuries, broken bones, etc).
Timings and travel arrangements will be briefed closer to the time, though it is worth noting that the camp may be postponed due to COVID19.
For all those interested please email WO Roberton at: snco.2358@rafac.mod.uk no later than the 18th of November
-SGT Way
Dear Cadets & Parents/Guardians
In light of the restrictions we currently face, the organisation has been working hard behind the scenes to provide infrastructure and IT solutions to launch the delivery of the Cadet experience through virtual Parade evenings.
The 2358 staff team have also been working hard behind the scenes familiarising themselves with this new technology and ways of working, and I am pleased to announce that we now feel ready to begin delivery of virtual Parade evenings.
We will be publishing events through Cadet Portal, which will automatically send an email to each Cadet, Cadets should then copy the link to the live presentation from the event into their internet browser and join the event at the specified time. The first event is planned for this coming Thursday.
Watch out for changes to the Calendar on this website with updates to the planned events. Parents will be contacted directly in due course to support this communication to ensure all Cadets are aware that we are back up & running.
Cadets & Parents/Guardians should email the Squadron of they have any difficulty with these new planned arrangements, especially those who have not yet established a working Cadet portal login.
Flt Lt K Haywood
OC 2358 (Ferndown) Squadron