Duke of Edinburgh's
Awards
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme is a voluntary,
non-competitive programme of practical, cultural and adventurous
activities for young people aged between 14 and 25 years. Air Cadets
who meet the age criteria can join the award
scheme.
The award programme
consists of three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level has
different criteria for entry, and the level of achievement necessary
to complete each award. Each level is broken down into 4 areas (5
for the Gold award) which participants must complete successfully in
order to receive their award. These are:
-
SERVICE - helping others in the local
community
-
EXPEDITIONS - training for and
planning a journey
-
SKILLS - demonstrating ability in
almost any hobby, skill or interest
-
PHYSICAL RECREATION - sport, dance
and fitness
-
RESIDENTIAL PROJECT (Gold award only)
- a purposeful enterprise with young people not previously known
to the participant
The D of E Awards are
widely recognised by employers, as it helps demonstrate that award
holders are keen to take on new challenges, have a higher level of
self-confidence than their counterparts and have leadership
qualities with the added experience of teamwork.
Once you have completed
your Bronze Award you will be given a Bronze D of E badge to wear on
your uniform with pride!
Flying &
Gliding
Cadets from the Air
Training Corps are offered opportunities to fly in light aircraft
and gliders, as well as other RAF and civil aircraft. There are
plenty of opportunities open to cadets when flying, from aerobatics
in the new Grob Tutor to practising stalls in a Grob Viking
glider.
Any outstanding cadet may
also get the chance to fly on a civil airliner, or go on an overseas
flight in a RAF Tri-Star, VC10 or Hercules. Some cadets have also
been lucky enough to fly in fast jets and the Red Arrows'
planes!
Rifle
Shooting
As a cadet, you will have
many opportunities to learn how to shoot rifles. We have .22 target
rifles to practice with, and the ATC Wing organises a number of
shooting weekends. If you are chosen for a weekend shooting course
you will have a fun-packed weekend at a RAF station, and this will
give you the chance to qualify with the L81 and L98 rifles. Once
you've been trained to use these, you are eligible to take part in
competitions and, perhaps, to gain an ATC Marksman badge - or even a
RAF Marksman badge! - to wear on your uniform.
Squadron
Band
2200 (Oldham) Squadron has
a long musical tradition. Our marching band has lead parades and
carnivals, and carried out several displays each year within the
community. We are currently looking for a new band master to lead
the way for the squadron again. The band instruments
include:
-
snare drums
-
tenor drums
-
bass drums
-
triangles
-
cymbals
-
E-flat trumpets
-
bell-lyres |
The ATC band is made up of
three groups: the drums, the bell-lyres and the E-flat trumpet. Each
group has a lead player and a second lead player, with the Band
Major in overall charge of the band.
Our band is fairly new,
with many new cadets playing instruments and the band as a whole
being run by the more experienced members. Any cadet can join, and
with that in mind we are training the younger cadets to play in the
band and take a more active role in squadron activities.
The band plays on many
occasions such as church parades, parades in Oldham and various
other events such as the annual Saddleworth Show. If you become a
member of 2200 Squadron you, too, will have the chance to learn to
play an instrument. You don't have to be an NCO to become a lead
player - all you have to be is good! Why not come and see for
yourself?!.
Squadron
Camps
The ATC runs many camps at
RAF bases: there is an Easter camp and summer camps. Whether or not
you are eligible for camp depends on your behaviour, attendance and
attitude. Camps are situated at RAF Halton, RAF Uxbridge and RAF
Northolt, as well as many other RAF bases.
