RAF Competition

CCF RAF Ground Training Competition

by Andrew Rewcastle and Max Robinson

On Sunday, the 31^st of January, we joined the senior air cadets to compete in the CCF RAF ground competition. Warrant officer Decan brown was in charge of our section; all of those who also took part in the competition were Cpl Bowers, J Cpls Brady, Cottrell, Fitz-Hugh, Fogden, Hashimoto, and Law, Cadets Lloyd and Smith. Also, with luck, Leading Rate (or Corporal as the equivalent) Harry Griffiths from the navy section joined the RAF just the night before to fill in for Flt Sgt Nick Harper.

We woke up at five-thirty on Sunday morning, changed into our combats and boarded the bus at six thirty with great excitement and determination for what laid a head of us that day. We drove an hour and forty-five minutes to RAF Halton which is situated at High Wycombe. At seven-forty five, we finally arrived at RAF Haltom, with little difficulty; we unloaded the bus, got changed and prepared for the events.

We did seven individual events, all at different time of the day. The activities included RAF knowledge, Command Task, Shooting, RAF recognition, Fitness, First Aid and a drill competition.

Max: My activities were command task, air recognition and RAF knowledge. The command task was to build a machine which had to carry equipment along a rope, to the other side. We first got given the briefing of what to do. With high expectations we got on. Warrant officer Deacon Brown commanded us on what jobs to do and with Corporal Bowers next to him. Junior Corporals Cottrell, Hashimoto, Fitz-Hugh, and Law and cadet Lloyd kept their spirits high and were determined to get the job done. We started off a little slow but then got our heads round and started to pick the speed up like we were taught too. In the end we got the job done.

After we did the command task we got back to our little HQ and sat down to have a rest. We were then commanded to get our other uniform ready, so we got out the ironing board. After we got that out we pulled out our shoes and started polishing our shoes. Other officers came round and were impressed of what we were doing.

Andrew: My Activities included RAF knowledge, fitness and RAF Recognition. In the RAF Knowledge, I had to do an exam multiple choice papers which were all about the history of the RAF. I used my historic knowledge to test and I believe that I achieved an excellent score. The next event I took part in was the fitness, those who took part with me was Cpl Bowers, J Cpl l Fitz-Hugh and J Cpl Smith. The fitness event involved the Bleep test. With determination, junior corporal Smith scored nine point six, I scored ten point one, Cpl Bowers scored eleven point two and J Cpl Fitz- Hugh scored an outstanding score of twelve point five. My final individual event was the RAF Recognition test. What you did was one person would go into a class while the rest of your section stays out side. I had to go in the class room and do a multiple choice exam on the computer, the computer will show you pictures of different type’s aircrafts and you would select the correct name at the bottom of the screen. You had to complete the test in only three minutes. With sharp thinking and eagerness, I succeeded in scoring twenty out of twenty-four.

The finally event was the drill competition. We set our standards high, with shiny shoes and non creased trousers; we formed up and marched in with our heads held high. We march onto a large indoor playground, saluted while moving to the passing officers, marched neatly around the playground and then halted in front of the officers. The Head of RAF inspected our uniform and the tidiness of our marching. He gave us a grand score of seven out of ten.

At the end of the long, stimulating day, we loaded everything back onto the bus and enjoyed a feast of pizza at Pizza hut thanks to the headmaster. The section would like to thank Flight Lieutenant Bridgman and Warrant Officer Deacon Brown for all of their hard work in preparing us for this competition.