The RAF section of Loughborough Grammar School’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) has earned national recognition for winning the prestigious Royal Air Squadron Trophy.
The ground training competition is open to all 230 CCF (RAF) Squadrons across the country. It involves six disciplines: aircraft recognition, drill, first aid, RAF general knowledge, leadership and team building, and shooting.
Regional heats decide which three teams from each of the five regions will go head-to-head to be crowned the country’s best CCF (RAF) in the national final.
Loughborough Grammar School’s win – the first time they have lifted the trophy – came off the back of impressive 5th and 2nd place finishes in recent years.
Flight Lieutenant Joanne Smith, Officer Commanding of the RAF section, said: “I’m very proud to say that our section won the Royal Air Squadron Trophy this year.
“The Cadets appointed a team leader and lead their own training plan. They practised after school and in lunch times so it’s totally a credit to them. We help them with focuses such as first aid or team building, but most of it they lead themselves.
“The target is definitely on our back for next year when we hope to defend our title, and they’re changing the competition rules too, so we won’t know what to expect until the day. All I will ask of the Cadets is to do their best.”
Loughborough Grammar School’s CCF (RAF), which was established in 1941 as 609 Squadron Air Training Corps, finished 1st in their Central and East Region qualifier, held at the Shuttleworth Collection, Bedfordshire, in November 2023. Success at the regional level secured their place in the national final, which took place at RAF Wittering in March 2024
Sergeant Straw added: “This was my 2nd year competing in the Royal Air Squadron Trophy and this year the pressure was on a lot more because we finished 2nd last year.
“We were training vigorously weeks before, training 3 or 4 times a week, every week, to try and get our standard to the top of the country. To win was pure ecstasy. It was incredible because we had put in so many hours, and at times we were starting to question whether it was really worth it.
“The bus journey back when we all celebrated, not really knowing what to do with ourselves, not sure whether the result was correct, was one of the best moments of my life.”
Lance Corporal Heath added: “I competed in the shooting team and it was a great experience. We finished first in shooting, which was even better, and one of my teammates got 5 shots through the same hole. It was such an amazing experience to be able to celebrate that.”
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