Cadet Corporal Zain Aslam, aged 16, from 495 (Sutton Coldfield) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets, graduated from this year’s Qualified Aerospace Instructors Course (QAIC). QAIC is the Royal Air Force Air Cadet’s premier aerospace course. Aimed at senior cadets, the challenging syllabus requires a high level of commitment. The course, now in its twelfth year, aims to provide youngsters from across the…
In mid-March it was deemed that alongside many other organisations across the UK, face-to-face cadet activities would need to cease in line with social distancing measures in our Covid-19 response. The question that arose was: how do you maintain the spirit, activities and social side of an organisation if you can’t meet face-to-face? The Cadet Forces are a prime example of organisations who…
In the lead up to the 75th anniversary of VE Day our Employer Engagement team invited employers who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant to a special virtual talk on Thursday 7th May. Being unable to host any face-to-face events to celebrate and reflect on VE Day, the team decided to take the plunge and host our first virtual event. After welcoming remarks…
As many of you will already be aware, a sensible decision has been taken to cancel all major events due to be held to mark Armed Forces Week, launching on Monday 22nd June. Despite this however, the nation will still come together to show support for our Armed Forces this week. This year we will be focussing some days on specific groups of…
We are delighted to announce that the following organisations have signed the Armed Forces Covenant since the start of the new financial year. We are so proud of the support businesses have been able to show during this particularly difficult time and thank each and every one of our Armed Forces Covenant signatories. Our thirteen new signees are: Edusen Tuition Ltd Elwood Recruitment…
Joining the Reserve Forces is a rewarding experience. As well as gaining military skills and learning specific trades, there is also plenty of opportunities for overseas travel and an exciting variety of adventure training and sport. This was the case for sixteen Army Reservists from 4th Battalion the Parachute Regiment who travelled to the USA last October for Exercise Black Skyfall to complete…
Twelve University Air Squadrons (UAS) from across the UK took on an impressive relay challenge to raise funds for the NHS Charities Together. Running the equivalent distance from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, and back again, teams of runners from each UAS ran around the clock for 83 hours in their own back gardens to cover a staggering 10,200km…
A security firm has become the first company in the West Midlands to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in this financial year. Evolve Security Risk Management Consultants have offices in the UK, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. They have worked with various Government departments, the Police and a wealth of private sector clients around the world, offering an extensive array of…
VE Day, 8 May 1945, found 605 Squadron in the Netherlands. Wg Cdr Horne had taken command of the Squadron on 17 March 1945 when the previous OC, Wg Cdr Mitchell, had been posted as missing. The Squadron had moved from Coxyde (now Koksijde) in Belgium to Volkel airfield in the Netherlands on the 28 April. Volkel airfield had been built by the…
What is Victory in Europe (VE) Day? VE Day falls on the 8th May and marks the time the fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end in World War II. This year in 2020 we are marking the 75th anniversary since the guns fell silent. On 8th May 1945, the Prime Minister Winston Churchill made an announcement on the radio…
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