“The military has played a large part in my family’s history as my Grandpa was a Sergeant in the Royal Marines, with every generation before him also serving. As a result, I started at Read School at the age of 12 with the intention of joining the CCF, and I very quickly decided on the RAF section. I was captivated by the idea of being able to go flying and shoot air rifles. Looking back, I can confidently say this was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Before joining the CCF, I was a fairly shy and reserved person; however, this quickly changed as I was forced to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people.
This ultimately led to me being appointed one of the Lord-Lieutenant Cadets for North Yorkshire. In this role I have had the opportunity to attend events such as York Remembrance Parade, the awarding of the British Empire medal, and the York Legal Service. These events have given me a new outlook on the RAF and have encouraged me to aim higher and believe in myself, which is just one example of how the CCF has benefited me.
Amazing experiences
“The CCF has provided me with countless amazing experiences such as being able to fly the Grob Tutor Aircraft in both England and Northern Ireland. I still remember the moment the aircraft left the runway for the first time, which made everything I had worked towards feel real. I have been able to attend camps across the country where I have met lots of new people and built on my skills as well as learning new things.
Qualifications
“Through cadets I have been able to gain qualifications such as my ILM L3 in leadership and management, as well as my Gold Duke of Edinburgh. I have had the chance to learn about a number of things, such as radios, space, and robots, which I never would have known about had it not been for the CCF. On top of all of this, I have been able to represent my school across the county through competitions like RAST (Royal Air Squadron Trophy), and the stem learning CANSAT which involved launching a satellite – built to fit inside a can – into the air via a rocket in order to collect data. It showed me just how many opportunities are available to cadets.
Friendships
“Ultimately, the most important thing I have gained from the CCF is the friendships with people from my school and others across the country. Whilst away on camps I have formed friendships with people who I still speak to now, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. Additionally, my position as Flight Sergeant of my section has allowed me to teach younger cadets about a variety of things and guide them through their cadet experience. This has included helping to run training sessions and supporting junior cadets as they progress through their classifications. Watching their faces light up as they learn something new or witness incredible opportunities is what makes cadets so enjoyable to me.
“My time as a cadet has changed me as a person, building my confidence and developing leadership, discipline, and resilience, which are skills and qualities I hope to build on in the future. I am proud of what I have achieved through the CCF and the person it has helped me become.”