Issue: 2                                                September 2009

PRESENTATION EVENING

This years presentation evening will be held on December 14th 2009, the Squadron has changed its Award Structure this year and all awards will be named after past Commanding Officers for the Squadron. New trophies/cups will be purchased to allow this to take place.

Phillips Cup - Cadet of the Year

Beaman Trophy - Best New Cadet

Davies Cup - Squadron Marksman

Goss Cup - Most Improved Cadet

Saunders Morgan Trophy - Cadets Cadet

Bill Morgan Cup - Snr NCO Award

Cummings Cup - Squadron Commanders Award

Cheetham Trophy - Jnr NCO Award

Winslade Cup - Sports Cadet of the Year

Henry Fray Cup - Academic Excellence

Kevin Fowler Cup - Recruitment Cadet

Other awards that will be awarded will be:

Brockway Cup - Aircraft Recognition

Rolls Royce Blade - Squadron Commanders Award (Staff) the recipient of this award is chosen by the cadets

CADET KEIRON EVANS

Ex-cadet Keiron Evans popped into the Squadron whilst on leave from his Army training recently and watched some of his fellow cadets participate in the evenings training programme. Photographs were taken on the evening of him in uniform with the cadets and staff. The Squadron wishes him well in his future career and look forward to seeing him back at the Squadron in future. (Photographs can be fond on the gallery page)

CADETS INTO THE ARMED FORCES

The Squadron sees two other ex-cadets move into the British Armed Services shortly, ex-Cdt Sgt Daniel Provis starts his training with the Army in October, whilst ex-Cdt Alan Harris Quick awaits to join the Royal Air Force Regiment. We wish them both well in their future career and look forward to catching up with them.

Named after an actual Operation involving the British Armed Forces and in recognition of their efforts and sacrifices

The Squadron salutes these brave men and women

OPERATION PANTHERS CLAW

Operation Panthers Claw was launched September 2009, it has been designed to bring an element of fun into the Squadrons training weekends and other projects and promote the "Venture Adventure".

The motto "Be Rough Be Ready Have Fun" highlights the fun element but the need for learning on all parts is paramount.

Operation Panthers Claw "Basic" the first weekend was conducted 19th - 20th September 2009 and was designed as an informative weekend with elements of ACP16 included.

Cadets on this first weekend sat through lectures on Aircraft Recognition, duties of a sentry (ACP16), hand signals (ACP16), camouflage and concealment (ACP16) Leadership and many more. They also had the opportunity to participate in leadership exercises and attempt to lead a group.

Operation Panthers Claw "Actual" is scheduled for October 2009 with a number of other operational weekends and events scheduled for 2009/2010 and beyond

ABERDARE CARNIVAL

In aid of the efforts of Aberdare Carnival, which raises money for Cancer Research, the Squadron will be helping the organisers raise funds on October 24th at the Tesco Store in Aberdare. Cadets of the Squadron during the day will be bag packing and raising money for his worth while cause. Please come along and support these efforts.

SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENTS

There are a number of cadets on the Squadron who are falling behind on their subscription payments.

These payments must be paid even if no attendance by a cadet.

The squadron has very limited funds and these subscription payments play an important part in the future of the squadron and its cadets. There are a number of things the staff are trying to organize to gain further financial assistance for the squadron but these are long term goals.

One of these has been the recent addition of the Squadron shops on our website. Money will only be released by these shops once a set target has been reached.

We urge all parents and guardians to try to keep subscriptions up to date.

In April this year we will see a major change on the Squadron with regard to subscription payments, this has been brought about to try and limit the handling of money on squadron by both cadets and staff, at present subs is being collected every night and can be time consuming.

As of April 2009 each cadet will be requested to pay the full £7 (the majority of squadrons within the Air Training Corps charge £10) for the month on the first parade night and the first parade night of each month there after. It is hoped that this can be also be conduced by Standing Order, therefore a Gift Aid donation can also be sort to increase our financial support, your ever continued support and efforts in this matter are greatly appreciated