Press Release

134 (Bedford) Squadron
Air Training Corps
Shortstown
Bedford
MK42 0TH

20th June 2006

Final Countdown

As the final week of training approaches, Bedford Squadron, have once again been hard at work. They are looking to retain their trophies for both the Wing Drill Competition and the Wield Field Day Competition. Over the last few months they have been training and preparing, pushing the limits of what was once thought humanly possible, to create a team that is going to the competition with only one objective, to win.

The team discuss tactics

The day was one in which the final phases of training were to be initiated. Being within the final week, although learning was present, the day focused more on revising already existing skills and polishing up on points of uncertainty. Starting the day was a drill session led by Corporal Sean Denham, who will be leading the team into the hangar at RAF Wyton, to present the teams efforts over three months in a 12 minute drill sequence.

Next to follow was the air-recognition task. With forty-eight pictures and forty-seven planes to name the cadets faced a monumental task, but faced with uncertainty and uncanny odds, the cadets tried their best and scored admirably, with many cadets impressing the staff and NCO’s with their detailed knowledge.

With both physical and mental pressure being added to the cadet’s already strenuous workload, an impending sense of hunger struck and after one leadership exercise, the cadets took a half-an-hour lunch break. Feeling refreshed and watered the afternoon carried on with a number of leadership and initiative exercises set up to test all aspects of the cadet’s knowledge.

At the end of the day the cadet’s finished off with a cleaning spree and returned home, with aspirations and hopes high, for the forth-coming weekend. Flight Sergeant Antoni Otulakowski, who is responsible for the team on the day, commented, “The cadets have worked so hard, and I am sure we will see a pay off in the end”

Corporal Sean Denham