C.W.O.s gain their Junior Leaders Award

A Massive congratulations to 2 of Kent Wings’ Cadet Warrant Officers who after 6 months of training have completed the Junior Leaders Field Leadership Assessment!
After being selected to take part in Junior Leaders 23 C.W.O.s Faulkner and Jones both had to travel to Beckingham Training Camp, Lincolnshire, at least once a month to be delivered the air cadets pinnacle leadership course.
An extra congratulations to CWO Faulkner who was awarded with the Kriegie Trophy, which is awarded to the Junior Leader who demonstrated the greatest resourcefulness and resilience reflecting the indomitable spirit of the Kriegie. It shows that it has helped him recognise his own potential and exceed what he would have previously thought possible.
The last 6 months have seen them learn invaluable lessons on both leadership and management throughout the course. They had lessons on all different leadership styles and techniques which had now put them in a position to finish an ILM level 3 (the Institute of Leadership and Management) which is a civilian recognised qualification that they can now carry forward. The level of leadership that they qualify with allows them to now deliver Bronze and Silver Leadership at Squadron and Wing level.
The Junior Leaders course uses Fieldcraft and military skills as a learning vehicle to deliver its leadership training. Due to this, through the course, both have successfully also qualified as Fieldcraft Instructors.
The conclusion of the course is 7 days in the field on the STANTA training area where the students live out of FOB’s (forward operating bases) and harbour areas. This years course also involved an infill onto the area via Chinook, demonstrating the courses close workings with the RAF. 7 days in the field challenge the students both in their leadership but also their resilience, perspective of being a team member and also how much determination they have. This year in particular the students have had to endure the elements and show high standards of hygiene in the field, using their wet/dry drills.
After the students leave the field, they have an in-depth debrief with their Section Instructors on how they performed throughout the year and what they need to do in order to improve when they return to their wing and squadron. Then the students will head to a graduation dinner in the Officers Mess at RAF Honington in their number 1’s with their maroon lanyards on. The final thing the students will do before leaving STANTA to go home is a parade where they are presented with their DZ’s a patch to be worn on their greens signifying that they are now Qualified Junior Leaders.
– report by Sgt P Norman 402 (Gravesend) Sqn