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Air Squadron Trophy Competition

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Royal Air Squadron Trophy Competition
Combined Cadet Force Badge
The Air Squadron Trophy
NicknameNational Ground Training Competition
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire (National finals)
CountryUnited Kingdom
Inaugurated1985; 39 years ago (1985)
ParticipantsCCF(RAF) Cadets
Activity
Patron(s)Royal Air Squadron
Organised byCombined Cadet Force
MemberRoyal Air Force Air Cadets

The Royal Air Squadron Trophy Competition, also known as the National Ground Training Competition, was created as a way for Royal Air Force sections of the Combined Cadet Force to contest the Air Squadron Trophy.

The trophy has been competed for since 1985, when it was awarded to the "year's outstanding CCF(RAF) Section".[1][2] Starting in 1998, the winner of the National Ground Training Competition would be awarded the trophy, marking the beginning of the modern format of the competition.[2] The trophy had originally been presented by the Royal Air Squadron as part of the British Aerobatic Association's annual competition, first contested in 1967. The names of some of the inaugural winners are still engraved on the trophy.[3]

RAF Air Command and the Royal Air Force Air Cadets have recognised the annual competition provides "substantial external profile and value", particularly for the competitive spirit, camaraderie, and experience the competition generates amongst cadets.[4]

Competition structure

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Any CCF(RAF) section that can field a full team of 13 cadets, ideally drawn from a wide range of age groups, is able to take part in the competition. The Training, Evaluation & Support Teams (TEST) Officers & SNCOs, who act as a training and support liaison between CCF contingents and the wider RAF,[5] tailor the "composition and conduct" of the six regional competitions to the local needs of their area, held in Autumn or Spring.[2] The first, second, and third placed teams from each of the six regions qualify for the national finals, held at RAF Halton in Spring each year. The competition involves a round robin of activities that include:

  • RAF Knowledge (13 Cadets)
  • Drill and Uniform (13 Cadets)
  • Command Task (13 Cadets)
  • Shooting (4 Cadets)
  • Aircraft Recognition (4 Cadets)
  • First Aid (4 Cadets)

More than 230 cadets from 18 different CCF sections took part in the national finals in 2016, after the number of teams qualifying for the national round was increased from two to three per region for the first time.[6] Individual event winners at the national finals, such as in Drill or First aid, are usually invited and given direct entry to the national competition of that discipline within the Royal Air Force Air Cadets or the wider UK Military Cadet Forces in the following year.[7]

Requirements for entry

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Each team has 13 cadets: one team captain at a rank of Cadet Corporal or above, and 12 other cadets. The team should represent a "wide cross-section" of age groups from their RAF Section.[2] The Team Captain manages the team and delivers orders in the Drill competition. An RAFAC Officer should accompany the teams to the competition.[2]

Royal Air Squadron Day

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Cadets with the Air Squadron Trophy, Sir John Thomson Memorial Sword, and Geoffrey de Havilland Flying Foundation Medals, in front of a Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib (G-BKTH)

The first, second and third place teams are invited to attend the Royal Air Squadron Day which is usually held in June or July each year at the Shuttleworth Collection, a working aviation, automotive, and agricultural collection at the Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire. During the day cadets are offered flights in aircraft belonging to the Royal Air Squadron members. Past aircraft have included Tiger Moths, Dragon Rapides, YAKs, Cessnas, and helicopters.[8]

The cadets also attend a formal parade, where the Captains of the three teams receive the Geoffrey de Havilland Flying Foundation Medals for CCF Achievement along with the presentation of The Air Squadron Trophy to the first placed team. The Sir John Thomson Memorial Sword is also presented on the day to the best overall cadet in the CCF(RAF), along with Flying Foundation Medals to the six finalists of the interview process.[9]

Results

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Year 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place
1985 Bedford Modern School
1986 George Heriot's School
1987 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall[10]
1988 Bedford Modern School
1989 Judd School
1990 Birkenhead School[11]
1991 Adams Grammar School
1992 Monmouth School[12]
1993 Birkenhead School
1994 Lancing College
1995 Maidstone Grammar School[13]
1996 Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
1997 Maidstone Grammar School
1998 Dulwich College[14] Victoria College, Jersey Lancaster Royal Grammar School
1999 Maidstone Grammar School[15] Dulwich College Bedford Grammar School
2000 Maidstone Grammar School[16]
2001 The King's School, Grantham
2002 The King's School, Grantham
2003 Victoria College[17]
2004 Maidstone Grammar School
2005 Hampton School
2006 Maidstone Grammar School
2007 The King's School, Grantham Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
2008 Maidstone Grammar School The King's School, Grantham King Edward's School, Birmingham
2009 Maidstone Grammar School[18] Monmouth School King Edward's School, Birmingham
2010 Maidstone Grammar School[19] The Judd School The King's School, Grantham
2011 The King's School, Grantham[20][21] Victoria College, Jersey Wilson's School
2012 Dulwich College The King's School, Grantham Maidstone Grammar School
2013 Dulwich College[22] Maidstone Grammar School Kimbolton School
2014 Kimbolton School[23] Dulwich College Wilson's School
2015 Kimbolton School[24] Dulwich College The King's School, Worcester
2016 Dulwich College[25][26][27] Wilson's School Kimbolton School
2017 Wilson's School[28] Dulwich College Kimbolton School
2018 Kimbolton School[29] Wilson's School Loughborough Grammar School
2019 Wilson's School Kimbolton School Dulwich College
2020 Dulwich College[7][30] George Heriot's School Victoria College, Jersey
2021 Not Contested (COVID-19 Pandemic)
2022 Wilson's School[31] George Heriot's School Dulwich College
2023 George Heriot’s School[32][33] Loughborough Grammar School Dulwich College
2024 Loughborough Grammar School[34] George Heriot’s School Dulwich College

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kidd, Ray (2014). Horizons: The History of the Air Cadets. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 9781848846548.
  2. ^ a b c d e "ACP 22: CCF(RAF) STAFF INSTRUCTIONS (THIRD EDITION)" (PDF). Royal Air Force Air Cadets. May 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  3. ^ "BAeA Trophy History: The Air Squadron Trophy". British Aerobatic Association. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  4. ^ "MOD FOI Response: 2023/12341" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Air Cadet Publication 31, Section 5" (PDF). Royal Air Force Air Cadets. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Air Squadron Trophy winners" (PDF). Air Cadet Magazine. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  7. ^ a b "CCF shine in annual competition" (PDF). Air Cadet Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  8. ^ "CCF(RAF) Awards". Royal Air Force Air Cadets. 7 January 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  9. ^ "The Squadron Air Trophy Day". RAF Air Cadets. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  10. ^ "High fliers - Cadets take top trophy". Walsall Observer. 21 August 1987. p. 5.
  11. ^ "INFOCUS: Birkenhead School Magazine". Birkenhead School. 2015. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Flying high". Ruislip & Northwood Gazette. 23 September 1992. p. 21.
  13. ^ "Honour landed". Maidstone: Maidstone Telegraph. 14 July 1995. p. 5.
  14. ^ "School News: Air Squadron Trophy". The Times. London. 6 July 1998. p. 22. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Combined Cadet Force (RAF)". The Times. No. 66558. London. 6 July 1999. p. 20.
  16. ^ "Court Circular: Announcement - Combined Cadet Force (RAF)". The Times. No. 66869. London. 3 July 2000. p. 20.
  17. ^ Blackmore, Simon. "The Victorian: Victoria College Magazine 2016-2017". Victoria College, Jersey. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  18. ^ White, Anna (25 March 2009). "Your Maidstone: Force to be reckoned with". Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Maidstonian (2010)" (PDF). Maidstone Grammar School. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Air Cadet Organisation Annual Awards" (PDF). The Journal of the Royal Air Force College. 83. Royal Air Force: 70. May 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Air Cadet Report 2011/12". Royal Air Force Air Cadets. 2012. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Combined Cadet Force (RAF) Air Squadron Day". Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  23. ^ "The Squadron Air Trophy Day". RAF Air Cadets. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  24. ^ "Joshua Is Top Cadet". Connected. No. 1. Combined Cadet Force. 2017. p. 5. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Air Squadron Trophy Winners Announced". Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  26. ^ "Air Squadron Trophy winners" (PDF). Air Cadet Magazine. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  27. ^ Jones, Philip (2016). "Air Squadron Trophy Day" (PDF). Air Cadet Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Take To The Air". Connected. No. 6. Combined Cadet Force. 2017. p. 5. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  29. ^ "The Very Best In RAF Cadet Achievement". Connected. No. 10. Combined Cadet Force. 2016. p. 5. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Air Cadet Magazine Spring 2021" (PDF). Royal Air Force Air Cadets. 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  31. ^ "ROYAL AIR SQUADRON TROPHY CHAMPIONS!" (PDF). Wilson's School. 11 March 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  32. ^ "Champions crowned at National Finals of the Royal Air Sqn Trophy". Royal Air Force Air Cadets. 9 March 2023. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  33. ^ "National Royal Air Squadron Trophy Results March 2023". Royal Air Force Air Cadets. March 2023. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  34. ^ "Trophy success for cadets". Loughborough: Loughborough Echo. 20 March 2024. p. 5. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
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