Editor's note: When we last left Our Hero, he had just put
in his application for camp and was on his way...
Bloggs has probably already met some of the people from other
Squadrons through other activities such as Wing Training weekends and through flying and
gliding, so he is not too worried about the people he will be going to camp with.
The bus ride there takes a couple of hours during which the Cadets start to talk to each
other swap war stories. They arrive at Lyneham and pile off the bus. They are
organized by the NCO’s from the Squadrons and marched off to their accommodation,
which is standard RAF enlisted housing. One or two Cadets to a room, this is their new
home for the week. They unpack and then get ready for their welcoming brief from
the Camp Commandant, usually a Wing Staff Officer, probably a Squadron Leader or Wing
Commander. They go to the briefing and are told about what they are going to be
doing and where they shall do it. The law is laid down about what is expected of
them in the coming days.
The next week consists of a series of inspections, training,
shooting, gliding, flying, a lot of marching, competitions, assault courses and work
experience with serving units at the station. Bloggs gets a couple of flights in a
C-130 Mark III and spends his time on work experience with an Operational Conversion Unit
(OCU). During his time with the OCU he gets a brief glimpse of what it is actually
like to be in the RAF, and works out that Engineers drink a lot of tea!
 Bloggs
gets the chance to continue his weapons training with the L98A1 Cadet General Purpose
rifle; a 5.56mm, single shot weapon. The L98 is basically a L85A1 or SA80, which is
the standard assault rifle of the British Forces. Drills are hammered home by the
instructors about safety and technique and then he is let onto the range for his first
practice. He does well and gets the general idea of how different a full bore weapon
is compared to a small bore .22, which he shoots at a Squadron level. His groups are
a little on the large side, but there is time and facility for improvement.
 Bloggs
goes on exercise with the Stations RAF Regiment Squadron (RAF soldiers) and get tours of
the Regiments facilities and possibly demonstrations. As the week progresses, the
camps drill gets honed and the flights learn to work together. The culmination of
the week is the competitions, usually a Drill Comp and Shooting Comp. Bloggs is not
in charge of a flight, so he marches with them. He participates in the competitions
and his flight does well. As the camp draws to a close, there is a Final Parade and
inspection by the CO. Bloggs receives a certificate of attendance from the CO.
The Cadets get back onto the bus for the trip home and the sudden
realization kicks in that he about to say goodbye to a new group of really good friends
dawns on him. The girls are crying, this is not a stereotype, but they do cry at
these occasions, and Bloggs is a little upset because the camp has come to an end.
The bus departs and drops the Cadets off at their various Squadrons.
 Bloggs
returns to the Squadron with a massive new load of knowledge and skills that he
didn’t have before he went to Camp. He is now a more capable Cadet in all areas
from leadership to general service knowledge. He is starting to fix his goals onto
two chevrons called Corporal stripes. He continues with his Classification training
and attains his Leading Cadet badge, a new one for the brassard. The First Class
badge is removed and the Leading badge put in its place. Cadet Bloggs is now a leading
Cadet and getting a lot more confident in the ways of Command.
He starts to observe how the Corporals do their job and appreciate
why they do what they do, rather than just follow. He starts to get put in charge of
things like initiative exercises and commands his team well. The Adult Staff start
to notice that Bloggs is coming on leaps and bounds and they began thinking about
promotions. Bloggs is at every parade night, his turn out is excellent, better than
his Corporal, as it should be. His drill has improved again and he is turning into
NCO material. |
After joining the Air Training Corps in 1993 Midshipman James Elliott rose from the rank
of Cadet to Cadet Warrant Officer (the highest ATC Cadet rank) and passed all of
the four Classifications (First Class, Leading, Senior and Staff Cadet). He attended over
7 annual camps including IACE to Canada in 1998, RAF Bruggen in Germany and held various
positions ranging from Flight Sergeant to "Cadet Commander", otherwise known as
Camp Cadet Warrant. He was his Squadron Cadet I/C (In Command) for three years and was
responsible for just about everything that went on.