OFFICER COMMANDING’S END OF YEAR MESSAGE

It’s that time of year again where we look forward to the midnight bells with a toast and the company of friends and family.

If you are anything like me, you have no doubt enjoyed the break from normal busy routine and the opportunity to relax with loved ones, and hopefully, slow the pace of life just a bit.

As 2024 comes to an end, I think it’s important to reflect on the year and our achievements as a squadron and allow ourselves to be proud of what we have achieved.

The year saw us welcome twenty-seven new cadets to the squadron through our intakes in February, September, and November. Twenty-eight cadets and six staff attended eight residential camps including RAF Lossiemouth, Toulouse, Belgium, Dundee, and Aberdeen. On top of this, we had many more cadets and staff attend multiple weekend and one-day training events covering the range of Air Cadet activities.

Our staff have been engaged throughout the year assisting the various Wing Training Teams to deliver J/SNCO courses, leadership, space, shooting, and adult continuous training to staff and cadets across the wing footprint.

We raised over £1400 from the local community via bag packing and received over £2000 from grant funding. This was put to use by purchasing new laptops, various upgrades to our virtual flight simulators, replacing worn-out camping equipment and upgrading some audio/visual equipment within the squadron HQ.

Some senior cadets timed out but didn’t go far as they returned as Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs). CWO Isla Mayor left 470 but stayed with the organisation, joining 1333 (Grangemouth, Spitfire) Squadron as a Civilian Instructor (CI). CWO Emma Gray stayed with 470 and in November, we welcomed her as our newest staff team member. Our Civilian Committee lost some members but we welcomed Mr Ian Pratt to its ranks, bringing with him a wealth of experience as a former CFAV.

As we look ahead into 2025, I hope that I can continue to rely on your support to allow your sons and daughters to achieve all they can. I would like to extend my gratitude to you all for the support and encouragement you show towards your sons and daughters to allow them to benefit as much as possible from being an Air Cadet.

470 is a team effort and we cannot achieve what we do without the invaluable support of all the squadron’s volunteers. From those in uniform, who choose to take on an additional management role and all the requirements that come with it, to the Civilian Instructors who run a lot of the activities and deliver most of the cadet training, to the squadron’s Civilian Committee who look after the squadron’s money, welfare and offer their support in any way that is needed.

Thank you to everyone for volunteering your valuable time and allowing us to deliver as many varied activities as we can.

I wish you all a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Yours Faithfully

Colin Gray

Flight Lieutenant RAFAC

Officer Commanding

470 (Falkirk) Sqn