Supporting the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting (CCRS) Cadet Inter Service Skill at Arms Meeting (CISSAM) was a dedicated team of 14 adult volunteers from across the RAF Air Cadets. They were tasked to run the RAF Air Cadets zeroing range, final practice shoots and then competitions throughout the event. The staff also supported the Army Cadet Force and Sea Cadet Corps run ranges throughout the competition as required, in a wide range of roles.
This year there was a marksmanship and competitions team (MCT) run Pre-CISSAM, which enabled teams to arrive from the Monday so they could get three more days of match practise and rifle zeroing. It was fantastic to see so many teams take advantage of this which was a driving force in a successful RAF Air Cadets haul of trophy's and medals across the wide range of competitions.
During the week it was noted how effectively the RAF Air Cadets ranges were run and the professionalism of the adult volunteers who staffed them by all cadet forces who attended. Thanks, was also extended from CCRS towards the teams flexible and adaptable attitude in supporting the overall logistics of the event as the week went on. Without this, the week would not have been as successful as it was.
The team for 2023 was made up by:
- Squadron Leader Kirsty Burnham – Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing
- Squadron Leader Richard Courtney – Dorset and Wiltshire Wing
- Squadron Leader Jonathan Pollard – Central and East Region
- Squadron Leader Elaine Porter – Hertfordshire Wing
- Squadron Leader Patrick Roddy – Trent Wing
- Flight Lieutenant William Dimond – Norfolk and Suffolk Wing
- Flight Lieutenant Grant Rogers – South West Region
- Flight Lieutenant Jordon Johnson – Trent Wing
- Warrant Officer Stewart Aspinall – Merseyside Wing
- Warrant Officer Nathan Eyre – Hertfordshire Wing
- Warrant Officer Tammy Curwen – Bristol and Gloucestershire Wing
- Flight Sergeant Adam Birch – Hertfordshire Wing
- Sergeant Mark Tyrrell-Thompson – Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing
- Sergeant Shannon Lock – Hertfordshire Wing
For the second year running Flight Sergeant Birch was the appointed Range Conducting Officer (RCO) for the RAF Air Cadets ranges and was presented with a CCRS challenge coin on the Sunday by the General Secretary, Brig (Retd) Pountain CBE, in appreciation for his efforts.
Looking forwards into 2024, there will be two events where RAF Air Cadets adult volunteer support would be required. They are CCFSAM 21-24 October and then CISSAM 24-27 October. A call for range staff will come out during 2024 via all OC SATTs and Wing Shooting Officers in August 2024. If you are interested in joining the 2024 team, please sign up. There is no requirement to be an RCO, there is always support needed for the range support roles.