John Thornton was named top student on the challenging Air Cadet Junior Leaders’ Course - the achievement recognised by a memorable flight with the Red Arrows at RAF Scampton. Afterwards, he was invited to become an instructor at Junior Leaders, inspiring a number of his fellow Ferndown cadets to apply for and succeed on what has become known as the Air Cadet Organisation's toughest course.

Not for the faint-hearted, the Air Cadets Junior Leaders Course is physically demanding and requires real commitment and determination. The course, which runs from September to Easter, involves nine weekend training camps and an assessment week. A big step up from the other Cadet Leadership Courses, the Junior Leaders Course is aimed at cadets 17 years or older in the year they begin the course. It's also open to Sea Cadets and Army Cadets and culminates in the award of a Level Two Certificate in Team Leadership from the Institute of Leadership and Management. This is the toughest but most rewarding of the Air Cadets leadership courses – any Cadet that makes it through has the makings of a very successful leader.

John was fiercely proud of his link with this great course and the JTYAF is privileged to have the opportunity to continue that support assisting in the development of these talented young men and women.

JTYAF Bursaries - Junior Leaders Course 12

The JTYAF funding awarded to the Air Cadets Junior Leaders Course will this year support two projects and benefit 10 Qualified Junior Leaders (QJLs).

The QJLs were invited to apply for a place on one of two projects and selection was based on the quality of their application and also their performance on Junior Leaders Course 12.

The project in Kenya will involve 5 weeks volunteering with Marafiki Community International, a volunteer established Non-Government Organisation whose main purpose is to encourage and facilitate sustainable development projects in underprivileged areas throughout Kenya, empowering people in local communities. The QJLs selected for this project will provide tiling for 3 wards of the Wema Maternity Clinic, establish a toy library and also support work in a refugee camp where there are problems with clean water and efficient sanitation. All the planning, purchase of materials and labour to carry out the work on these 3 elements will be done directly by the group.

The QJLs selected for the expedition in Nepal will attempt the Everest Base Camp trek and will also have the privilege of experiencing the life of a ‘Ghurka Soldier’ from selection to retirement.

Our congratulations must go to the QJLs who were selected as JTYAF Award Winners from this year’s Junior Leaders Course 12.

These are fantastic opportunities for these young people which the JTYAF is proud to support. We shall look forward to hearing all about their experiences on their return.

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Scholarship awarded to Alice Henderson

Alice a Qualified Junior Leader applied for a JTYAF Scholarship to support her enrolment on an internationally recognised Ski Instructors Course in Banff, Canada. Alice aims to become a Weapons Systems Operator in the Royal Air Force and the course will further her application by developing her instructional and briefing techniques, together with improving her organisational and communication skills. She will no doubt face many challenges but views this experience as a massive opportunity for personal development.

Adventure training is an important aspect of service life and the Level 1 Ski Instructors Course will be a great foundation for Alice to progress to Joint Service Ski Instructor. She will then have the ability to offer many service men and women the opportunity to enjoy the sport.

Alice aims to start the course in January and we shall look forward to hearing of her progress.

Picture: Alice Henderson with Pete Thornton at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

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The Tanzania Leadership Development Scholarship
Awarded to Josh Williamson, Matt Ireland and Matt Smith

The aim of this scholarship was to provide an experience which would develop a sense of leadership, responsibility, dignity and courtesy towards other individuals, organisations and cultures.

The three Junior Leaders travelled to Arusha in Tanzania. They were involved in helping to build a school at Shiboro Village and raised money to provide the materials for windows in the classroom. They taught English to the primary school children there, spent time living in a boma in the Maasai village of Olmolog and took on the challenge of climbing Mount Meru.

The Junior Leaders had a very successful expedition due to the contacts that they had established before and during the trip, but mainly due to the fact that they were able to plan, budget and make decisions as a team. They all felt that this was due to the previous training they had each received throughout their ATC and Junior Leaders careers.

Josh Williamson commented, ‘the trip itself was more than just spending two months travelling around doing various different activities, it was a life changing experience where we were doing things that no tourist would normally do, and it’s these memories that will stay with us forever.

Picture: The Junior Leaders Team in the Maasai village of Olmolog.

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