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One, Two, Three, Four, FIVE!! 

To win a drill competition is no mean feat, but to win for the 5th consecutive year is something very special indeed, and that is exactly what some highly polished Air Cadets from 134 (Bedford) Squadron have achieved.

The Cadets, aged between 13 and 19 years had spent three months ‘square bashing’ before taking part in the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing Drill Competition held at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire on Sunday 15th June 2008.

The Winning Team

The Drill Trophy is one of the most highly sought after awards within the Wing. To secure it, 29 Squadrons are required to complete a marching sequence containing 52 individual drill movements. The teams are marked by 5 qualified Drill Instructors who look for nothing less than complete perfection.

This year the cadets from 134 (Bedford) Squadron were led onto the parade square by Cadet Sergeant Michael Every, 18 yrs, who himself has been part of the team for six years and is soon to leave the Corps to attend University. 

Sgt Every led the team through the competition sequence with confidence and delivered an outstanding display of precision drill. No-one present would have believed that this was his very first command of the squad.

Even more impressive is the fact that only four members of the team this year had previously taken part in the Wing Drill Competition. For the rest it was their first taste of competition at this level.

The Drill Trophy was presented to the Squadron by Air Commodore Ian Stewart, Commandant Air Cadets.

Having won the event, the team now goes on to represent the Wing at the Regional Drill Competition being held at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday 7th September 2008. Success at this level results in the winning team representing the Central and Eastern Region of the Air Cadets at the national competition in October.

Flight Sergeant Sean Denham, 17 years, who led the team to success in 2006 and 2007 said, “I am very proud of all of the achievements of the squadron this weekend. It puts into perspective the fantastic training that the squadron provides for its cadets, evident through the results. Sgt Every did an excellent job leading the drill team and the squadron looks forward to the next round of the competition. Very well done to all.”