On Thursday 5 March 2009, Cadet Flight Sergeant Harry Payne and Sergeant Connor O'Toole from 496 (Balsall Common) Squadron were presented with the new V Involved scheme 250 hour certificate for Volunteering.  

Both had spent the past 9 months actively engaged in the supervision and training of junior cadets and completing their project logbooks culminating in their awards.  

FS Payne was the 1st in the Warwickshire & Birmingham Wing and Sgt O'Toole was the 2nd - and the V administration office have confirmed that they are quite probably the 1st and 2nd in the Cadet Forces of the UK.

Squadron Leader Bryan Coats the Wing DofE & V Officer presented the awards and said " This scheme replaced the old Millennium Volunteers scheme (in which the Wing was the best performing in the ATC), and I am delighted to be able to present the 1st and 2nd awards in the ATC to these 2 NCO's from 496 Sqn, showing that 496 at least is maintaining that premier position.  (4 more cadets have been submitted for their awards so they made it just in time to be the 1st and 2nd!). 

The scheme runs alongside normal ATC training and is open to any cadet aged 16 or over - details on Wing web site or via your CO's.  Well done 496 for obtaining the first 2 awards in the cadet forces."