423 Squadron, Air Cadets

This week’s speakers were Squadron Leader Max Woolfson and Pilot Officer Rebecca Barley of the 423 Squadron, Air Cadets.

Max, who became involved with helping Cadets in 1981 gave a fascinating history of this local group which was founded in September 1941 and has continued ever since, other than a short break from 1945 to 1947. The Air Cadets first met next to the old Town Hall, now the site of the Police Station before moving to just off Lossiemouth Road and then to beside Bishopmill Primary School. After 2000 they moved to the Army Reserve Building on Edgar Road.

The Air Cadets offer qualifications, including for example, BTECs, SQA, STEM. They also offer life experiences including camps, shooting, flying/gliding, drills and displays. Emphasis is very much on character building and developing social skills.

Rebecca expanded on the activities, emphasising that the Air Cadets movement is there to help young people into any walk of life, not just the RAF, albeit some 40% of cadets do join the RAF.

The Squadron is very fortunate in having a strong staff team, with several from RAF Lossiemouth. Cadets help out at local community events such as Motorfun and enjoy camps, visits, an annual Parents Night, undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Award at all levels and events marshalling. The Squadron has 58 young people, with recruitment very much by word-of-mouth and by Facebook.