It's been a busy time recently for Sgt Andy Hudson ATC following his qualification as a range conducting officer (RCO).

Sgt Hudson started on the long “campaign” to become a RCO late in 2009 when he passed his QCWHT course with flying colours. This gave him the ability to test cadets on the Number 8 .22 rifle, but this wasn't enough for him, Sgt Hudson's long term goal was to become a RCO.

Further courses qualified him to become a Weapons Instructor and there then followed conversions to the new L98A2 which meant he could now instruct on the newly delivered DP versions of the weapon at 487 Sqn.

At the start of May this year, Sgt Hudson travelled to the old RAF airfield at Wattisham to undertake his RCO course. This is a very intensive course and all the attendees found the power point presentations and amount of information being delivered to them a great challenge.

However, following his second weekend, Sgt Hudson was awarded his RCO “ticket” and he has busy ever since taken cadets on the range at 487 Sqn so that they can take part in the Collins trophy shoot.

Flt Lt Brendan O'Neill, OC 487 Sqn commented “We all know how hard Sgt Hudson works both in his day to day job and as an instructor at 487 Sqn. Not only has Andy now got his RCO ticket, he's also a qualified Mountain Leader and it's of great credit to himself that he passed the RCO course with relative ease. All the cadets and staff at the Sqn very much appreciate how much work he has put into this course in his private time. The Sqn won the Collins trophy in 2009 and now that we can spend even more time on the range, we look forward to competing for the trophy again in 2010”.