Taylorian 2020

127 T he year began with the full recognition and receipt of rank for the new SNCOs. Flight Sergeant Jamie Johnson took responsibility for RAF Regiment activities, Flight Sergeant Venetia Kwok for Ceremonies and Inspection Day, Venusha Baskarathasan for RAFAcademic, and finally Cadet Warrant Officer Athena Odysseos-Suther took responsibility for the entire RAF section. From the beginning these cadets went about their business with professionalism and gusto, creating a strong, cohesive unit. They delivered an action-packed portfolio, rich in problem- solving challenges and physical exertion. The cadets rose to the challenge set before them, achieving new knowledge, skills, and unlikely friendships along the way. The first FieldDay of the academic year was organised with the help of Gp Capt Pete Williamson (and a current MTS parent) and saw the section travel to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, a RAF Quick Reaction Alert Station which protects UK airspace. It is also home to two frontline combat- ready squadrons, is the training station for Typhoon pilots, and is the base from where the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) operates. The cadets had a tour of the station, one highlight of which was an engineer-guided tour of a Typhoon. There was then a look around the hangar housing the Battle of Britain flight team, which contained six Spitfires, two Hurricane Mk 2Cs, a Lancaster, as well as a C47 Dakota and two Chipmunk aircraft (primarily used for training). These vintage aircraft are flown by serving RAF aircrew and can regularly be seen in the skies over the UK celebrating and commemorating public and military events. The day finished with a STEM-themed activity which involved looking around the mechanic sections of the station. Two important promotions to Flight Sergeant were made between the first and second Field Days to cadets who had shown excellence and motivation throughout the year. Flight Sergeants Jack Cowperthwaite and Pandias Margaronis had shown exceptional attitudes and were highly deserving of the rank. The second Field Day took place at Merchant Taylors’. It involved a series of RAF- and cadet-led activities and was supported by TEST Sergeant Justin Scholes. Cadets had the opportunity to use VR flight simulators, courtesy of Wing Commander Martin Larwood-Hughes of RAF Cranwell. There was then a talk on cybersecurity from Flight Lieutenant Robert Glynn of Northwood NATOHeadquarters. This was followed by a series of activities devised by the SNCO cadets. The day concluded with a drill competition. This was won by Cadet Molly Drown’s team, despite fierce competition. Regardless of the shadow of COVID-19 and school closures on the horizon, the cadets thoroughly enjoyed the day and made the most of one of the last CCF sessions of the academic year. Now the year has ended, and cadets are considering what will come next. With the departure of a very strong team of SNCOs the door is open for the next generation of RAF cadets to take the lead and stamp their own authority and creativity on the roles. We look forward to the new academic year and the adventure on which these new cadets will lead us. Flt Lt C Ryan Cadets Combined Cadet Force Royal Air Force