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Cadets to reach for the
Sky with the Army Air Corps
MERSEYSIDE Cadets will have the
chance to experience an action packed visit to 9 Regiment Army Air Corps (9
AAC), at Dishforth Airfield in North Yorkshire this week. In all 24 cadets
from various Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and Air Training Corps (ATC)
Squadrons will visit 9 AAC on Tuesday, 16 February 2016, and Wednesday, 17
February 2016.
The visit aims to inform the cadets, all
aged between 13 and 20 years old, on the roles and functions of the Army Air
Corps. More importantly, it is an opportunity for them to explore a
potential future vocation and ask any questions they may have about what a
career flying in the Army involves. The cadets will be thrown in at the deep
end with a taster of an Army Physical Training (PT) session. Conducted in a
fun, but challenging manner, the PT instructors will look to show the cadets
what a typical training session involves, including obstacle courses,
circuits and various team sports. The cadets will also get a demonstration
of the vital task that the Defence Fire Rescue Service provides; keeping our
aircrew safe and protecting them from harm should the worst happen.
To round off the trip, the young cadets
will be shown around a Lynx Mk9A helicopter, complete with its capable
camera system and side mounted machine gun. Following a talk from 1 of the
Army's highly experienced crewmen on the operation of the camera and .50 cal
gun, the cadets will also all get the exciting opportunity to fly in the
back of a Lynx and see the local area from the air.
For most of the
cadets this will be the 1st experience they would have had of Army aviation,
with their military exposure to date focussed on the RAF and its fixed wing
aircraft. The visit was organised by Capt Jordan Jones, an Army Air Corps
Pilot and ATC Instructor on the weekends.
"This will excite these young and enthusiastic cadets, all of whom have
little knowledge of the Army Air Corps and what it does. They should leave
here having been thoroughly entertained and informed of the exciting
opportunity that the Army could provide them as pilots." said Capt
Jones, himself an ex ATC cadet.
Capt Jones currently gives up his free time on weekends to instruct young
cadets on the Grob Tutor fixed wing aircraft. He loves military aviation and
hopes to inspire a future generation to have the ambition to achieve what
they are capable of. His hometown is Liverpool and he regularly instructs at
90 (Speke) Sqn ATC in Garston.
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