Easter Camp Diary 2008.

RAF Halton.

Introduction:

I: Cadet Bethan Havard, and my friend, Cadet Dominic James, went on Easter Camp to RAF Halton Saturday 5^th of April – Saturday 12^th of April. RAF Halton is where all the airmen go for recruit training and where they graduate into the RAF. Apparently this is one of the hardest camps to go on, Mine and Dom’s first camp.  I thought it was quite good myself

The only few things I didn’t like about it was : The food wasn’t brilliant: but it filled you up, and the fact that you had to march everywhere, even when you weren’t in uniform.

Saturday 5^th of April:

The bus arrived at McDonalds at 0800 hours, 20 minutes late.  The bus was rather full when we got on, but we found seats and started talking to strangers. The journey to RAF Halton was meant to take about 4 hours, but our bus driver got us lost so it took us 7 hours. On the bus, after about 3 hours, I left Dom talking with the strangers who ended up being very strange and I went to the back of the bus with Cdt Jonathon Gardner from Neath Squadron. I sang to Jonny and scared him. J

We finally arrived at RAF Halton at 1500 hours and got set into our flights and rooms. I was set with two lovely girls, Steph and Bexx. The room was a lot nicer then I expected it to be and all the people who where there seemed nice.

Later on, we where told to change into DPMs and we had a briefing with our Camp Commandant Flt Lt Ford, it was very boring and the rules kept getting repeated, so we knew all the rules very well by the end of it.  We then went back to our rooms, unpacked and spent the night doing personal admin, which means bulling our shoes, ironing our uniform and making our beds. After we completed doing this, we had free time to make more friends.

Sunday 6^th of April:

Early start – 0615 hours. Looked out the window and there was snow everywhere!  Got into out working blues and went for breakfast.  After breakfast, we had a camp photo, which I haven’t seen yet, but I’m guessing it looks lovely in the snow.  We then changed into DPM and went on a fam ex which is basically a familiarisation exercise where you familiarise yourselves with the base. We where set into groups.  I was set with Louise, Bexx and Steph, and the Flt Sgnt – Sam, who wasn’t in a group, came around with us.  After we completed that, we had about an hour free time and then we went swimming.  During swimming we had to swim 100 meters, tread water for 2 minutes and then pull ourselves out of the pool at the deep end all in the eyes of the Wing Commander who came to stay with us until Tuesday.

Monday 7^th of April:

Another early start, in working blues again.  When we got back, we where told we had room inspection.  We got our room to the best condition we could, but no one turned up to inspect it.  We where then invited to the parade ground, to watch graduates rehearse for their parade which would see them become members of the RAF tomorrow.  The parade was not as good as I expected it to be if I’m honest.  We where later meant to have a night exercise with the RAF regiment, but as it was cold and there where unavailable regiment members, it was cancelled, so us as Cadets went bowling instead.  Steph, Sam, Wil and I did not bowl, but this is where everyone bonded and became good friends.  It was a good laugh and a fun night.

Tuesday 8^th of April:

It wasn’t as much of a rush this morning.  As we didn’t have to get our uniform on it was more relaxed. We got into “civie’s” then went to breakfast. Straight after breakfast, we got on the bus and went to Duxford Imperial War Museum.  I had been to the museum before when I was younger, so I had seen it all before, but it was nice to have a reminder of everything there, and a more laid back day, chilling with friends that I had met there.  Once we got back, we changed strait into DPM’s to have a field craft lesson taught by Sgt Garner which he taught us how to tie a b knot and also how to camouflage yourself up and how to crawl along the ground properly.  We then had 2 hours drill practice for the competition 2 days later.

Wednesday 9^th of April:

Got up early again.  Working blues ironed and on then to breakfast we went. From breakfast, half of the camp went to Trenchard museum, located on the base and the other half went to do drill.  We weren’t separated into our usual flights today, we where separated into – people who hadn’t been flying in a while, and people who had.  The museum was interesting, and there where people there telling us all about the stuff there.  Unfortunately, my friend felt ill, so I sat with her until the bus picked her up, which means I didn’t get the chance to see everything there.  After the museum, we went flying in RAF Benson, as RAF Halton did not have a runway. The weather was beautiful, and it was an amazing day to fly. (Flying log here.)

Thursday 10^th of April: 

Another early start, (surprise surprise) and again went to breakfast strait away.  We then went flying again, so the people who didn’t go Wednesday could fly, and the people who had been got another go. I did not go flying again though, for I felt ill the day before, and still didn’t feel that well, so I sat around all day watching films and chatting to my friends.  When we finally got back to the base (RAF Halton) we had about an hour and a half to prepare our uniform for the drill competition.  All of our flight where afraid, for it was two DI’s (Drill Instructors) inspecting us, and we expected them to be down our throats shouting and screaming at us, but they turned out to be nice people, who asked us questions on how we have enjoyed and stuff along those lines. Unfortunately, our flight lost the competition by 30 points, which wasn’t really that much as we had 550 points, the other flight just seemed to look better then us while doing drill.  It upset a few people and got others stressed, some thought it was their fault and their fault only, but we went in as a flight and we lost as a flight, no ones fault really.

Friday 11^th of April: 

Today was our last day on the base, and with our friends.  After breakfast we went down to do some L98 shooting.  I, and a few others didn’t want to shoot, and some where too young to (you have to be 14+ to shoot a L98 rifle) so we went back to our rooms and started packing, and catching up on sleep. When all the people who had been shooting got back, we had our final parade, and got awarded best flight, which we where all chuffed about.  We then went and got ready for the disco.  The disco was a good laugh, and here they gave out the paper plate’s awards. I got 2 paper plates – Most lightly to meet in a zoo (Beth the Chimp) for half the week I had been acting like a pet chimp for Wil, and I got the award for camp couple with Josh. J

Saturday 12^th or April:

For the last few hours in RAF Halton, we made sure all our stuff was packed and tidied our rooms.  We then left the base at 10:45 and returned home at 15:45. Saying goodbye to my friends I had made during the week was hard. I hate saying goodbye.

Camp was the best experience I have had with Cadets, and I can’t wait for the next one.  The early mornings didn’t really bother me, but camp taught me responsibility for myself and others.  I would certainly recommend camp to any cadet, and tell them that it is a brilliant experience, and it is very worth trying at least once, even if it is just to make new friends. I would like to thank all the staff for being there, with out them there wouldn’t have been a camp.