What We Do

Shooting

At 1476 Squadron, we are very fortunate to have a shooting range in our main hall! At Sqn HQ, we shoot the BSA Scorpion air rifle, with training conducted within parade nights, and shoots conducted on weekends throughout the year under supervision of our qualified Range Officer. During your time in the RAFAC, you may get the opportunity to shoot other rifles such as the L98A2 Cadet GP RIfle, the L144A1 CSBTR, and the L81 Target Rifle at events held at other squadrons and military bases.

Trips

On our squadron, we run many different trips, these all being at a discounted price compared to going outside of cadets. An example of this being our trips to Southend Air Traffic Control Tower. More recently, as a squadron, we went to the Royal International Air Tattoo, which was a trip organised by our cadet NCO team, who planned everything from the amount of cadets, the cost, and the travel and tickets. This allowed cadets to visit one of the biggest air shows in Europe for a reduced price. Our trips allow cadets to get experiences most people won’t get!

Flying and Gliding

In the RAFAC, flying and gliding are important components that provide cadets with hands-on experiences. You take control of one of two aircraft, the Grob Tutor or Viking Glider, with an experienced instructor from the VGS (Volunteer Gliding Sqn) or AEF (Air Experience Flight) that you are flying with. Throughout the year 1476 cadets get the opportunity to visit a VGS or AEF to take to the skies in style and gain experience and knowledge about flying in the RAF!

Camps

We offer a range of camps that are all different in their own ways, for example we have shooting camps which are only dedicated to learning how to handle the weapon and shoot it in the correct manner. We offer blues camps which are a bit more formal including trips and are opportunities to make good friends across the whole cadet force. We also offer greens camps which have a range of different activities such as shooting, learning how to move in the field and even having opportunities to fly in RAF aircraft. Camps can range from 3 days to 2 weeks and are some of the best offered out of all the UK youth organisiations.

I have been on a few camps across my 6 years of cadets and I have made loads of life long friends and have gained a lot of new skills and have gained knowledge from officers and other cadets and have had opportunities from as flying on a Chinook to learning how to perform first aid to save a life.
Cdt FS Squirell

Space and Cyber

Space and Cyber is a huge part of our curriculum in the Air Cadets. Our cyber courses come in three different stages (Bronze, Silver and Gold), which are taught by qualified teachers, and in the case of Gold, are taught by RAF personnel at No1 Radio School at RAF Cosford. As for space, cadets have the opportunity to visit the National Air and Space Camp, which includes an air show, opportunities to look around engines and other aircraft mechanisms and many STEM activities as well. The opportunities that we have in space and cyber are incomparable to any other cadet force in the UK, proof that the air cadets is not just for aspiring pilots!

Radios

In the RAFAC, we conduct in depth radio training for our cadets, ranging from Foundation to Advanced, which is the same course that is taught to RAF personnel! Our radio syllabus teaches cadets how to communicate clearly in urgent situations, the phonetic alphabet and correct operation of a radio among other things. We use radios on many of our trips and events, and training cadets to use them to our standards is beneficial not only to us but them as well, with accurate and clear communication being essential in many fields of work.

Sports

Within 1476 Squadron we have a wide range of sports for all ages and competitions including football, tag rugby, netball, cross country and many more you can think of. We also offer sports nights down at the squadron as we are lucky to have a field at the rear of our building. We have the correct staff with the correct qualifications to ensure our activities are safe and well conducted and cadets have the best time possible!

Volunteering

At our squadron, we are always looking for opportunities to help our local community with our volunteering events. Some that we have done previously include manning water stations for the Rotary Charity Bike Ride, parking cars for the Vulcan Restoration Trust or selling poppies for the Poppy Appeal in Rayleigh High Street. It is beneficial not only for our local community, but also for our cadets, giving them an opportunity to connect with local residents and business owners alike, as well as counting towards awards, such as the DofE.