The Squadron Presentation Evening was held at Gordon Barracks with Wing Commander Gilbert-Stevens as our guest of honour.  The evening started with a presentation by CI McKenzie and Cpl Stephen on our participation in the Nijmegen marches this year.

Cadet awards were then presented by Wg Cdr Gilbert-Stevens;

BTEC Diploma in Public Services (at Distinction)	FS S Whitehead   Cpl J Webster   Cpl C Stephen
Best Attendance:	Cpl J Riddell
Best New Recruit:	Cdt J Quick
Best Academic Cadet:	Cdt A Whitehead
Endeavour Trophy:	Cdt A Coutts
Shooting Trophy:	Cpl J Webster
Sports Trophy:	Cdt L Prideaux
Best cadet on JNCO course and promotion to Corporal:	Cpl L Prideaux
Promotion to Sergeant:	Sgt C Stephen
Best Overall Cadet:	FS S Whitehead

The Andrew Sash is awarded annually to the female cadet judged to be the best in Scotland and Northern Ireland Region, based on the cadet's achievements and contribution to the ATC in the previous year.  It was awarded this year to FS Catriona Dick.

Flt Lt Bruce Lumsden, OC 107 Squadron from 2002-2009 received a special award for the contribution he made to the squadron.

Photos taken at the event can be seen here.

Twenty four cadets sat exams last week for Leading, Senior and Master Air Cadet Classifications.  Overall there were thirteen passes including five at Credit level as well as nine Partial Passes.

Special mention goes to Cdt Alison Whitehead who achieved a Credit pass in Leading with the top equal mark in ANES Wing and Cdt Alexander Griffin who achieved a Credit pass at Senior with the highest mark in the Wing.

107 (Aberdeen) Squadron took part in the parade today along Schoolhill to the Remembrance Day Service at the Aberdeen City War Memorial.  It was mentioned that this was the largest turnout there has been with almost 300 marchers representing all parts of the armed forces.

It is with pleasure that I announce the appointment of Mr Stewart Massie to Commission in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) with the rank of Officer Cadet.  A Commission in the RAFVR(T) is a huge achievement and Off Cdt Massie looks forward to completing the Officers' Initial Course at RAF College Cranwell in the New Year.  Officer Cadet Massie's Commission will take effect from 19th July 2010 and he will take on the role of Squadron Adjutant.

Fg Off GW Sinclair

Congratulations to CWO James MacDonald, who is now a Civilian Instructor with 107 (Aberdeen) Sqn, for winning the McIver Trophy for 2010.  This award is for the best staff cadet from the Volunteer Gliding Squadrons of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Flying Officer Gregory Sinclair has been appointed Officer Commanding (acting) of 107 (Aberdeen) Squadron.

The kit list for the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions can be found here.

From the moment we arrived at Schipol Airport we knew that the next week would be a challenge as the weather was very hot and humid, particularly when compared to Aberdeen.  After a short train journey to Nijmegen we caught the bus to Humensoord and registered with the British Military Contingent.  We then spent the next two days relaxing and some of us took a trip to Oosterbeek near Arnhem to visit a war cemetery, which was very interesting.

The four day march involves the team marching 160km over four days - roughly 25 miles per day- through the local area of Nijmegen.  The local people have turned the marches into a festival, attracting 45,000 people every year, and line the streets to cheer on the marchers and to hand out snacks and water.

The march began on the Tuesday and we were in the first detachment to leave, so we formed up at 0230, and so breakfast was at 0130!  By Friday we were used to the early starts, however this led to us having our lunch at around 0900 each day.

The weather did make the marches harder as we had to be constantly drinking water and applying sun cream to keep heat stroke and dehydration at bay.  The British Military Contingent Staff do a sterling job of looking after everyone and we were certainly grateful for all of their help, support and smiles.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in Nijmegen 2010 and am already looking forward to next year.

CWO Catherine McKenzie

This years Regional Training Camp at Joint Helicopter Command Aldergrove was fantastic.  Wing Commander Brian Munro and all of his staff put in a lot of hard work and it really paid off.  Throughout the week the cadets took part in a module – Duke of Edinburgh, Fieldcraft, First Aid, Flight Simulator, Media, and Shooting, went on a cultural visit to Belfast, flying with 12 AEF and visited 351 Army Air Corps Squadron.

The best bit about camps like these is meeting cadets and staff from other wings, learning new skills and making new friends.

CWO Catherine McKenzie

The Scottish Poisk two day endurance event took place near Fort William in the Scottish Highlands.  This consisted of eight timed stages consisting of walking / running, biking, orienteering and even a train journey!

The 107 Stags consisted of Cadets Stephen, Douglas, Gall, CWO MacDonald and CI Whitehead as the team manager and in the end came 11th out of 21 teams.

The nature of the event pushed all cadets who had to contend with the poor weather as well as the challenging stages.  Due to the worsening conditions the running stage of over 20km on day two was cancelled.

Cadet Gall has written a personal account of the event from a participants perspective.

Have a look in our photo gallery for more pictures from the weekend.

Lord Provost Peter Stephen, the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeen, attended an award ceremony to present certificates of appointment as Lord Lieutenant's cadets to Flight Sergeant Paul Silvester for 2009/2010 and Sergeant Stuart Whitehead for 2010/2011.

It is the duty of the Lord Lieutenant's cadet to provide the Lord Lieutenant with help at official functions throughout the year which can include visits by Royalty and other dignitaries.

He also presented Corporal Roy Brown with the
Mike Chrystall trophy, this being awarded to the best
all round cadet who undertook a gliding scholarship at
663 VGS (RAF Kinloss).

From 1st September 2010 a new Cadet Classification structure will be introduced.  This primarily introduces Master Air Cadet, Instructor Cadet and Staff Cadet to replace the current Staff Part I and II classifications.  Details of the new classifications can be found here.

The Aviation Training Syllabus has been revised to be inline with the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).  The content of subjects taught has been reviewed and the number of optional examinations has been extended.  Squadrons will be able to request examinations at anytime rather than the fixed timetable in force at present.  In addition we will be moving to online completion of exams.

The existing exam process will remain until July 2011 to assess those cadets taught under the current syllabus.

This years Wing Atheltics were held at the Aberdeen Sports Village.  Squadrons from throughout the Aberdeen & North East Scotland Wing competed in numerous individual track and field events culminating in the 400m relay events.

Several medals were won by the Squadron but congratulations must go to Cpl Rayne and Cdt Prideaux who both won the Victor Ludorum trophies for their age groups.

First and Second placed competitors in events have the opportunity to represent Aberdeen Wing at the Regional Athletics event.

107 (Aberdeen) Squadron together with other squadrons continued their involvement at the annual Balmoral Races.

Our duties included marshalling and handing out bottled water etc. and to help with the smooth running of the numerous road races during the day at the Balmoral Estate.

Cadets, Staff and Parents spent a day bag packing to raise funds for a Squadron mini bus and managed to raise over £900.  We are hoping for more successful bag packing events during in the year to help us towards this target.

With a Squadron mini bus will we will be more mobile and be able to provide the cadets with additional activities outwith our Cadet Centre.

Seven cadets joined Scouts and other adults and children from the Cove Community in the annual
"Clean Up Cove" event.

They donned their hi-vis vests and gloves together with litter pickers and bin bags, then after a Health and Safety briefing, they set out in small groups to pick up litter and items of rubbish from communal areas mainly around Loirston School and shops.

In all thirty five people gave up a couple of hours of their time for this event.

Cadets Coutts, Jawara, Odlin and Webster have had their first experience of gliding at RAF Kinloss.

They each had a 20 minute flight in a Vigiliant motorised glider which formed the first stage of their Gliding Induction Course (GIC).

Under instruction from the pilot, they each had a chance to take the controls to practice some basic manoeuvres.

The cadets have been asked to write about their experience and one article will be chosen for publication on the website.

We currently have ten cadets enrolled for the
BTEC First Diploma in Public Services which mixes theory and practical elements with an emphasis on leadership, teamwork, communications, problem solving and fitness.

About three quarters of the syllabus is covered through normal ATC activities while some additional written work is required.

Cadets joined the Squadron VQ officer this weekend to work on the completion of the first Project workbook.

Successful completion of the syllabus will earn the cadets a qualification which is equivalent to four Standard grades (1-3).

All the cadets in the 107 (Aberdeen) Squadron cross country team put in an excellent team performance against other squadrons in the Aberdeen Wing to come away with the Overall Winners and the Senior Girls trophies.

Individual medals for different classes went to;
Cdt Rayne: Gold
CWO McKenzie: Silver
Sgt Henderson :Silver
Cdt Hamilton: Silver
Cdt Gall: Silver

The top six from each class will have the chance to represent Aberdeen & North East Scotland in the Regional Cross Country competition next month.