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Summer Camp 2004...
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The 31st of July 2004 saw 17 cadets and NCO's accompanied by 3 Adult Staff join cadets, NCO's and Adult Staff from 2211 (Bracknell)
Squadron, 153 (Slough) Squadron and 1315 (Kidlington) Squadron for Summer Camp at RAF Shawbury.
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The cadets started the week's activities with briefings and a Station Familiarisation exercise on Saturday before engaging in
Exercise "Long Haul" on Sunday. Long Haul saw the cadets navigate their way over 13km around Shropshire in scorching weather,
before conducting an aircrew rescue mission at night. The cadets and staff then bivouacked out in woodland.
Monday morning brought another hot day. The cadets returned to Shawbury and scrubbed up ready for a day on the station in the
afternoon. 'A' Flight visited the flying side of the Station, including the Fire and Rescue Service, Storage Hangers where they
spent time clambering over Hawk, Tucano, Jaguar, HS125 and Canberra aircraft. The airfield was too busy for Air Traffic Control
to take visitors, so Westland came to the rescue with a tour around their hanger filled with Apache attack helicopters.
Many cadets decided to fly for the Army at this point!
Meanwhile 'B' flight spent time training on the L98A1 cadet rifle ready for the range on Thursday.
Monday night was given over to free time, with the cadets relaxing and preparing their kit for an inspection the next morning.
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After uniform and tent inspections, Tuesday morning was a reverse of Monday afternoon; 'B' Flight toured the Station and 'A'
Flight trained on the L98A1. The afternoon saw the entire camp take over 60 Squadron's crew room for helicopter flying. 24 cadets
flew in the Griffin and spent the rest of the day smiling! The last flight was cancelled due to weather, but 60 promised to try
to fit the last five cadets in later in the week. Tuesday night was given over to a bowling competition which was won by CWO Last.
Wednesday was a day visit to local historical centre, with the cadets realising that life in 2004 was not that bad after all! A video
was rented for the cadets in the evening and the Duty Officer made a lot of friends by organising a supply run to the local chippy!
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Thursday had the cadets engaged in shooting on the 25m range with both the No8 and L98A1 rifles. Three cadets qualified for their
RAF Marksman Award and several had the opportunity to apply the many hours of training and live fired for the first time. Those
cadets who didn't fly on Tuesday did so in the morning before joining the rest of the camp. All cadets who fired achieved very
creditable groupings and spent the rest of the day smiling. Again! The evening was spent at a local swimming pool where the cadets
carried out their own brand of synchronised swimming. The RAF Swimming Proficiency was also taken.
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Friday was taken up with activities on station. After uniform and tent inspections the Flights practiced drill under the supervision of
their Flight Commanders. Sixty Squadron came through for us again and five hand picked cadets flew in the Griffin on navigation
exercises in the Welsh Valleys. Yet more smiles... A basketball session then ensured a good appetite for lunch in the Junior Ranks
Mess. With departure impending, a quick admin session after lunch ensured that the cadets were almost packed for Saturday. That done
it was time for the major event of the week; the Drill Competition! Both Flights performed a ceremonial Flight Review with inspection
and march past. Sqn Ldr Senft acted as the reviewing officer while AWO Lambert marked the drill. 'B' Flight won the competition by
two points.
The traditional "Cadet Review" was held on Friday night as the entire camp unwound after a busy week. Especially noteworthy was the
encouraging display of foot drill by the "Drillage People". Interesting stuff to say the least.
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The Final Parade was held on Saturday morning with the two Cadet Warrant Officers parading both Flights as a Squadron. The Station
Duty Executive Officer inspected the cadets and presented the Best NCO, Best Cadet and Inter-Flight Competition awards. Also
presented were the three RAF Marksman awards and the Inter-Flight Drill Competition certificate. The parade complete, a quick
change into 'civvies' and a mass clean-up before lunch allowed the camp time to enjoy the sunshine until the coach arrived for
the journey home.
Overall Shawbury 2004 was an outstanding camp which will leave many memories with those who went. Particularly the whole
"Drillage People" episode.
For further information about RAF Shawbury and DHFS visit their website. A link is provided on the
links page.
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