Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire Wing. Air Training Corps.

 Junior Leaders Update

The Junior Leaders (JL) can be summed up in one word: challenging. An individual’s mental determination, physical ability, confidence, leadership and teamwork are all tested and, in many cases, pushed to the limit. This course is not for the faint hearted.

In September 2005, 52 members of the ACO (Air Cadet Organisation), CCF (Combined Cadet Force) and ACF (Army Cadet Force) underwent the selection process for JL Course VII. Over eight months, the course aimed to develop and nurture qualities in the students such as leadership, teamwork, integrity, maturity and as well as a keen interest in developing themselves and their squadrons. The forums through which the students were expected to demonstrate these traits included presentation skills, interview skills, field craft, physical training, navigation, weapons handling and social etiquette.

Cadets gather from all over the country for the course, with Central and East Region being no exception. Eight Central and East Region cadets took up the challenge will all eight still remaining. Of those, two Beds&Cambs cadets stand strong. These are:

q       JL F/Sgt Andrew Fentiman, 2524 Sqn

q       JL Sgt Sam Tierney, 1985 Sqn

After completing the difficult Core Skills Phase and the physically draining Field Leadership Phase, only one hurdle stands between each Junior Leader and the coveted DZ flash. The gruelling Test Week begins in less than a fortnight for the remaining 38 students. Come April 21^st, the successful JL’s will stand together as Qualified Junior Leaders, graduating from the toughest course in the Corps.

The Junior Leaders is a development course aimed at the Senior NCOs of the ACO. Spread over nine weekends, the Junior Leaders is designed to motivate and assess its students through a variety of forums, ranging from presentation skills, leadership, social skills, and field craft skills encompassed by physical training. The directing staffs have a vast range of expertise either from serving in HM Forces or as managers in commercial business. The Junior Leaders is a national organisation supported by the RAF, the RAF Regiment and carries the ILM (Institute of Leadership Management) and Heart Start First Aid qualifications for its graduates.

For more information/application form contact Flt Lt M Clarke at;

mcclake67@hotmail.com

Application forms available through CRO (Corps Routine Orders)

Applications to be sent to the following address by 1 August 2006:

Junior Leaders

HQAC (Headquarters Air Cadets)
ATF (Adult Training Facility)
RAF Cranwell
Sleaford
Lincs
NG32 8HB