Easter weekend saw Cadets and Staff from 5 Squadrons assemble once again for the third Khaki Badger Fieldcraft & Radio Comms exercise at Yardley Chase DTE in Northamptonshire. Squadrons represented were 29F ( Rugby ), 84 ( Coventry Airport ), 1289 ( Stratford-upon-Avon ), 1459 (Heart of England) and 2028 (Southam) – 44 cadets and 11 staff in total.

After the heavy rain during the preceding week – continuing on the first night, conditions on the ground were not at all ideal, but the cadets were soon unpacked and sorted for the first night in their ‘luxury' Bunker accommodation (well, it had lights when the generator was hooked up! – no doors, windows, beds or running water though). Arrival briefs complete, the first rat pack meal was sorted before settling down for the night.

Saturday morning brought relief from the rain and an opportunity for staff and cadets to have a good look around the site in daylight. They were then split into two flights and deployed into their Harbour areas, experienced KB cadets building shelters whilst the new cadets underwent basic Fieldcraft lessons from WO Ariss, WO Wilkes and CI Giles. Whilst this was continuing, all Radio qualified cadets began to set up an impressive array of Clansman radio equipment provided by Sgt Caine at 5 points around the site ready for exercises planned later, including an HQ near the site entrance (which became my ‘home' for the weekend), a field HQ in the Bunker and a listening/relay station in a 9 x 9 tent centrally placed in the training area. Harbour areas gained a base station radio, field telephone connections from their OP and man-portable sets for deployed patrols.

In the early evening the exercises began in earnest, testing the cadets skills in fieldcraft, navigation and comms technique – all of the cadets and staff learning something new along the way. End ex came all too quickly and everyone was debriefed over a hot drink before settling down for the night in their Bashas. The wet weather then promptly returned, teaching a few about their basha building skills!

Sunday morning brought welcome relief with bright skies and a strange warm glowing ball in the sky, immediately increasing the mood of the camp and enabling scenarios to be run throughout the day. After lunch Harbour areas were moved to the Southern end of the site and re-built with the lessons of the previous night put into practice and the day ended with a joint ex, both flights working together to achieve the objectives set.

Monday morning involved de-rigging the areas used before a final breakfast and debrief back at the Bunker. All kit was then stowed away on the vehicles before departing.

Thank you to all of the cadets who attended and gave their all to make the weekend a success and a massive thank you to all of the staff who worked tirelessly to keep the wheels turning all weekend – see you all on KB4!

Article Submitted by:-
Fg Off Glyn Slade1289 ( Stratford Upon Avon ) Sqn
10 Apr 10