Some of my most memorable times have been spent with the Air Training Corps (ATC) as a former Cadet, Service helper and Adult Instructor. As the UK’s premier voluntary youth organization, the ATC, ACO, RAF Air Cadets, whichever tag you wish to use, its members are some of the most dedicated individuals there are.
I first joined the 610 (City of Chester) Squadron, ATC at the age of 13 yrs, hoping that it would help me attain my ultimate career goal of joining the RAF. It certainly did that and so much more! This was the place where I first experienced flying and controlling an Aircraft and what a ride. No vomiting from this youngster, no, instead just more aerobatics please Mr Pilot, Sir! I flew mostly in Chipmunks, then Bulldogs and a whole host of other RAF airframes salivating each time at the prospect of getting airborne. Some would call me a geek, but really how many teens get the chance to spend their free time banging around in these amazing machines and all on the RAF and UK taxpayers expense? Money well spent I say….well I would!
The ATC was where I first shot a loaded weapon, which on the face of it may seem insane, having a bunch of teens shooting off live rounds? But just think a moment, before you judge? The requirements to be able to fire a live weapon for any Cadet was extensive. Intensive ‘dry’ training was mandatory and testing of the highest standards were just the start before you even got to the shooting range. Even then, you don’t just go and blat off as many rounds as you like, oh no the eagle eyes(similar to the moving eyes of action man figures) of the Instructors were always boring holes into your head like lasers!! They knew if you were about to do something wrong before you even thought of it, and they would be on you in a flash. One of the most strict areas of the military is on a shooting range and rightly so too. We were taught to have the utmost respect for these instruments and all the safety training we received was of the highest order. Is it wrong to teach teens to fire a weapon? not at all if it’s done responsibly and in a super controlled environment, like the military. Target shooting is after all an Olympic sport and is often the only way many folks in the world still get their food, by way of hunting. It should of course be well-regulated and certainly in the UK it is (US not so much). Was I scared, when I first shot a rifle? not scared so much, more nervous and excited at the same time. Like anything after the first couple of times you get comfortable, but not too comfortable, complacency was left at the range door. It turns out I was a pretty proficient shot attaining multiple ATC and RAF Marksman badges and shooting a number of different weapons from Air Rifle pellets, to .22 rifles, 5.56 SLR and L81 ‘elephant’ gun which had quite a kick too it, so holding it tight into the shoulder was key if you didn’t want to break bones.
I furthered my sports accreditations to a limited degree, never being a fan of the gym at school, but it kept me at a reasonable level of fitness. I excelled at Marching Drill and even learnt how to play the Cavalry Trumpet to a high standard. I remember playing a number of trumpet fanfare’s and last posts etc… and enjoyed this new-found skill. I even dabbled as the Drum Major for a brief period, but was disheartened at one village fete event after throwing the Mace high into the air but failing to catch it on its descent from space, watching it smash into the ground like a missile instead. I was predictably mortified and refrained from tossing it into the air from that moment on and the slow mo replay of that day still plagues my dreams as a man of 40 yrs!
My parents were active members of the Squadron also, first as a part of the Parents Committee and then to my absolute horror at the time, my father went into uniform as an Adult Instructor, the Squadron Warrant Officer no less….the guy in charge of discipline! ‘Now I was in the shit’ I thought!!!! It took a bit of getting used to, having my dad bellowing across the parade square ‘Cpl Gass, get your arse here now’ and then me having to stand to attention in front of him replying ‘Yes Sir, No Si,r 3 bags full Sir’ loudly. Now I have to admit I could play my father a bit at home, but at Cadets, twice a week and most weekends I had no chance and he certainly gave me a harder time than most, but in hindsight that was so the right way for him to go.
I left the ATC the night before I joined the RAF, as a Cadet Flight Sergent (having got promoted to Cadet Flight Sergeant the last week in) and more than prepared for my new career in the RAF, or so I thought!
During my time in the RAF, I became a ‘Service helper’ with 610 Squadron back in Chester and more regularly at an ATC Squadron local to my base RAF Northolt. I loved the feel of my new surroundings at 114 (Ruislip & Northwood) Squadron in Ruislip, Middlesex (not least the Wooden panelled Staff Mess). I did so much with the squadron and made many new friends there. Once I left the RAF I became a Civilian Instructor and then went into uniform as an Adult Instructor and qualified as a Corps appointed Drill Instructor with so many great times experienced. Over the years it did however take over my life quite a bit, and certainly got pretty intense at times. Who knew? During a particularly low period, I thought long and hard about how an interest can before you know it consume your whole life. So after a period of absence I vowed that I would approach my time with the Corps in a whole different way.
I transferred to 2457 (Tring) Squadron, ATC part of Herts & Bucks Wing.with a fresh start and a different approach to things having an equal work/life/ATC balance for the first time. Tring was a very different Squadron to the one back in Ruislip. Smaller was an understatement and it took me a fair while to adjust to this new setting. I found the youngsters were much harder to motivate than before and this frustrated me for a long time, to the point where I started to doubt myself as an effective Instructor. however, this doubt soon faded when I joined the Wing Training Team and I found I still had that ability to motivate cadets and to gain the respect of my peers through my hard work and input to the team.
Although I found my Squadron work pretty challenging, particularly trying to figure out what made these Tring kids tick, my work in the Wing Training Team went from strength to strength concluding in my appointment as the Training and Development Team’s Warrant Officer. Having an input into the training policy of the wing particularly the Drill Training was very satisfying and at times challenging. I did butt heads with other well seasoned and qualified Drill Instructors in the Wing on the way forward with Drill Training policy, but over time we all worked out a productive relationship with each other and has now resulted in some of us becoming firm friends. I applied and failed to become Wing Warrant Officer, but was appointed Deputy Wing Warrant Officer, thus expanding my ATC portfolio further, but with my continued balanced work/life/ATC life approach. I left the ATC in 2011 with many fond memories and firm friends. I will always look back on my time with nothing but pride for my achievements, but more importantly the countless young people I ‘mentored’ who went on to do great things both in their civilian and military lives , indeed with some sadly paying the ultimate sacrifice for Queen and Country in Iraq and Afghanistan. ‘We will Remember them’!
An Englishman in New Jersey 