Life beyond Woodbridge Squadron
Young people can join cadets at the age of 13 and leave when they are 20. After taking part in many activities and camps, learning about aircraft, communications and first aid and discovering their leadership potential and making new friends you may ask ‘what’s next??’.
Although cadet establishments are not recruitment bases for the forces, we do find some cadets take to the military lifestyle, join up and have a good time. This is by no means the only option.
Following their GCSE exams young people tend to go to their local sixth form college. This may be at their old school, or at an established sixth form college near by. There is an alternative. If you are considering a career in the military then have you thought of (or even heard of) Welbeck ‘The defence sixth form college’. Located near Loughborough, the college has an intake of some 175 students each year, all looking for something that exceeds the average sixth form experience. 2 years of study culminating in 4 AS levels in the first year and 3 A levels in the second, and many new skills can be gained from the many activities offered. These include many sporting activities from archery to judo, football to windsurfing, and also non-sporting activities from Drama to Photography, and amateur radio to website development. Students also take part in outward bound activities across the UK including a 72 hour exercise in the Snowdonia national park, and a twelve day summer camp in Scotland.
This is a boarding environment with students living in one of 5 houses, all rooms having en-suite facilities and IT connections. With a 25m swimming pool, a multifunctional sports hall and state of the art educational facilities, all students are encouraged to work hard and play hard.
Following college young people may wish to go to university and continue with their studies. Currently there are 19 universities which have an Officer training corps establishment (UOTC), aimed at promoting leadership skills and offer extra mural activities such as outward bound training, summer activities camps, flying and gliding to name a few. Training one evening a week and participating in holiday activities you will receive attendance pay of around £1500 pa.
If continuing your education following school is not what you have in mind, or if you complete your degree and don’t wish to join the regular services then the Reserve services may be of interest. The Territorial Army, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Navy Reserve and the Royal Marines Reserve are always on the lookout for fit and enthusiastic new members. You are asked to participate in one weekend activities a month, meet once a week as well as taking part in a two week training camp during the summer, all for which you are paid to do.
432 (Woodbridge) ATC currently has several ex-cadets in the forces serving in different parts of the world. One cadet is in the process of joining the Royal Marine Commandos. One about to join the Ipswich Territorial Army. A few currently attend university and are part of the UOTC and two current cadets are prospective members of Welbeck College, one has a place and is awaiting exam results and one who takes their Admiralty interview entrance board later this year.
If you want to continue your education whilst still participating in cadet type activities then please feel free to ask the training officer or follow the links below to learn more.
www.welbeck.mod.uk
www.ta.mod.uk
www.rafreserves.com