RAF Camp 2011 - Report

This year’s annual RAF summer camp took place at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and involved a total of 16 Reptonians. On the afternoon of Speech Day, the group set out with officers Flt Lt Alderman and Fg Off Hill and arrived at High Wycombe just in time for dinner at the Mess. There we were introduced to the other schools joining us for the camp: Maidstone Grammar School and Sutton Valence. Having eaten we were shown to our accommodation which, being a relatively modern barrack block, was a huge improvement on the tents at RAF Benson the previous year! We were then divided into our three flights and after a familiarisation exercise, all 33 cadets gathered with the Camp Commander for a few ice-breaker games.

Having settled in successfully, Sunday began with a trip to the RAF Museum at Hendon, followed by the completion of the RAF swim-test at RAF Halton. Upon returning, we were joined by Flt Lt Smith and Mr Stark (School Marshall). In the evening the cadets gathered on the Primary School Playground to commence their drill practice for the inter-flight competition at the end of the week. An hour and a half later, the cadets were sufficiently worn out and returned to the block for last minute kit preparation before calling it a night!

After a whole camp photo outside RAF Air Command the following morning, we set out to RAF Halton for weapons’ training on both the L98-A2 and the No. 8 rifles. We then headed to RAF Benson for Air Experience Flying where we each enjoyed 30 minutes air time in the Grob Tutor. Tuesday was another busy day which was spent at RAF Northolt where we visited several different sections (including Air Traffic Control, Fire, Bomb Disposal and Queen’s Flight). However, the highlight of the day was certainly the time spent on the Dismount Close Combat Trainer (DCCT) which many of the boys viewed as a life-size playstation!

Wednesday saw the cadets heading to Horseshoe Lake Activity Centre where they undertook a rafting challenge in the three flights. After canoeing around the lake, building a raft and sailing it around the island, the cadets were rewarded for their hard work with the opportunity to jump in and divebomb from the jetty! Wednesday evening involved a trip to Milton Keynes for ‘Spy Games’ and all 33 cadets returned that evening as qualified “first class” espionage agents!

On Thursday, we headed back to RAF Halton for shooting the No. 8 rifles on the live range and for a high ropes course. With Esme Buckley (5A) achieving best shot, the Reptonians had a successful day, many overcoming their personal fears and weaknesses in both the shooting and on the high ropes. In the evening, we departed to Wendover Woods for a Nitex. This involved the flights navigating around an orienteering course, attempting to find the three officers hidden in the woods with the NCOs acting as an enemy hunter force.

The inter-flight competition climaxed with the Drill Competition on Friday where each of the three flights performed the Nationals Ground Training Routine in front of all the officers and an RAF High Wycombe Drill Sergeant. Each flight demonstrated a remarkable improvement from the beginning of the week but congratulations must go to A flight, the winners of the competition. In the afternoon, we returned to RAF Northolt for a visit to Queen’s Colour Squadron, where we had a tour by a regiment officer and were shown the Queen’s Colour. This was followed by an intense sports session with a PT instructor. Following this, we enjoyed a game of bowling in High Wycombe and returned to the camp later that evening for final presentations and the traditional “Paper Plate Awards”.

Many thanks must go to all the officers for making the camp such an enjoyable and successful week. The cadets all had a great time and look forward to their next year in the RAF section!

Jess Stewart, L6A