Three cadets from 487 (Kingstanding and Perry Barr) Sqn ATC have spent three days with the Royal Air Force Regiment on a work experience course with a difference!

Cpl Daniel and Cadet’s Nye and Hart travelled to RAF Honington on 14 th March to take part in what turned out to be a very physical, and tiring few days!

Following their arrival the cadets were issued day sacks and helmets for the course and there then followed a presentation which showed the cadets exactly what they were in for during the week!

On the first full day on the course, all the cadets were asked to take the RAF Fitness test (the dreaded bleep test!). There was no let up once they had finished the test though, it was straight outside to take part in combat PT. This involved the cadets running around a rugby pitch and at regular intervals the kind instructors gently told them to hit the ground and crawl. The combat PT also involved the cadets breaking out into teams and then carrying 75Kg stretchers over a measured course.

The second day started with all the cadets being given information on the RAF Regiment, their current theatres of operation and what the cadets could expect if they actually wanted to join their ranks. The cadets were soon getting physical again though when they all took part in an obstacle course run. They then got the chance to shoot on the DCCT range and the cadets were also shown all the weapons currently in use by the Regiment.

The last day saw the cadets visit the RAF Regiment museum. The long history of the Regiment was explained to the cadets, paying particularly attention to all the conflicts that they have took part in over the years, and indeed, their current service in Afghanistan.

All the cadets really enjoyed their few days with the RAF Regiment and all would recommend the course to their colleagues. Cpl Daniel commented “We were all given a personal number at the start of the course, and I will never forget mine, number 28, it seemed to be used quite a lot during the course, the Regiment are very good at shouting”!