CCF// RAF SECTION
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR
THE CCF RAF SECTION
In this report, Flt Lt Dare, OC RAF Section Combined Cadet
Force (CCF) and teacher of French, shares an account of
recent activity in the CCF RAF section at Pocklington School
in which the cadets have progressed with training, learnt new
skills and competed in team challenges.
We are tremendously lucky to be allocated powered flying
Air Experience Flying days at RAF Linton-on-Ouse each
year. Cadets fly with experienced RAF pilots and the level of
tuition is fantastic. Cadets can try aerobatics and even fly a
few manoeuvres themselves as the pilots initially invite them
to “follow me through” and then to take the controls. We flew
there twice in the Lent term and have two further flying days
this academic year on 25 April and 20 June.
Powered flying is complemented by the ground training which
takes place at RAF Topcliffe. Places are usually at a premium
for this and we often only receive allocations once or twice a
year for three or four cadets. But in May 2018 and again earlier
this month we took advantage of last-minute cancellations
from other schools and took seven and seventeen cadets
respectively. After a basic familiarisation course, they follow
ground training to both the blue and bronze wings Aviation
Training Package standard. This means that when they go
back to RAF Linton-on-Ouse they have the opportunity to
qualify for their blue and bronze wings which they can wear
proudly on their uniform.
RAF Topcliffe is also home to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
During our May visit cadets were lucky enough to clamber
aboard and learn about the amazing work of the air ambulance
crews, both from the flying side and the vitally important
paramedic role. Having seen the helicopter fly over the
Pocklington area in the past, cadets loved getting up close and
personal with the aircraft itself. What an opportunity! The staff
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THE POCKLINGTONIAN
at both RAF Topcliffe and RAF Linton-on-Ouse are fantastic
and very cadet-friendly, some of them having been cadets
themselves “back in the day”.
In February, 13 cadets competed in the annual Air Squadron
Trophy (AST) regional competition at INSKIP cadet training
centre, near Preston. They were challenged across seven
different disciplines: Command Tasks; Shooting on an indoor
range; RAF Knowledge; Aircraft Recognition; Inspection;
Drill and First Aid. We compete in the Scotnine region against
CCF RAF sections from Scotland, Ireland, North Wales
and the North of England, and finished a very creditable 6th
overall, with a notable 2nd place and podium finish in the
RAF Knowledge. Training for the competition always raises
the standard of our section and it was great to see the cadets
enjoying pitting themselves against other like-minded cadets
from schools from all over the country.
CCF cadets also learn about leadership, first aid, map and
compass skills, and basic and advanced navigation. We are
encouraging all CCF RAF section cadets to take a fantastic
British Heart Foundation course, called Heartstart, to learn
valuable life-saving techniques. First aid is an essential part of
the training syllabus for both CCF and ATC [Air Training
Corps] cadets and we hope all 40 of our RAF cadets will be
Heartstart-trained by the end of the year.