On Easter bank holiday weekend 10 cadets and 3 staff members from 2438 (Bishop Ullathorne) Squadron Air Training Corps and 5 cadets from 163 Squadron spent the weekend at a camp site in Wolvey Leicestershire to take part in their practice and actual Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions. This was a fresh challenge for most of the cadets as it was the first time they have undertaken this type of task

The cadets spent two days walking around the local countryside and practicing their map reading skills. The weather was horrendous but the cadets battled on to walk their routes whilst they were assessed by members of staff. Despite the poor weather conditions and the flooded campsite the atmosphere was rather cheery and the happy campers even got to celebrate Easter a day early with the chance for one of the groups to win a massive Easter egg by participating in a dingbat quiz.

For most of the cadets this was their first experience of undertaking an expedition on their own without the constant guidance of the squadrons staff and for some their first time away with the Squadron and indeed from home. The potential for getting lost was a constant challenge for the cadets but their training won out and got them back to base every time.  Those on an actual expeditions found that their map reading and cooking skills had improved since their practice expeditions.

2438 Squadrons Senior Adult NCO Flight Sergeant Alan Tillman who accompanied and assessed the cadets said, "This expedition has probably been the most physically and mentally demanding thing some of the cadets have ever done. The weather didn't help with the expedition but they managed to work well as a team and put the skills they had learnt to good use.”