Young recruits for RAF cadets

Twenty young people have signed up for the Peterborough Air Cadets and can now look forward to flights, aeroplane tricks and raising money for good causes.

The fresh-faced recruits were welcomed with a night of talks and a tour of the squadron building.

This marks the beginning of their air cadet training, which will last for the next 22 weeks, preparing for an enrolment parade in January 2018.

Recruits can look forward to exciting opportunities, including the chance to complete the Duke of Edinburgh Award or fly in an RAF test jet. Some cadets will also meet members of the Royal Family, travel to camps at overseas bases, or experience exciting tricks like a barrel roll in a Grob G 115 aeroplane.

After initial training, recruits will be able to participate in drills, where they will learn basic marching manoeuvres like standing at ease and standing at attention.

Recruits also learn about the history of the air training corps and the history of the RAF. Training will teach them how to maintain a pristine uniform, as well as essential knowledge on cyber security and social media. Outside of social events and drills, cadets often raise money for Help for Heroes.

The115 Peterborough Squadron Commanding Officer Flight Lieutenant RAF VR(T) K Barfield said: “We are extremely impressed by the amount of new enthusiastic faces in the Squadron and the amount of commitment being shown already.

“Remembering my time as an air cadet, it was well known that the more effort and commitment you put into being an air cadet, the more you will get out of it.

“The friends and experiences you will make will stay with you for the rest of your life. All the training and commitment as a recruit pays off and is well worth the wait.”

The new recruits.