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16th July 2006

Leader of the Gang

Saturday 1st July 2006 was the start of this year’s new intake of potential leaders at RAF Stafford’s Air Cadet Leadership Course one of which was 134 Bedford’s very own Cpl James Tye.

With 48 People in attendance from as far as Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, course 70 had begun. 

The course is split up into 3 phase’s of command tasks, and that’s after you have successfully completed the 1.5 mile run. During the course you learn the theory of leadership and get to put it into practice during the week. The course is mentally as well as physically demanding. 

After you have completed phase 3 you do the last exercise which is called exercise Top Dog, this is a 2 hour orienteering exercise finding 24 points, then into the dreaded log run. After all of that and feeling very tired you sleep out in a basher.

Friday is the last day and you have to give a presentation to all the Staff and Cadets as a flight these presentations vary for example, leadership uses and use in the air training corps. Once that is all over you have your interviews with your flight commander weather you have passed or failed, for some this is the hardest part of the whole week.

I was one of the last to find out in my flight and successfully completed the course with a merit, and went out the following day on parade with my head held up high as Wing Commander Hand form The RAF Regiment Spoke to me and awarded me my Prestigious ACLC badge. 

I Enjoyed the Course tremendously and loved the Log run and Leading the team. I would recommend this course who anyone who is serious about completing the course and is up for a challenge.

AWO Taylor said "Cpl Tye has achieved a notable success in achieving a merit during his attendance on this important course. He sets a standard that others will have to work hard to match. I am sure that the skills he has developed will benefit the Squadron and advance him within his cadet service." 

Cpl J Tye