Flight Sergeant James Parker of 2438 (Bishop Ullathorne) Squadron is celebrating a double gold achievement. James has just been awarded his Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award as well as his Gold Advanced Gliding Training (AGT) Wings. This is also a first for 2438 Squadron as James is the first Cadet on the Squadron to achieve either of these awards.

To complete his Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award James had to complete a number of key skill areas including 12 months of Physical Recreation and Service as a Cadet Senior NCO. He also under took 6 months of Marksmanship training. However the most enjoyable parts for James were his Expeditions and Residential Courses. He completed his expeditions at Llanbeder and Elan Valley in Wales , completing 50 Miles on foot in four days, sleeping under canvass for 3 nights and carrying everything required to complete the expedition. The highlight of James' Gold Award was his 7 day Residential Course Sailing on board TS Royalist around the Channel Islands and the coast of France , whilst part of the crew and manning the ship.

If this wasn't enough to leave his head in the clouds James has also just completed his AGT Wings. This involved him completing 5 solo circuits of RAF Little Rissington in a Vigilant glider after completing 5 Hours 45 Minutes of training in how to control the glider in more advanced aspects of flight. This is an extremely rare award with only around 120 Cadets in the country obtaining this standard each year. He has now been recommended to go onto complete his Grade 2 qualification, which will leave him as a competent Solo pilot. This will add to his experiences during a solo parachute course that James completed with the RAF last year.

Flight Sergeant Parker said: ' I am extremely proud of my achievements whilst being a member of 2438 Squadron. The wide range of activities I have been able to undertake, as well as the awards I have been able to gain, have made my time in the Air Training Corps extremely enjoyable. It just goes to show the wide range of opportunities available as a member of the Air Training Corps, experiences which I will never forget.'