Sergeant Gaz Bradbury of 121 ( Nuneaton ) Squadron recently attended the initial adult Non-Commissioned Officer course at the Air Cadet Adult Training Facility, RAF College Cranwell. Like most SNCO's attending their first course at Cranwell, he didn't know what to expect, little did Sgt Bradbury know that he would end up at the top of his class and come away with the Top Student Award and two other nominations.

Sgt Gaz Bradbury was also selected to return to Cranwell to take the Drill Instructors Course and nominated for the Quinton Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually to the adult NCO who has gained the top academic results on the Initial NCO Courses .

Sgt Gaz Bradbury takes up the story:-

When I arrived at the Adult Training Facility at RAF College Cranwell I was feeling somewhat apprehensive as to what to expect after hearing some of the reports from other Sergeants I had spoken to, who said that it was an intensive course and it required serious work.

With that in mind I headed off to the Sgt's Mess for our induction brief with Warrant Officer Mitchell of the RAF Regiment, who was to be assessing our every move closely throughout the week. This was a daunting thought as I have never been in this situation before.

Upon starting the week we were given the do's and don'ts of what to do during our week long intensive course and a timetable that from first look was going to require some late nights and early starts, this wasn't a problem, it was the whole assessment of my every move that was eating away at the back of my head.

We were also told that at the end of the week a presentation of your Certificate of Appointment will be given provided that you meet the required standard on your presentation of your lesson and pass your overall assessment including dress and deportment and that the overall best student would be presented with the Top Student award and entered into the Quinton Memorial Trophy.

This was something that I aspired to achieve so I buckled down and whole heartedly entered this with my goal in mind to pass this course and get a recommendation for the Drill Instructors course.

This was not an attendance course myself and the other 17 on the course had to pass and by the end of the week we all had become a very good team and the best of friends and all achieved the pass mark required in all the aspects of the course including passing a written exam.

Friday came very quickly and we were all drained both mentally and physically and by this point we had forgotten about the Top Student award until it was announced on our Presentation Morning.

In my personal appraisal with Flt Lt Mc Gavigan I was told I had achieved 100% in my exam and that my overall report was very good which stood me a very good chance at the Top Student award.

Upon completion of the presentation the winner of the Top Student Award was announced, there were some very good top contenders for this prestigious award and to my surprise it was awarded to me!

This will be forever remembered by me as this is the first time I have ever received an award of this magnitude within the Air Training Corps for which I was very proud to collect.

The course, I found was very informative and has clarified what I should be doing as a Sgt and has taught me a great deal in a short space of time.

I very much look forward to returning to RAFC Cranwell to participate in the Drill Instructors course in 2011.

Article Submitted by:-
Flt Lt Paul Hincks RAFVR(T) 121 (Nuneaton) Squadron
04 Oct 10