City Air Cadets Leads The Way

Two Cadets from 13 (City of Exeter) Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) have successfully completed the organization's 11th annual Junior Leaders (J.L's) Course, widely regarded as one of the toughest youth training courses of any kind, in the country.

Flight Sergeant Jonty Webber & Sergeant Chris Ostler became only the 4 & 5th cadets from the Wyvern Barracks based unit to compete the 8-month course, which pushes students to their physical and mental limits. Their endurance and teamwork was tested by living in basic military field conditions, whilst they worked to rigorous standards of discipline and fitness. Volunteer civilian and military experts taught the pair a wide range of life skills including teamwork, tactical leadership, public speaking, and advanced management. As well as practical experience, the course students gained a Level 2 NVQ in Leadership and Team Management from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). All the areas in which the Junior Leaders Course is taught and assessed are to the standards of potential officers in the British Military.

Flight Sergeant Jonty Webber (left) & Sergeant Chris Ostler.

The course is made up of nine weekends, culminating in a ten day "Test Week" which pushes the students to their physical and mental limits.  The cadets spend seven days out in the field carrying out up to three simulated missions a day, each taking a turn at their assessed six hour lead to complete leadership missions involving enemy ambushes, deliberate attacks, building assaults and much more.  Chris and Jonty also passed an Air Power examination as well being assessed at public speaking presentations. Those who successfully completed the course graduated at a special meal held at RAF Honnington, Suffolk. This was particularly special for the pair as it is also the former home of City of Exeter's affiliated RAF unit, number 13 Tornado Squadron.

Jonty Webber (17) is a student in the 6th form at Clyst Vale Community College, Broadclyst who hopes to become an Officer in the Royal Marines.

Chris Ostler (19) is a former pupil of Clyst Vale Community College, he is currently studying at De Montfort University Leicester before hoping to join the RAF as an Officer.

Jonty said "At the start I never thought I would make it to the graduation, I just concentrated on passing each weekend as it came.  The course is incredibly mentally and physically challenging, and you really have to push yourself to succeed.  However, it is great fun and you become close friends with cadets from all over Britain.  It is undoubtedly the best thing I have done whilst in the ATC."

Chris said "I came on this course in order to become an effective communicator as well as an efficient leader. I feel that from the course, I have achieved this whilst picking up a load of other skills and talents that allowed me to improve a lot more than I thought I could. I would recommend people to go on this course and get as much out of it as possible, because the satisfaction you get from looking back on it is truly priceless."

Squadron Press Officer Fg Off Chris Power said "We are very proud of Jonty & Chris, not only have they completed a very difficult and demanding course but showed a huge commitment by travelling to places such as Norfolk, Yorkshire and Shropshire for weekends for the last 8 months, while continuing in full time education and still attending 13 Squadron on a regular basis."

13 (City of Exeter) Squadron is open to all young people between the ages of 13-18 and meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7.00 PM.  Currently with over 50 members, the organisation provides training for those who have an interest in aviation with further opportunities in flying, adventure training, sport, shooting and citizenship. Visits and camps at RAF Stations are also included in the programme. Cadets are encouraged to become involved in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Squadron has successfully completed the Ten Tors every year since 1999, with eight cadets finishing the event last weekend. The unit is heavily involved community events such as marshalling of the Great West Run. Anyone interested in joining should log on to www.13atc.co.uk or call 01392 256425 (Tues & Thurs 1900-2130) for further information or just drop in on a parade night.

Junior Leaders

The Junior Leaders is a development course aimed at the Senior Non Commissioned Officer Cadets (SNCOs) of the Air Cadet Organization (ACO). Spread over nine weekends, the Junior Leaders is designed to motivate and assess its students through a variety of forums, ranging from presentation skills, leadership, social skills, and field craft skills encompassed by physical training. The directing staffs have a vast range of expertise either from serving in HM Forces or as managers in commercial business. The Junior Leaders is a national organization supported by the RAF, the RAF Regiment and carries the ILM (Institute of Leadership Management) qualifications for its graduates.

The course tested all the students to their limits especially in the final test week. 6 long and exhausting days and nights were spent in the field engaged in mentally and physically testing leadership tasks as the skills learnt since September 06 were tested to the full. These skills included basic infantry skills and tactics, which provided a challenging background to leadership under pressure. Weapons handling, presentations and orders, working closely as part of a team and supporting each other as the week got progressively harder were also an integral part of the course.

The course provided a fantastic learning experience and a great many skills and qualifications which all the participants will find invaluable in later life. These included an ILM level two management award. 

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