Well done to all the 1368 cadets that achieved their British Canoeing Start Award after attending the last in a number of kayaking sessions at Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club, thanks to a fantastically talented kayaking coach who has lots of cool games, and a very underpaid and not particularly attractive assistant. Really hot day, but hey ho, it turns out that water + cadets = cool cadets, thus proving that climatic injury risk assessments really do work. Record of 18 minutes before Cdt P attempted his "inverted roll" manoeuvre with a kayak. The great thing about trying something new and having fun with your friends is the comradery. This is what being a cadet is about. Making friends, having fun, and trying new things. 

Sounds a bit Enid Blyton but three 1368 cadets managed to go flying in RAF Grob Tutor T1's on August 4th, including one who was lucky because it was 1 day after he turned 13 and 3/4 (which makes him the youngest 1368 cadet that I know of that has done an Air Experience Flying that I know of). Cdt R's reply to "did you do fly any aerobatic manoeuvres?" was "I flew the aircraft inverted, sir". Who needs video games? Many thanks for CI YB for taking them.  

4 cadets from 1368 Squadron recently attended the Defence School of Policing and Guarding at Southwick Park, near Portsmouth, which Cpl B described as "accommodation was great" and the "food was lovely" (presumable this means there was lots of scrambled eggs).  This was the Wing Facebook post:  

 5 apparently? Well done to Cpl B for rescuing "the situation" Incidentally, on the issue of flag poles, did you hear about the cadet who bungie jumped from the squadron's flag pole? He was suspended.

So, last week we had 3 cadets on Wing fieldcraft camp (running round fields and camping in bivvies in army gear), 4 cadets on a camp learning about military and civilian policing (lording it in in nice accommodation, apparently eating very nice food, and generally dodging risks of socializing with each other), and 1 sergeant on the National Air Cadet Leadership Course (ACLC) being beasted by the real RAF in how to be an NCO (came back with some very sharp drill). Meanwhile, the resident NCO team explored with the cadets some problem solving tasks with the tents (how did they manage to mix up the inner tents/poles/outers of tents that never even got used?) and Fg Off S. set up some sneaky relay games (you just need a pin to make it more interesting).

Community duties is a key strand in the 1368 ethos. Well done to the 8 cadets who supported the NHS Charities/1368 Sqn shop and drop community service recently. One crazy Cossack horse riding show and team were very excited to meet some famous people, not least, Cdt J at meeting celebrity chef, and ex-Ready Steady Cook presenter, James Martin, who was happy to have his photo taken with the cadets despite a very long and hot day.