Air Squadron Trophy Competition Explained

Royal Air Squadron Trophy Competition
Nickname:National Ground Training Competition
Country:United Kingdom
Frequency:Annual
Organiser:Combined Cadet Force
Location:RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire (National finals)
Participants:CCF(RAF) Cadets
Member:Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Patron:Royal Air Squadron

The Royal Air Squadron Trophy Competition, also known as the National Ground Training Competition, was created as a way for CCF(RAF) sections 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. 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

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. 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:

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

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. The Team Captain manages the team and delivers orders in the Drill competition. An RAFAC Officer should accompany the teams to the competition.

Royal Air Squadron Day

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

Year1st Place2nd Place3rd Place
1985Bedford Modern School
1986George Heriot's School
1987Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall[10]
1988Bedford Modern School
1989Judd School
1990Birkenhead School[11]
1991Adams Grammar School
1992Monmouth School[12]
1993Birkenhead School
1994Lancing College
1995Maidstone Grammar School[13]
1996Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall
1997Maidstone Grammar School
1998Dulwich College[14] Victoria College, JerseyLancaster Royal Grammar School
1999Maidstone Grammar School[15] Dulwich CollegeBedford Grammar School
2000Maidstone Grammar School[16]
2001The King's School, Grantham
2002The King's School, Grantham
2003Victoria College[17]
2004Maidstone Grammar School
2005Hampton School
2006Maidstone Grammar School
2007The King's School, GranthamRoyal Grammar School, High Wycombe
2008Maidstone Grammar SchoolThe King's School, GranthamKing Edward's School, Birmingham
2009Maidstone Grammar School[18] Monmouth SchoolKing Edward's School, Birmingham
2010Maidstone Grammar School[19] The Judd SchoolThe King's School, Grantham
2011The King's School, Grantham[20] [21] Victoria College, JerseyWilson's School
2012Dulwich CollegeThe King's School, GranthamMaidstone Grammar School
2013Dulwich College[22] Maidstone Grammar SchoolKimbolton School
2014Kimbolton School[23] Dulwich CollegeWilson's School
2015Kimbolton School[24] Dulwich CollegeThe King's School, Worcester
2016Dulwich College[25] [26] [27] Wilson's SchoolKimbolton School
2017Wilson's School[28] Dulwich CollegeKimbolton School
2018Kimbolton School[29] Wilson's SchoolLoughborough Grammar School
2019Wilson's SchoolKimbolton SchoolDulwich College
2020Dulwich College[30] [31] George Heriot's SchoolVictoria College, Jersey
2021 Not Contested (COVID-19 Pandemic)
2022Wilson's School[32] George Heriot's SchoolDulwich College
2023George Heriot’s School[33] [34] Loughborough Grammar SchoolDulwich College
2024Loughborough Grammar School[35] George Heriot’s SchoolDulwich College

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kidd, Ray . 2014 . Horizons: The History of the Air Cadets . . 9781848846548.
  2. Web site: ACP 22: CCF(RAF) STAFF INSTRUCTIONS (THIRD EDITION) . May 2000 . . 19 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240419164644/http://crieffaircadets.org.uk/resources/docs/uploads/ACP/12Apr2009164055CCF%20Staff%20Training.pdf. 19 April 2024.
  3. Web site: BAeA Trophy History: The Air Squadron Trophy . . 16 April 2024.
  4. Web site: MOD FOI Response: 2023/12341 . 8 November 2023 . Ministry of Defence . 16 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240227033752/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65a8f829b2f3c60013e5d4fb/FOI2023_12341.pdf. 27 February 2024.
  5. Web site: Air Cadet Publication 31, Section 5 . 2007 . . 20 April 2024. 20 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240420125812/https://aircadetcentral.net/ACCDrive/APs%20%20ACPs/ACP0031S5%20The%20Combined%20Cadet%20Force.pdf.
  6. Web site: Air Squadron Trophy winners . 2016. Air Cadet Magazine . 15 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180121013303mp_/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/raf-aircadets/assets/File/Air%20Cadet%20magazine%20Spring%202016.pdf. 21 January 2018.
  7. Web site: CCF shine in annual competition . Air Cadet Magazine . 15 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240415150840/https://aviationgeeks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AIR-CADET-Magazine-Summer-2020.pdf. 15 April 2024.
  8. Web site: CCF(RAF) Awards . 7 January 2009 . . 20 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20090107112113/http://www.aircadets.org/ccf_awards.htm. 7 January 2009.
  9. Web site: The Squadron Air Trophy Day. RAF Air Cadets. en-GB. 2019-08-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20190828131532/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/news/the-squadron-air-trophy-day/. 28 August 2019.
  10. News: . 21 August 1987 . High fliers - Cadets take top trophy . Walsall Observer. 5.
  11. Web site: INFOCUS: Birkenhead School Magazine . 2015 . . 12 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230228070507/https://issuu.com/jamesbarnes7/docs/infocus_summerterm2015 . 28 February 2023.
  12. News: . 23 September 1992 . Flying high . Ruislip & Northwood Gazette. 21.
  13. News: . 14 July 1995 . Honour landed. Maidstone Telegraph . . 5.
  14. News: . School News: Air Squadron Trophy . London . 15 April 2024 . The Times. 6 July 1998. 22.
  15. Combined Cadet Force (RAF) . 6 July 1999 . 20 . 66558.
  16. Court Circular: Announcement - Combined Cadet Force (RAF) . 3 July 2000. 66869. 20.
  17. Web site: The Victorian: Victoria College Magazine 2016-2017 . Blackmore . Simon . . 12 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240612161336/https://issuu.com/bwi4/docs/the_victorian_2017_web . 12 June 2024.
  18. Web site: Your Maidstone: Force to be reckoned with . White . Anna . 25 March 2009 . 14 April 2024.
  19. Web site: Maidstonian (2010) . 2010 . . 12 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231001214614/https://mgs.kent.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/The-Maidstonian-2010.pdf . 1 October 2023.
  20. May 2012 . Air Cadet Organisation Annual Awards . The Journal of the Royal Air Force College. 83 . 70 . 16 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20210717115928/http://www.oldcranwellians.info/ewExternalFiles/2011%20College%20Journal-web.pdf. 17 July 2021. Royal Air Force.
  21. Web site: Air Cadet Report 2011/12 . 2012 . . 3 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240603170414/https://studylib.net/doc/8152757/air-cadet-organisation-annual-report-%E2%80%93-2011-2012 . 3 June 2024.
  22. Web site: Combined Cadet Force (RAF) Air Squadron Day . 1 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190828131532/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/news/combined-cadet-force-raf-air-squadron-day/ . 28 August 2019.
  23. Web site: The Squadron Air Trophy Day. RAF Air Cadets. en-GB. 2019-08-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20190828131532/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/news/the-squadron-air-trophy-day/. 28 August 2019.
  24. . Joshua Is Top Cadet . Connected . . 2017 . 16 April 2024. 1. 5. https://web.archive.org/web/20240416091732/https://image.issuu.com/151027123638-1d033b66ebb3f56e9c8f183d7f883e37/jpg/page_5.jpg. 16 April 2024.
  25. Web site: Air Squadron Trophy Winners Announced . 1 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200130144151/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/news/air-squadron-trophy-winners-announced/ . 30 January 2020.
  26. Web site: Air Squadron Trophy winners . 2016. Air Cadet Magazine . 15 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180121013303mp_/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/raf-aircadets/assets/File/Air%20Cadet%20magazine%20Spring%202016.pdf. 21 January 2018.
  27. Web site: Air Squadron Trophy Day . Jones . Philip . 2016 . Air Cadet Magazine . 16 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170317054443mp_/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/raf-aircadets/assets/File/Air%20Cadet%20magazine%20Autumn%202016.pdf. 17 March 2017.
  28. . Take To The Air . Connected. . 2017 . 16 April 2024. 6. 5. https://web.archive.org/web/20240416091022/https://image.issuu.com/170727131551-b65ee449e868ff5eb7804f9452cae8d8/jpg/page_5.jpg. 16 April 2024.
  29. . The Very Best In RAF Cadet Achievement . Connected . . 2016 . 16 April 2024. 10. 5. https://web.archive.org/web/20240416091219/https://image.issuu.com/181002101032-d3d36b7f580e1041ef353d4500cfe879/jpg/page_5.jpg. 16 April 2024.
  30. Web site: CCF shine in annual competition . Air Cadet Magazine . 15 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240415150840/https://aviationgeeks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AIR-CADET-Magazine-Summer-2020.pdf. 15 April 2024.
  31. Web site: Air Cadet Magazine Spring 2021 . 2021 . [Royal Air Force Air Cadets]] . 16 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240616121525/https://aviationgeeks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AIR-CADET-spring_2021web.pdf . 16 June 2024.
  32. Web site: ROYAL AIR SQUADRON TROPHY CHAMPIONS! . 11 March 2022 . . 12 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220705000817/https://www.wilsons.school/resources/Update-560-11-MAR-2022.pdf . 5 July 2022.
  33. Web site: Champions crowned at National Finals of the Royal Air Sqn Trophy . 9 March 2023 . Royal Air Force Air Cadets . 14 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20230329060326/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/news/champions-crowned-at-national-finals-of-the-royal-air-sqn-trophy/. 29 March 2023.
  34. Web site: National Royal Air Squadron Trophy Results March 2023. March 2023. . 15 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240415205722/https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/news/champions-crowned-at-national-finals-of-the-royal-air-sqn-trophy/rnast-results-pdf/. 15 April 2024.
  35. News: . 20 March 2024 . Trophy success for cadets. Loughborough. Loughborough Echo. 5. https://web.archive.org/web/20240415213801/https://www.pressreader.com/uk/loughborough-echo/20240320/281586655584444. 15 April 2024. 15 April 2024.

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