London Wing, Royal Air Force Air Cadets recently undertook its annual Autumn Camp at Okehampton – ExOke24. The weeklong activity saw approximately 230 Cadets and 50 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from across London deploy to Devon where a myriad of Adventure training and Military activities awaited them.
The Week was focussed on bringing the Squadrons within London Wing together for a large-scale Multi-Activity Camp, along with Squadron, Wing and Region Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to deliver it.
Cadets were split into three tiers depending on their own experience levels and were treated to a combination of Military Skills, starting with Initial Weapons training and handling tests on the L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle, followed by Firing on the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT) before deploying to Standon Farm for Blank Firing Fieldcraft.
Other Focuses were Adventure Training activities, including the National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS), Mountain Biking across unfamiliar and rugged terrain (Dartmoor is a world away from London as they found out on day one!), Road-Marching including the training of New Road-Marching Team Leaders, Gorge Scrambling, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and a visit to the Mountain Rescue Service based nearby.
This was supported by a chance to undertake other Core Cadet activities, including First Aid at Youth and Activity level, bronze and silver level Leadership, Communications at Bronze Level, as well as the delivery of Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Courses for some of the more seasoned cadets.
This was also the first time that many cadets had lived behind the wire, experiencing the delights of Cookhouse eating, and Barrack room living, and for many, the first opportunity to flourish away from parents and guardians.
One Highlight of the week was the attendance over two days of Royal Naval Wildcat Helicopters from RNAS Yeovilton with the first visit being a pilot undertaking her final ‘touch-and-go’ landing before becoming qualified on the Aircraft, and the second visit allowing the Wildcat to land and the cadets and staff to engage with the crew and the cadets to have the opportunity to see the Helicopter up close.
Wing Commander Braddy-Green, Officer Commanding London Wing is ambitiously planning to expand the Autumn Camp to Okehampton next year and is looking to double its deployment strength for ExOke25.
