Developing the confidence, leadership skills and resilience of more than 130,000 young people around the UK, in Cadet Week we celebrate everything the movement has to offer, as experienced by Cadet Flight Sergeant Tiffany, RAF Leeming’s Station Commander’s Cadet.
Selected by Group Captain Geordie Lawson to accompany him at various high-profile events throughout the year, FSgt Tiffany’s tenure as Station Commander is the pinnacle of a cadet career in which she now mentors more junior members of 873 (Driffield) Squadron Air Cadets, which she joined in 2021.
Tiffany, 17, found out about Cadets during a school assembly, and has never looked back. She said: “I was interested in the opportunities available. There is just so much going on, and you get to experience everything from flying and gliding to shooting, first aid and leadership courses. I’ve also had the honour of laying a wreath for a Remembrance Parade. Being the Station Commander’s cadet for RAF Leeming has been amazing, I’ve been to two formal events and just loved it.”
873 (Driffield) Squadron is one of around 1,000 Air Training Corps staffed by volunteers to provide unique opportunities and experiences to more than 40,000 young people around the UK. Tiffany said: “We meet every Tuesday and Thursday. There is always first parade, and we sometimes do drill but it’s different all the time. There might be leadership, first aid or some other type of training. Once a month there’s a sports night where you can put leadership skills into place but also have lots of fun.”
A huge benefit of being a Cadet has been the friends she has made, and the opportunity to pass her knowledge on to more junior members of the Squadron. “There is a big age range, and you meet people at camps – I talk to friends from different places all the time. I love seeing the younger cadets progress in different areas and I encourage them to do things that are out of their comfort zone. People worry about going on camps because they miss their families, but that is where a lot of the experiences are.”
Currently studying for A levels in biology, criminology and psychology, Tiffany hopes to become a fast jet pilot in the RAF, but stresses that Cadets is not only for those who want a military role, and she has the qualifications to prove it. “There is a big misconception that Cadets is very strict and military. There are rules but if you don’t want to join the military, you absolutely don’t have to.
“Cadets helps in lots of other areas – you can put it on your CV and in university applications. I have achieved my Bronze Wings, Master Cadet Classification, Silver Leadership, Silver First Aid, Silver Radio, Silver Shot and Bronze Space. I have also completed Silver DofE, silver fieldcraft and MOI. It’s absolutely given me more confidence. I promote myself much more than I would have done five years ago.”
