Two Air Cadet Adult Volunteers have recently attended a Gold Award Presentation at St. James’s Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Sergeant Shoheb Akhtar ATC and Civilian Instructor (CI) Ravi Halai, both aged 22, of 282 (East Ham) Squadron Air Cadets based in Vicarage Lane, were invited to St. James’s Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards in the presence of HRH The Earl of Wessex; Prince Edward, celebrities and special guests.

Both Sergeant Akhtar and CI Halai spent seven long years working towards their Gold Award and between them have walked approximately 460 miles over rough terrain and through horrendous weather, from the peaks of Ben Nevis in Scotland to the hills of the South Downs in the South of England as part of their expeditions.

The duo’s efforts were finally recognised when they received an invitation from the Palace to attend the Gold Award Presentation. The VIPs on the day included HRH the Earl of Wessex; Prince Edward, former Paralympics’ World Swimming Champion; Sarah Cunningham, and the Mayor of Croydon Margaret Mead.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award consists of a programme of activities that can be undertaken by anyone aged 14 to 24, regardless of personal ability, and once completed can lead to a Bronze, Silver and/or Gold Award, “I have waited for this moment ever since I joined the Air Cadet Organisation back in 2001. I have greatly enjoyed being involved the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and having finally achieved the top level is truly an amazing feeling” said CI Halai.

When asked what the hardest part of the Award was, Sergeant Akhtar answered; “Definitely the expedition, especially the final day. It was very hot and we were all exhausted. Our water supply was running low so had to turn to fast flowing fresh water streams which were only found near the peak of the mountains. It was like a survival exercise, but we kept our heads high and worked together as a team and made it through the worst. I look back at it now and it was probably one of the best times of my life, a true adventure!”

The Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is highly recognised by universities and employers as the mark of very special person: someone who is prepared to make a commitment and is capable of ‘going that extra mile’ to achieve their objectives.

“Gold Award holders are role models, setting a positive example to their peers and to other young people. The positive example they set and the achievements they will experience in their future lives go a long way in explaining and enduring success of the DofE,” said Peter Westgarth; Chief Executive of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, in a message to all the Gold Award achievers.

Both Sergeant Akhtar and CI Halai now assist in the running of the Duke of Edinburgh Award for Air Cadets from the ages of 13-20 at their Squadron and are both working towards becoming fully qualified assessors of the DofE scheme themselves.

Original Article: http://www.laseratc.org/media.php?view=213