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

I arrived at RAF Aldergrove at the beginning of Week 4 having done a module of half shooting half fieldcraft the year before and I was hungry to learn more form a whole week dedicated to the latter. The week began with a brief by the camp commandant and I was quite anxious as he described WO Ross, an officer in my module as Hitler. On the second day the real hard work began in Monroe house (which had been designated as fieldcraft HQ).

The first part of the week was geared towards map-work related topics for example route planning and range cards however the second part of the week was more practical with lessons on patrolling base defense. These lessons were than put to practical use with a number of practical exercises. Our module was broken down into two beams, alpha and bravo. I was lucky enough to be selected as bravo team leader for some of these exercises and I found them very useful both for leadership and fieldcraft skills. In what felt like no time at all the week had flown by and we were signing back in all the equipment we had been issued and cleaning down the building.

I really enjoyed fieldcraft and although unlike most modules there is no formal qualification at the end of it, it was simply fantastic fun and the skills I have acquired at ALG 09 will be useful for many other occasions in the future.

Thanks to the officers who made the module so much fun!!!!!    

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Week 4 of the regional training camp at RAF Aldergrove 2009 saw four cadets from 72 (Omagh) Squadron taking part in the St John’s Ambulance’s Young First Aider Award.  The Week was very successful and saw all four passing and getting their red first aid badges for their brassards.

During the week the cadets learned how to deal with conscious and unconscious casualties and everything from Asthma to spinal injuries. The cadets were joined by WWO Bogle and CI Boyd (72 sqn) who helped with the training and assessment of the cadets. I am sure that all the cadets would agree with me that first aid was fun and not just lectures after lectures. Cadets got the chance to dress up in fake injuries, tie up their friends in bandages and “play dead”. Some cadets even got the chance to show off their acting capabilities by screaming out in pain. Cdt Sgt Keri McLean was by far the best casualty as her screaming was so realistic the staff actually came over as they thought she was actually in pain. When it came to practicing CPR, Keri was once again practicing her acting skills as she took it very personal when her patient didn’t regain conscious and again the staff were confused as she was actually crying.

All the joking and fun aside the cadets performed well in their assessment and passed all three parts. At the end of the week the cadets were presented with their certificates and badges by Wing Commander McCrae and they were finally First Aiders. Week 4 was the most fun I’ve had at any camp and hope that next year will be the same except without fire alarms  and toilet problems.

Cdt Flt Sgt Darryl Gilchrist

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This summer, I decided to put my name down for Ald-Mach09 Camp.  I got to go to week 2 on the shooting module.  We were told that we were going to get to shoot the new L98A2 all purpose GP cadet rifle.  For those of you who don’t know what it is, it just a semi automatic version of the L98A1.  It was a two-day course that was long and hard. 

If you have trained in the L98A1, the tests is very easy as it is very similar.  I had managed to pass my WHT at my first attempt unlike others in my module.  We then all got to shoot it.  It is very easy to hold and aim with this rifle.

 The only down fall I found with it was that your left hand does all the work.  The gas parts in the rifle are very hard to clean.  I spent 15 minutes scrubbing one of the parts clean.  There was a lot of cleaning to be done. 

A good point to mention is the fact that we will not only get working rifles we will get drill rifles when they officially come to Northern Ireland.  These are just rifles that can’t be fired but work like the normal rifle and are used for the purpose of drill.  All in all I will say I can’t wait until this rifle is shipped  in to N. Ireland so we can all see what fun it really is.

Cdt Sean Meehan 72 (Omagh) Sqn.

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Over the last two weeks in July 09, the first ever week long Radio Communications Courses were run at the Regional Activity Centre (RAC) at RAF Leuchars, and were deemed to be a great success by all who attended.

The field work element of the courses was carried out at Barry Buddon Training Area near Carnoustie in Scotland.

A total of 45 Cadets from around the Scotland and Northern Ireland region, with an interest in Radio Communications attended the courses and at the end of the course they had gained their VHF qualification and had an introduction to Long Range HF Communications.

Two Cadets from 72 (Omagh) Squadron Air Training Corps attended this camp and they were, Cadet Lee Spratt and Cadet Stewart Doonan.

Squadron Leader Bill Boland, the Regional Radio Officer, said “Cadets had the opportunity to use our ‘ Voice Trainer’ through headsets in the class room, as well as using the kit in the Radio Room at the RAC.   In the field, cadets made use of temporary radio rooms set up in buildings at Barry Buddon for both HF and VHF communications.

Cadets also used handheld radios to practice their radio procedure. Maps were used to simulate convoy movement.   The overall ethos of the training courses was to be short periods in the classroom which were followed by practical exercises at the RAC and at Barry Buddon.”

Whilst we await the permanent aerials to be erected at the RAC at Leuchars, temporary antennas were erected to enable Cadets at Leuchars to contact their colleagues in the field at Barry Buddon.   Using this setup, the cadets were able to practice radio operation using ‘Drill’ messages, Coded Met Reports, Sitreps and Codex Messages.

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First Aid success for Sector 2 Cadets

Cadets from Sector 2 Northern Ireland Wing, Air Training Corps attended a training weekend at RAF Aldergrove from 24th to 26 April 2009 and did a Youth First Aid course.

This course is part of the St John Ambulance programme for young people under the age of 16 and on successfully passing it, cadets are awarded a certificate and badge.

The syllabus over the two day period covered topics such as resuscitation, recovery position, bleeding and shock, casualty care, coping in an emergency, chest pains, burns and scalds and a first aid kit.

Air Cadet staff from across Scotland and Northern Ireland are now in a better position to promote and market the organisation, after media and communications officers from Central and East Region travelled north to share their expertise.

The event, at HMS Caledonia in Rosyth, near Edinburgh, attracted officers, adult NCOs, civilian instructors, civilian committee members and instructor cadets, from across several Wings North of the border and across the Irish Sea.

The Regional MCO for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Flt Lt Graham Short, invited the team up to his patch after learning of its good reputation for helping units improve their public relations and recruitment.

The syllabus included press release writing, photography, interview techniques, presentation skills, website management, and how to handle the media in the event of a 'bad news' story.

Following the course Flt Lt Graham Short later said: “The course was comprehensive and professionally delivered, but delivered in such a way to draw out the best in the candidates. With the lecture notes supplied, the experience of this weekend should enable us to build our own media training package which we can now deliver to the other MCO’s within our own Region. We thank the team from Central & East Region for making the long trip from RAF Brampton and assisting us in helping to develop our staff.”

Sqn Ldr Wiggins assists WO Ivan Noble of 72 (Omagh) Sqn in Ulster as he puts together a press release

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Congratulations to the three cadets from the Squadron who were part of the Northern Ireland Wing team that were successful in winning the Regional Atheltics Championship in Scotland yesterday1st june 2008.. They were Cdt. Adair. Cdt G McAlonan and Cdt M McAlonan.

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Well done.........

to the two male cadets and three female cadets who,after attending wing trials for senion football and hockey respectfully, being selected to represent the wing in their sport against other wings in the region in early March.

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10th JANUARY 2008

Radio First

Congratulations to the twelve Cadets from the Squadron who achieved a pass in their Provisional VHF/UHF Radio exam which allows them to operate VHF/UHF Radio under supervision.

The Commanding Officer, Warrant Officer Noble, stated,"This is a great achievement for the Squadron with so many Cadets achieveing this award. It will allow us to progress towards HF Radio in the future and sets the Cadets on their way towards their Communicators Badge."

It is believed this is a first within the Northern Ireland Wing. Squadron Radio Instructors (SRI) have only been qualified within the Wing for just over a year.

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Congratulations .......

to Cdt Sgt Russell and Cdt Cpl Jervis who were chosen to represent the Wing at Netball. They travelled to Scotland with other members of the team to compete against other Wings in the Scotland and Northern Ireland Region.

It is hoped that both girls may be chosen to represent the Region at a later date.

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Congratulations ........

To the winners of the Squadrons Standard Bearers Competition

This was a closely fought competition between three of the more Senior Cadets at the Squadron last night. The competition, consisting of drill and banner movements was judged by the Royal British Legion Standard Bearer and his deputy.

This competition is contested annually for the honour of carrying the Squadron Standard at Parades throughout the year and this year was won by Cdt. Sgt. Gareth Armstrong. This is the second year in succession were he has come out as the overall winner. At the end of the competition he said, "it's down to practice and knowing your drill movements."

There was a secondary competition for the best female Cadet to have the honour of carrying the Womans Section Royal British Legion Standard on Remembrance Sunday and this was won by Cdt. Cpl. Kelly Russell who has just joined the Squadron having moved to Northern Ireland with her family from England. She has been in Cadets for two years.

The judges, Rodney Elliott and John Duncan said, "This was a hard competition to judge as the standard between the Cadets was so high and there was very little difference between them."

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