Christmas message from the OIC
Parents, Family, Cadets, Staff, Friends of the squadron,
As we approach the end of 2016 I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the busy year that 235 Squadron has had.
Over the course of this year our cadets have completed 20 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, involving the staff running 7 weekends of expeditions and extensive training, topped off by meeting our new Regional Commandant – Group Captain Roger Simon for the presentation of the Awards .We have provided 14 cadets with the chance to fly (much more coming next year!!), and seen 1 of our cadets complete a Flying Scholarship including Solo flight. Our cadets have got busy completing exams, in fact they’ve passed over 120 exams this year alone, with all our cadets completing at least one level of the Air Cadet Classification system, and some completing 2; we now have more Master Level cadets than we have ever had on the squadron, with all our SNCOs holding the Master Cadet classification. We also completed 30 Gold Young Leaders in Service awards through Stoke on Trent Lions – a new step for the squadron, and one we plan to continue in 2017.
We achieved our best result ever at Wing Field Day, coming 7th overall, and topped our sector. Our cadets have flown in helicopters, zip lined across quarries, go karted around tracks, trampolined across huge chasms, climbed cliffs and mountains, parachuted out of planes, shot 5 different weapons, marched in the Nijmegan March, paraded at RAF Cranwell, competed in 4 sports at Wing and Region level, placed in the top 3 in 3 different sports events, paraded on the pitch at Port Vale, and completed the first indoor lead climbing course in Staffordshire Wing. In addition our staff have achieved great things; passing courses including RCO, Obstacle Course Instructor, Lowland Leader, DofE courses and most importantly passed boards to become uniform staff. Next year I look forward to CI Blackband completing OASC and stepping into a uniformed role, and CI Lee taking his post as an Adult NCO.
When I look back at these achievements it is no surprise that we were Staffordshire Wing’s Lee’s Trophy nomination for 2016 – making us one of, if not THE best squadron in Staffordshire Wing.
A huge thank you as well to all our parents and to our Civilian Committee. Without you, none of these achievements would be possible. I am also privileged and honoured to work with the most incredible, talented, and hard working group of volunteer staff, as a team we have gone from strength to strength in 2016 (particularly over the last 7 months) and I look forward to the challenges 2017 will bring us.
I am incredibly proud of the cadets and staff at 235 (City of Stoke on Trent) Squadron, and it fills me with pride to lead the squadron as it’s Commanding Officer.
Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year, the hard work starts again in January!
Flying Officer Chris Holloway RAFVR(T)
