The squadron recently undertook a weekend exercise in the Army Training Area of Pippingford Park in Sussex. The weekend consisted of two juniors and two senior teams each with different tasks which involved various Leadership exercise, navigational tasks, First Aid scenarios and many other events each suited to the various team’s capabilities.

The junior teams set out on a challenging navigational exercise in the vast Ashdown Forest and made their way from check point to check point. It was a huge learning curve for the junior cadets and this was their first time navigating in the wild. The leaders of the junior teams who form up the ‘potential NCO’ candidates also had much to learn; the key points in leading a team in the field.

The senior cadets, who mainly consisted of NCOs, also had a series of navigational exercises in Pippingford Park and had to solve many puzzles (both physical and mental) around the course. Some checkpoints had First Aid scenarios and Command Tasks. It was all set out to challenge the Squadrons junior leaders, but also learn a great deal about their own potential and that of their team members.

The Squadron has just taken on 55 new recruits. The weekend exercise has shown many potential Leaders to help guide and give direction to the new cadets and integrate them into our ‘TopCrew’. 2010 looks to be a fantastic year for the Squadron..