4 (ardmore) squadron atc final parade report

2012 Annual Report and Year Book

Annual Squadron Report

2012

4 (Ardmore) Squadron

Air Training Corps


This Yearbook is the first of its kind. We will now produce one every year, and

will contain more about the years events and activities.

Contents Unit Commanders Report – FLTLT M. Greig ........................................................................................... 3

Ohakea air show 2012 – CPL A. Rollo...................................................................................................... 4

Junior Leaders Course – CPL C. Reid ....................................................................................................... 5

Senior leaders Course – SGT C. Hickman ................................................................................................ 5

Great barrier island trip – Under Officer A. Holmes ............................................................................... 6

A8 2012 – Under Officer Lelo .................................................................................................................. 7

Spirit of Adventure – 10 Day Youth Development Voyage ..................................................................... 8

Autograph Page....................................................................................................................................... 9

Awards - 2012 ....................................................................................................................................... 10

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................... 11


Unit Commanders Report – FLTLT M. Greig

Another year has gone, and we find ourselves again saying ‘where did the year go?’

2012 has been another packed year, and my team of officers have been busy running a variety of

activities throughout the year. Prior to beginning the year, we held a planning meeting at the

Manurewa RSA and unanimously agreed on an ambitious goal to run a selection of activities every

month. This meant for most of the year having a shoot, aviation activity, and Bushcraft once a

month. Unfortunately at times due to weather (and erupting volcanoes!) we had to cancel or

postpone some activities.

This year saw 3 particularly great events, taking cadets to RNZAF Base Ohakea to see the air show

commemorating 75th

Anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Many thanks to Tony Newth

and his company for getting us access to a very affordable transport solution. In July the Squadron

travelled to Great Barrier Island on a 1 night tramp to its highest peak, Mt Hobson. More recently,

our annual flying camp held over Labour Weekend where 32 cadets took to the air, flying both a

fixed wing 4 seat Cessna, and a helicopter, in addition to a variety of ground activities.

Activities such as these rely heavily on support from businesses and organisations from throughout

the community. I can’t thank you all enough for your continued support.

The Squadron Support Committee continues to do a fantastic job, applying for grants, purchasing

items, cooking what must be now literally thousands of steak rolls and sausages in the spirit of

making all of the activities accessible and affordable to all cadets. It is because of the Committee,

that we are able to offer 2 exciting prizes today at Prize Giving, providing 2 cadets the opportunity to

sail on the Spirit of Adventure on their 10 Day Youth Development Voyage.

To Steve and your tireless team, thank you. You really do a truly great job.

To my team of officers, thank you for the hard work you have put in through the year. You continue

to provide great opportunities for our cadets.

2013 activity planning is well underway, and includes a variety of activities, including more flying.

The squadron will also travel through the South Island in the first half of the year. CPL D. Loader has

been selected as one of 3 Cadets to represent the NZCF on the International Air Cadet Exchange in

mid-2013, taking her to Washington DC, and surrounding states.

Further on, plans are well underway for commemoration 150 years of Cadet Forces in New Zealand

in 2014.

I wish you all the best for the coming festive season and look forward to your continued support in

2013. Merry Christmas.


Ohakea air show 2012 – CPL A. Rollo

On Saturday 31 March the RNZAF Base Ohakea held an air show to celebrate 75 years of

RNZAF service. To be a part of this celebration, on Friday 30 March Several Cadets, Officers

and myself took an amazing bus ride from the unit in Ardmore to the Waiouru Army Base,

pausing on the way for rest stops, food and to pose in front of any aircraft we came across,

while microphone happy cadets and NCO’s provided

entertainment with interesting karaoke attempts and

stories. We arrived at the Waiouru army base Friday

evening where we had dinner and stayed for the

night.

Saturday Morning we were breakfasted and back on

the bus in what we thought would be plenty of time

to arrive at the RNZAF Base Ohakea, however we

forgot to account for all the other 60000-70000

people who would also be attending and ended out

sitting in traffic for about two hours after getting within 15 minutes of the airbase. However,

when we finally arrived we were treated to a spectacular air show, which involved a range

of civilian and vintage aircraft and the RNZAF’s full

complement of aircraft was on show to the public

for the first time since 2009. In particular I

enjoyed the red checkers flying display, however

there were so many displays both in the air and

on the ground, with plenty of aircraft open for the

public to walk through. We also got to meet the

US Marines, a stray storm trooper and stand in

line for 40 minutes for sushi!

That afternoon

at the end of the air show, after managing to find

everyone and get them back on the bus, we joined the

traffic leaving the Ohakea airbase and headed back to

Waiouru for another night, before climbing back on the

bus the next morning to drive back to the unit in Ardmore.

The trip itself was Amazing it was a pretty neat road trip

(questionable singing aside) and it was awesome to be

able to go to the air show and ogle at all the aircraft.


Junior Leaders Course – CPL C. Reid

The Northern Area Junior Leaders Course – A.K.A: “juniors”. I was recently been promoted

from LAC in July this year. I have been attending the New Zealand Cadet Forces for 3 years

next February. I was nominated to attend the Northern Area Junior Leaders training course

over a week, at Philomel Naval base with about 50-60 other cadets from other units and

corps from NZCF Northern Area of the north island (as far North as Kaitaia and South to

Hamilton). I got to meet heaps of new friends and gathered a lot of great potentially life

changing skills.

We covered four aspects of being a junior leader, we went over Drill instruction where we

taught a squad of people from our syndicates a specific drill movement, we covered squad

handling where we took the role of a flight commander and took the flight for drill, we each

took turns at different leadership tasks where we took our syndicates for a leader ship

exercise to take control of our groups to complete a "mission" and give a T.O.W.N.E.Y.

briefing to the members of our group to get the "mission" done in a safe secure manner, we

also performed three oral presentations, a three minute speech on ourselves and where we

are from, a five minute presentation on a hobby or interest of ours and a ten minute on

anything we decided on before the camp. The

entire course was an amazing experience for me

and I can't wait for seniors!

Senior leaders Course – SGT C.

Hickman

Senior Leaders was held at HMNZS Philomel. It is

one of the best things you will do in your cadet force life, one of the main reasons for this is

because of the friends you made on these types of course you will keep them life. A big

reason for this is because you sleep, eat and learn with most of the cadets on the course, by

the end of the course you have found yourself a second family.

For the first three days of the course you are into the classroom to learn how be a senior

NCO, you learn how to teach class, the roles of a senior NCO and where we now fit in our

units. We then moved on to drill; we learnt how to be flight commanders on parade. We

then moved on to leadership where we were given a task and a team to carry the task out

with, this was my favorite bit because we got to get outside and do fun stuff. On the last

day of the course we showed of our drill and got to see our course reports and see if all how

hard work had paid off.

Attendance on this course is a pre-requisite for my promotion to the rank of SGT.


Great barrier island trip – Under Officer A. Holmes

Great Barrier Island Tramping Trip – 30 JUN – 01 JUL

Early on the Saturday a group of around 17 cadets and officers

met up at the unit as dawn was breaking. After an initial gear

check we then hopped onto the back of a truck for the trip to the

other end of the airfield during which many including myself got

numb hands. With FLTLT Greig as our pilot we were soon

heading towards the sunrise to great barrier island. While over

great barrier island we flew once round Mt Hobson, the highest

peak on the island and our objective for Sunday, before landing

at Claris. After landing at Claris we received a ride to the start of

a track that led to Kaiaraara hut, our accommodation for the

night. The scenery along the trail was fantastic as we tramped through native bush, over numerous small

stream, over small hills (in comparison to Mt Hobson) and along ridgelines. We had lunch in the shadow of a

cliff next to a small stream where we were able to rest before the last stretch to Kaiaraara hut. We arrived at

Kaiaraara hut late afternoon where we had free time before dinner to look around the hut. Many of us started

by crossing the swing bridge and throwing rocks of various sizes into the river. While others crossed the stream

further down where they hung out in the

sun on the banks of the river. As it became

dark we had to cook our dinner of curry and

rice over a gas cooker by torchlight which

was obviously a new experience for a few

cadets. With a fireplace going in the

background it made the meal of barely

cooked rice an interesting experience. After

dinner we again had more free time which

resulted in multiple games of spotlight

being played before bed.

The next morning after a breakfast of “all

day breakfast” we set off for the summit of Mt Hobson. Along the way we passed some old historic kauri

dams. It wasn’t long after that that we reached the first of the many thousands of stairs that led to the top of

MT Hobson. The climb was slow as the stairs began to wear many of the group out resulting in many breaks

being called in our attempt for the summit. The view from the top of Mt Hobson was well worth the effort as

we were presented with a 360 degree panorama view giving us a marvellous view while we had our lunch as

we were able to see all of great barrier and able to see little barrier as well. We could also see the airfield at

Claris and the river which ran past Kaiaraara hut. The decent also presented a challenge as the group was

exhausted from the epic climb to the top and the changing gradient of the decent required more rest stops as

by now the group was running on empty with many having given their all just to reach the top. The drive back

to Claris was a silent one as we were finally able to sit down and rest weary limbs. The flight back was similar

with communication hard to achieve over the engines so most sat in quiet contemplation of what we had

achieved that weekend and what we were going to do for the rest of the school holidays.


A8 2012 – Under Officer Lelo

A8 is one of the most action packed camps that

the Squadron holds.

This year was bigger and greater than ever

before with cadets never stopping. From hands

on flying lessons and a passenger flight in

Cessna 172’s, with a hint of G-force thrown in.

To never before helicopter intro flights,

experiencing a new world of hovering and flying

backwards - just total freedom in the sky. Both

flights being talked about though out the whole weekend. We did have one day where the weather

was fairly bleak so we took a visit to the newly opened addition to MOTAT. There, we were given a

guided tour around learning about the start of aviation in New Zealand, through to all the interesting

and wacky aircraft produced. Also there was a small tank that we got to ride in around a wet course,

with mud flung in our mouths from all the laughing we were doing. We also went up the road to the

Warbirds hanger, which was stuffed full with fighters, bombers and everything in between. We even

got taught how to make models of the aircraft we saw. When we weren’t busy with all that, we were

playing sports, on the flight simulators or watching video footage from the flights. At the end of the

3 days the cadets were aviation experts and now had a taste of flying both fixed wing and rotary

wing aircraft.

The camp was highly successful

much to the efforts of Ardmore

Flying School, Ardmore Helicopters,

MOTAT, Ardmore Airport, and the

RNZAF. Also a huge thanks to the

support committee for securing

funding for the large budget

involved, meaning all cadets could

attend the camp. Thanks of course

to the officer staff for planning and

executing one of the best camps of

the year. I can’t wait for next year!


Spirit of Adventure – 10 Day Youth Development Voyage

Each year between 1000 and 1200 young people aged 15-18, from a wide range of ethnic and social

backgrounds throughout the country, participate in the Youth Development programme. In the past

35 years, more than sixty-thousand young people have taken part.

The 10-Day Youth Development Voyage takes on-board 40 trainees (15-18 years), with an equal mix

of females and males, all total strangers. The value of teamwork becomes very apparent, as does

resilience, teambuilding skills, co-operation, communication, confidence, tolerance, and leadership.

During their voyage trainees are presented with a number of diverse opportunities and activities

that ensure they learn a

great deal about themselves

and develop as individuals.

Activities vary according to

location, the group mix and

crucially, the weather.

Usually there will be both

land and water-based

activities for teams and

individuals. The voyage

qualifies for Young New

Zealanders Challenge (Duke

of Edinburgh Award) Gold Residential Project.

Trainees are split into four watches of ten for the duration of the voyage. All trainees have the

challenge of being leader of their watch for the day. Friendship, fun and laughter run high, as

trainees complete the many features of the programme - tramping trips ashore, learning to sail the

luggers, beach cleaning (supporting environmental education and sustainability), hoisting and setting

the very large and heavy sails, climbing the ratlines to loosen or stow sails 30 metres above the deck,

not forgetting the famous dawn swim. The horseshoe-shaped Great Cabin at the stern hosts evening

activities such as public speaking, presentations, debates, movies and games.

Skills learnt during the voyage prepare trainees for Trainee Day — the final day when they elect their

own Captain and crew and are responsible for setting the sails and navigating the ship safely to her

final anchorage within a given time frame. For all on board, this is the absolute highlight of the

voyage.

Each voyage is under the command of a permanent crew with appropriate nautical qualifications

and training in experiential learning and youth development, sailing as Master, Mates, Cook and

Engineer. Volunteer crew sail as Watch Assistants, while former trainees who belong to the

Voyagers Club are able to return as Leading Hands. Volunteers and Leading Hands’ berths are

provided ‘all found’, and any necessary travel covered, in return for the skills and energy they bring

to a voyage. SOURCE: Spirit of Adventure website


Autograph Page


Awards - 2012

Royal New Zealand Air Force Association

(South Auckland) SGT Corey Hickman

Commendation Certificate

No. 4 Squadron Charitable Trust LAC B. Coubrough

CDT K. Johnston Commendation Certificates

The D. Thomas Cup CDT B. Rota

Most Outstanding in Sport

The Support Committee Trophy LAC Sean Cardiff

Bushcraft Skills

The St Johns Trophy Not Assessed in 2012

Best in First Aid

Royal New Zealand Air Force Association Trophy U/O Tim Lelo

Shooting

The Spicer Trophy CPL Deanne Loader

Most Improved Shot

The Clifford Cup CDT L. Hewitt

Best Basic Cadet (1st Year)

The DG Jones Cup LAC C. Te Haara

Best Proficiency Cadet (2nd Year)

The F/S EC West Cup SGT H. Cronin

Best Advanced Cadet (3rd Year)

The Commanding Officers Trophy U/O Alistair Holmes

Attendance

The Paul Clark Memorial Trophy CDT Ryan Cardiff

Dedication

The Hon. George Hawkins Trophy CDT L Harford

Endeavour

The Mills Cup CDT Laura Hewitt

Most Outstanding Cadet Overall

The Warrant Officers Trophy LAC M Hastings

Most Dedicated NCO

The Chivalry Trophy (Chevalier Les Jones) CPL C Reid

High Standard of Chivalry

The Foresters Arms Shield F/S P. Naidoo

Best NCO Overall

SQNLDR J. V. Buckton Trophy Mrs Rachel Hickman

Service from an Individual/Organisation

Spirit of Adventure Award 2012

Demonstrates the best teamwork, service and discipline LAC Sean Cardiff

SGT Hannah Cronin


Acknowledgements

4 (Ardmore) Squadron Air Training Corps acknowledges the support of the following businesses and

organisations:

Ardmore Airport Limited www.ardmoreairport.co.nz

Ardmore Flying School www.ardmore.co.nz

Ardmore Helicopters www.chopper.co.nz

Royal New Zealand Air Force Association

Great Barrier Airlines www.greatbarrierairlines.co.nz

The Whitehouse Tavern Trust www.whitehousetaverntrust.co.nz

Manurewa RSA www.manurewarsa.co.nz

Papakura RSA www.papakurarsa.co.nz

Warbirds www.nzwarbirds.org.nz

4 Squadron Charitable Trust www.airtrainingcorps.org.nz

4 Squadron Parent Support Committee www.airtrainingcorps.org.nz

First Sovereign Trust www.firstsovereign.co.nz

4 (ardmore) squadron atc final parade report

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