Annual Camp 2011- RAF Boulmer
We arrived at RAF Boulmer after a 3 hour coach journey, we were designated our luxury single room accommodation; equipped with a sink, wardrobes, cupboards and drawers. Then we were thrown into the hectic training program, and we were designated into our Flights (A Flight and B Flight) with A Flight led by Sgt Smullen of 345 sqn.
We went for our dinner at approximately 16:30 – The eating times were extremely hard to get into for the first few days. The first day was quiet, every squadron seemed to keep to themselves and nobody would integrate.
Straight after dinner we started a ‘FAMEX’ or Familiarization Exercise around the local area with small groups of cadets from our Flights, we were set questions and goals to complete as this was a task that went towards the scores for the ‘Best Flight Competition’
After the FAMEX we went to the beach to play sport (it was an interpretation of baseball). A Flight led by the fabulous Sgt Smullen (from 345 Sqn) beat B Flight marginally…22-8. With numerous home runs scored by myself, Sgt Smullen, Cdt Barker and Cdt McGrath J.
The Rest Of The Week Consisted Of:
- Dry Rifle Training- L98-A2
- Shooting- No.8 + L98-A2 Rifles
- Aircraft Recognition Competition
- Aerospace Management Exercise
- Wet ‘N’ Wild
- Trip To Hadrian’s Wall
- Night Exercise
- Drill Competition
- 202 Sqn Search & Rescue Visit
- Low Ropes Course
- Alnwick Castle Visit
- Social Night
- And some lucky cadets (Me, Sgt Smullen, Cpl Nicholson and Sgt Knight – 3 of those 4 cadets are from Lancaster Sqn) got a flight in a Seaking Search & Rescue Helicopter.
My Favorite Moment Of Camp:
The most enjoyable moment of camp and possibly the best moment of my life was when 4 of ‘The Best’ cadets on camp were given a flight in a Sea King Search & Rescue Helicopter. We flew over Alnwick castle where the rest of the cadets were visiting that day, and it brought me and the others great satisfaction to wave at the cadets from the open door of the Sea King. The flight was only 20 minutes long but felt a lot longer.
My Least Favorite Moment Of Camp:
Was losing the drill competition to our rival’s B Flight. All week we were favorites to win the competition and were very confident, however nerves on the day lead to a few errors and resulted in the loss of the competition. We weren’t fazed by this for long, as A Flight’s attitude was that B Flight had to win something at some time.
By Cdt Wilkinson K
