Wednesday saw a visit by more established Leamington Sea Cadet band to explore uncharted territory in new learning and friendships between them and 1368, leading on from some shared events last year including the rather spontaneous "Run rabbit run" competition at the Leamington Remembrance Concert last November. This was the first ever joint Sea Cadet/1368 Sqn band attempt. I suspect, if we can nail a joint band performance, it would turn a few heads and generate some waves in terms of inter-service collaboration.

Sqn occasionally hitting 50+ cadets if new/old turn up. Squadron has been doing Blue Leadership finish-offs (think Traitor's like Team challenges where participants take turn to lead and there are no traitors). We've been doing this for 6 weeks with 26 Junior's all passing 2 assessments (badges on order, only 2 haven't). As we enter final stages of this Blue Badge training focus there's also a focus on Blue Band Trainee's moving from from practice pads to real instruments ahead of Apr marching band assessments. Our Mid-Uppers have been acing their Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award exped readiness/planning ahead of schedule due to start of Athletics training in April. Amazing giant Civilian Wings badge for Cdt E (solo gliding outside of cadets). Senior badges for Cdts E/S/Cpl B. Master badge for Cdt P. Leading badge for Cdt M. 

Flying Gods finally aligned and AEF8 managed to get 4 1368 cadets airborne on Wednesday with 2 last minute scratch places added. Blue Aviation Wings awarded to Cdt F, Cdt K, Cdt S, Cdt C (they can make the most of jumper before summer!). Many thanks to staff from 1289 Sqn who took them. Amazing experience with a chance to take controls and start learning how to fly for real, to add to previous flight sim and ground training.  Many thanks to the weather and pilots who took them.

Well done to the five 1368 Sqn cadets that represented Wing at the Regional Cross Country, 16 Mar 2025. 2nd Place Wing Overall against the best cadets in Wales, Staffs + West Mercia, despite not having full teams, incl. 3rd/4th for 1368 Junior Girls. A Wing blue and free hoodie and a chance to run around a field. What more could you ask for. The following is from Sqn Ldr F: "I was so proud of every Cadet in that they gave their best. Again, our Wing as proved ourselves within the Region and we are a Wing that can hold our heads up high... I share with you the results achieved.  U15 Girls 1st U15 Boys 2nd O17 Boys 3rd Senior Boys 2nd Senior Girls 2nd Combined Boys & Girls both 2nd Place, respectively.  Engagement with sports competitions is one of 1368 Squadron's Pillars (things that make us different and where we want to be the best). There is something different about what happens in a peer-led supportive environment where cadets that don't like sports at school disco...

Congratulations to Cpl W on being the latest NCO inaugurated into the Gnorman Knights of the Domino's Pizza Order as a result of her amazing leadership applying her Sports Leader Award during Jan-Feb and also because of her welcoming attitude and all round excellent NCO-ness.

Secret of enriching cadet training is staff quals. Looking to try some new things for 1368. CI M & Fg Off C both qualified as Archery Instructors as part of a 479 Sqn OC led initiative on a 2 day course 8-9 Mar 2025. Goal is to get Archery into the arsenal of things we can deliver at Sqn-level. Back-end of 2024, CWO C and Fg Off C also did Mountain Training's Climbing Wall Assistant (CWA) run by Regional Adventure Training Technical Officer (RATTO) who's traveling the country expanding RAFAC climbing quals. Fg Off C achieved National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) tutor course on 8 Feb 2025, hence looking for 1st delivery of a Bronze/Silver NNAS (a little different from DofE, more micro-nav) so lot's of new things to set our sights on as we push boundaries into some new areas in 2025.

This week saw certificates fest marking the end of lectures ready for summer fun. Cdt D and G both get their Senior (amazing). Cpl B probably the youngest 1368 cadet to achieve Master (15yrs), as Cpl G inches close. Almost a full house for CI M's massive Leading group (17 passes with 2 pending 1 retake). Big haul for 0925 intake with almost 11 of 13 with First class now. Cdt F, S, K and W all got Ldg badges and Sgt F got his Master badge earlier in week. Cdt B gets Blue Aviation Badge. Classification training is an important part of the Air Cadet experience. Cadets start as Junior cadets and transition through to First Class, Leading, Senior and Master badges. 1368 runs this training between September and February, 1hr a week, mixed with other stuff. It also gives a good opportunity for our instructor cadets to hone their skills. To get their badges at Senior and above, they need to pass exams. Time for summer fun now.

Well done to 1368's CWO D who milked his post-18 cadet experience with Gold First Aid last week. This means he's also able to deliver YFA First Aid as an instructor. 

New flight sims from Warwick Town Council grant deployed in Part Task Training (flight sim) element of Blue Aviation Badge (Sqn has staff/SNCOs who passed instructor course hence able to sign it off). Blue leadership training of newbies now really hitting its stride (cadet's are assessed in leading a team in a command task, including briefing techniques such as SMEAC, Situation, Mission, Execution, Any questions, Check understanding). A sqn favourite that stuck post-COVID, we spend a lot of time of this as it's also fun and good for teamwork. Over last couple of week's we've also done Presentation Skills courses where cadets are trained on one night and have to do a 10 min presentation to each other on another (on a subject of their choice). Sgt J was raving about how good the ones he watched were. Did a big teambuilding planning task also, demonstrating how good team communication and sharing of ideas can lead to better outcomes than most individuals could achieve on t...