Cdt A and Cdt Y got badges for completing First Class (great as new training starts in Sept), Intermediate swimming certs for Cpl K and Cdts W, R, R and B-R, Advanced Swimming cert for Cdt C, Cdt G gets 2 Wing blues for successive Wing representation in Region sports (Wing came 2nd in Region Athletics, a month ago with his category winning), staff take selfies, classif workbooks arrive ready for 0926 intake, strange vegetables appear, and on Mon we did uniform bulling (no photos) and ensemble. Wed 26 Aug, despite 5 staff and 6 cadets/NCOs on Rose Dragon we did some new Leadership challenges, integrated across age categories. Some CIs from other Sqns came in and it was nice that SNCOs running got them involved (the shelving bits did make quite a good new ex for Cdt H's lead).

Well done to Cdt H, the latest 1368 cadet to achieve Bronze DofE success (thanks to host of Expedition, Volunteering, Skills and Physical things he's done since joining in Feb). Finally, Bronze sign-off in Aug for Cdt K also, who's been overlapping Silver with Bronze. Cdt D's Silver came in with Cdt P's submitted. So far (since April) we have 7 Bronze, 4 Silvers and 1 Gold approved.  Quite a few more in the pipe. Lots of cadets who did the last Bronze and Silver 1368 expeditions we ran, will be able to get the awards, hence just a case of getting the assessor reports in and approved.

Last Wed was an action packed night with archery. Idea was to excite interest, progress 1368's own competency through experience, and advise on logistics ahead of Sqn's own purchase (we have an Archery grant from King Henry Viii Endowment Trust, and are close to purchasing but is currently delayed due to problems with building).  The vision is to be self-sufficient. It could be a great summer evening activity for parade nights or activity days with potential to keep older cadets/other staff entertained, esp. if we open up instructor qual pathways with older cadets. To deal with the heat, we arranged for a giant rock to be placed in front of the sun. 

The Air Cadet Charity approved 1368 Sqns bid to supplement existing Flight Sims with something different, a laptop plus Virtual Reality (VR) headset. This would complement rather than replace our existing, enabling us to run Lockheed Prepar3D flight sim as well (once we get the building back that is). Many thanks for Civ Comm for navigating the ACC process and volunteers for assisting. The ACC is a new entity designed to distribute funds independently to the RAF. The grant represents our first attempt at funding and the lessons learnt/info collection done should make future grants easier (e.g. we probably need new tents in 2027-2028). 

Four of our review cadets (aspiring for NCO ranks) achieved their instructor cadet lanyards over the last 3-4 weeks. They developed lesson plans, dry runs, and progressed to delivery of a assessed lesson over many months, having done Wing Methods of Instruction training. Also thanks to the array of assessor's for making time and the classroom participants for being attentive. It looks great on their record, and shoulders, and helps unlock doors, esp. if they continue to higher ranks and older cadet opportunities at Wing/Region/Corps level. We have been more successful at getting Yr 10's to achieve it than Yr 11's hence good to get it them bagged. They can feel proud at their achievement.

As well as a First Aid night (sorry, no pictures) Sqn tried to remember how to do drill (half the Sqn actually looks pretty good, the other half, umm). Meanwhile the Sqn ensemble (aka next gen band) has been knocking out The Cure songs, Sqn watched the Eclipse ahead of Archery night last Wed (partly a STEM exercise), Cdt A finally got her Blue Aviation badge, and rock-paper-scissors decided who got the one Road Marching badge in the badge box.