72 (OMAGH) SQN. A.T.C.

Below are just some of the activities that the Squadron are involved with. There is also a brief explanation of each activity

Air Cadets have the opportunity to fly with Royal Air Force pilots in Tutor aircraft. Flying takes place at one of 12 Air Experience Flights (AEFs) where cadets are shown how the aircraft flies and given the chance to control the aeroplane, experience aerobatics or simply admire the view. All Air Cadets get the opportunity to fly with the AEF each year.

The Tutors are provided by a contractor, Bombardier Aerospace Defence Services, and the MoD, buys flying hours. The AEF task is based on 25 minutes per cadet per year, plus an allowance for staff continuation training, etc. AEF aircraft are flown by volunteer pilots, all of whom are current or former service pilots

The starting point for your gliding experience will be at a Volunteer Gliding School (VGS) which will fly the Vigilant motor glider. You will gebin by attending, with others from the Squadron and will be taught the Glider Induction Course.

The GIC has been designed to give you a taste for Air Cadet Gliding and consists of 3 different levels of instruction. You will be shown various aspects of aerodynamics that you will have been taught in the classroom before being taught the ”effects of controls” in the air. You will have the opportunity to take control and practice what you have learned. On your first visit you will be taught the GIC 1 and your subsequent visits you will progress to GIC 2 and 3.

Gliding Scholarship courses are an opportunity for cadets to undergo further training and achieve Gliding Scholarship Wings. A course consists of  8 hours in a Vigilant to achieve GS wings. Cadets showing the necessary aptitude are invited to progress to 'solo' standard and hopefully achieve the GS Solo Wings.

If you want to be nominated for a Gliding Scholarship, let your Squadron or Unit staff know. Ideally you should have completed a GIC 1, 2 or 3, but it is not mandatory. You must be 16 years of age when you start the course and you will need a medical form (RAF Form 6424), which is available upon request from your staff. Take this form to your local doctor and ask them to complete it (you must retain the form because you will have to present it to the VGS on commencement of a GS Course). Once completed the Form is valid for 2 years, as long as nothing medically untoward happens to you.

After you have completed the medical (no examination required – it is completed by reference to your medical notes), and your doctor has signed the form to confirm that you are fit to undergo glider pilot training, you are ready for a course. It is then a matter of a course becoming available. Courses are available in two formats, either over successive weekends until you have completed the course or a continuous week-long course (usually in the summer, however they are held all year round at the Air Cadet Central Gliding School at RAF Syerston). You must have the commitment to attend a GS course, as it can be difficult to predict the exact time it will take to complete as it depends on your own progress and the weather. Typically in summer a course will take 3 weekends to complete. Successful completion of the course will entitle you to wear the Blue GS wings. You will have done well to get this far.

Cadets at all levels of the Air Training Corps have the opportunity to participate in the sport of rifle shooting. Since the ATC was originally a recruiting organisation for the Royal Air Force it made good sense for marksmanship to be on the training syllabus. Shooting remains one of the most popular cadet activities.

A "range" is a location designed so that people can take part in shooting under controlled conditions and ranges come in many shapes and sizes. Initially, shooting takes place with the target 25m from the firer, either on a 25m indoor range or a 25m barrack (outdoor) range. As the firer advances through the weapons they will start to shoot at ranges of 100m or more.

Safety is paramount with all ATC activities and shooting is certainly no exception. Training is an integral part of the system and each cadet is fully trained in whichever rifle they will be using. Supervising staff are similarly trained to deal with any eventualities and to ensure that the range is run safely and efficiently. All rifles are fired from the prone position (the firer is lying on their stomach) at static, targets.

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Adventure Training forms an essential part of the Air Cadet's training syllabus. As well as helping cadets forge new friendships, adventure training enables all cadets to show off their leadership qualities.

There is a wide ranging Adventure Training syllabus in the ACO - depending on the squadron you attend, you could try your hand at watersports, skiing.

Fieldcraft is an exciting part of any squadron's training programme, and the promise of a good exercise is always guaranteed to get good attendance. This section is here to tell you more about fieldcraft, to give you some guidelines on the subject, and hopefully improve the fieldcraft on your squadron.

Fieldcraft is, to put it simply, the art of living and moving in the field. Although the ACO is generally focused on different activities, fieldcraft does play a part in most Squadron's training programmes

The Award programme consists of three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each have differing criteria for entry and the level of achievement necessary to complete each award.

72 Squadron take pride in their Parades throughout the year and generally all Cadets attend. We take part in the Northern Ireland RAF Association Battle of Britain Parade at RAF Aldergrove in September followed by another parade for the RAFA Branch in Armagh.

In October we are always involved with the Northern Ireland Wing Day which culminates in the Wing Parade.

We always take part in the Remembrance Parade in Omagh on the Sunday nearest the 11th November when we lay a wreath at the Cenotaph. This is the day when our Squadron Standard is on parade. There is a hottly fought contest to carry the Standard every year.

We are always willing to take part in any parade to which we are invited.

Air Cadets from the ATC participate in sports at various levels, gaining recognition for themselves, their Squadron, Wing, Region and can even be selected to represent the Corps.

As well as the sports featured in this section, there are also a huge variety of other sports participated in at Squadron and Wing levels including 5-A-Side, Table Tennis, Volleyball and many more. These tend to be played more for local pride and fun rather than being truly competitive; it does not matter if your not designed to be the next Olympic star. The opportunities are there, enjoy yourself!

Athletics is by far the most popular sport that the ATC participates in.

This event is normally held in Summer and all age groups can progress to Corps level

Cross Country is normally the very last sport in the year for most Wings and is competed at by Junior and Senior Girls, and Junior, Youth and Senior Boys.

The courses are normally in between a mile and a half to three miles, the sport is competed at all levels, right up to Corps.

Every year, cadets are given the opportunity to attend a camp on an operational RAF station. These camps last one week (normally Saturday to Saturday or Wednesday to Wednesday) with the primary purpose of letting cadets see what life is like on an RAF camp. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet new friends and have a lot of fun.

SQUADRON CHARITY NUMBER:   XR62288

72 Squadron is a charity in its own right are as all Squadrons in the Air Cadet Organisation. We, therefore, collect for our own funds throughout the year. We do this in several ways such as selling programmes at the Air Show in Enniskillen, running raffles and quiz sheets.

Our charity work does not stop there as you can read below.

We are associated with our two nearest branches of the Royal Air Forces Association which are Armagh Branch and Mid Tyrone Branch.Every year we help out with their Wings Appeal and on the Saturday nearest the Anniversary of the Battle of Britain in September we help out on the street collections.The Squadron also raises their awareness at different events throughout the year by handing out leaflets etc.

As the Squadron was the first Uniformed Youth Organisation in Northern Ireland to be affiliated to the Youth Section of the Royal British Legion, we support them each November in the Poppy Appeal with street collections. We always take part in the Annual Remembrance Parade in Omagh and we help out at the Legion premises. We also help to visit Old Comrades and ex military personnel. The Squadron have the Honour to carry the Woman's section Standard at parades as they don't have their own Standard Bearer.

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