|
The Moose is Loose Volume 3.1 January 2000 Newsletter of 2397 (Devizes) Squadron, Air Training Corps Our Telephone Numbers are 01380 733654 (Tuesday & Thursday evenings) 01380 726088 (All other times) New Year Message from the Commanding Officer I wish everyone connected with the squadron a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. The squadron has seen a marked change in cadet personnel as older ones have dropped out to concentrate on GCSE studies. However, we have an excellent intake of new entrants and I am sure that the squadron will thrive during this Millennium year. We are fortunate to have first rate members of staff who are fully committed to the ideals of the ATC and who work hard to make the Cadet experience enjoyable and worthwhile. By now it is common knowledge that I shall stand down from the Commanding Officer role at the end of April when I shall be 6 years beyond the official retirement age for officers in the ATC. I expect to continue to assist the squadron in some capacity depending on discussions with the Wing Commander, the incoming Commanding Officer and our Civilian Committee. Flying & Gliding Our next Gliding Induction Course is on Sunday 23 January at Upavon (All day). Bulldog powered aircraft flying at Boscombe Down is scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday 29 January (6 places) and the morning of Sunday 10 March (3 places). The nine places available will be first offered to the relatively new joiners provided they have passed the Airmanship, Map Reading & Communications elements of the First Class syllabus. Promotion The promotion is announced of Cadet Robert Eardley to Corporal. The other NCO candidates have been briefed as to the standards expected of them and their skills will be tested during January. Programme The end of 1999 programme was quite varied and included a talk on experiences as a Hercules Loadmaster, a presentation about the Nijmegen march, a visit by the RAF Careers unit, a social evening and a Nitex. Especial thanks go to
Warrant Officer Barney Wiles for organising both the disco and the Nitex and
to Mrs Sue Rees for providing the catering for those events. There has been no response to the suggested change of Thursday parade night to Friday. If there are no comments by the end of January we will carry on with the present arrangements. Fund Raising The donation from the Devizes Carnival Committee was a magnificent £200. It was very timely as it helped defray the costs of insuring and taxing the minibus. To date no items have been donated for the proposed car boot sale in aid of squadron funds. Please bring in items as soon as possible. Accommodation A latest version of the plan for our new accommodation suggests building the new Cadet Centre within the compound close by the main entrance gate. This seems to be an excellent solution and current thinking suggests that the new premises will be ready around September 2000. ATC Sunday Parade The squadron is required to muster 12 cadets, including a Banner Party, for this parade to be held on the afternoon of Sunday 6 February at Chippenham. Adventure Training The annual opportunity to bid for places at the ATC Adventure Training Centres at Llanbedr & Windermere is announced. The activities are similar to Pencelli but at a significantly lower cost. The Army have allocated accommodation and training areas for our annual Easter camp to which we invite cadets and staff from other squadrons. This is not to be missed by cadets with an interest in fieldcraft and all things military. RAF Camps We have details of a camp at RAF Halton (12-19 April) and of places at RAF Bruggen in Germany (2-9 August). We do not yet have information about our UK Summer camp allocations but there should be an opportunity to attend the ATC Millennium Camp at RAF Cranwell at which every ATC squadron will be represented. We have initial details of that activity. |