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BREITLING TROPHY - The Squadron is pleased to announce that it has won the Breitling Trophy, awarded by Headquarters Air Cadets to the Volunteer Gliding Squadron which has contributed most to youth development during the last year. This is an unprecedented fourth consecutive award to 624 VGS who have now won the award in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. Congratulations to all involved, in particular the Flight Staff Cadets who have worked so hard both on and off the Squadron during the last twelve months.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Daryl Mansbridge who has successfully completed his Grade 1 Pilot Qualification. Daryl is now qualified to fly with trainees and teach the Gliding Induction Course syllabus.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Anthony Russell who has successfully completed his Grade 2 Pilot Qualification. Anthony will now progress towards Grade 1 Status.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Craig Whyatt who has successfully passed the Officer Aircrew & Seclection Centre at RAF College Cranwell. Craig has been successful in his application for a Commission and Pilot Training. We wish him the very best of luck for his future aviation career in the Royal Air Force.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Daryl Mansbridge who has successfully completed his Grade 2 Pilot Qualification. Daryl will now progress towards Grade 1 Status.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Daryl Mansbridge and CGI Anthony Russell who both successfully completed their Advanced Glider Training this weekend. Both will now progress towards Graded Pilot status.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Konrad Paszkiewicz who successfully completed his first solo on type this weekend. Konrad will now progress towards Graded Pilot status.

STAFF RESIGNATIONS - This month see's the departure of two more members of staff from the Squadron. CGI Alex Dacre, a G1 Pilot who leaves the Squadron to pursue his aviation career and CGI Mikey Holmes, a G1 Pilot who is also leaving the Squadron. We wish both of them the best of luck for the future.

CONGRATULATIONS - To CGI Daryl Mansbridge and CGI Anthony Russell who both successfully completed their first solo's on type this weekend. Both will now progress towards Graded Pilot status.

STAFF TRANSFER - This month the Squadron is pleased to welcome the arrival of a new instructor. CGI Roger Bufton is a current C Category Instructor who joins the Squadron from 613 VGS RAF Halton.

STAFF RESIGNATIONS - This month see's the departure of three members of staff from the Squadron. Fg Off Dan Reece, an A2 Category Instructor who leaves the Squadron to pursue his aviation career, Cpl Chris Gorton, a Grade 1 Pilot who leaves the Squadron due to overseas deployment with the Royal Air Force Police and CGI Jon Crane who leaves the Squadron to work overseas. We wish all of them the best of luck for the future.

SQUADRON CLOSURE - The Squadron will be closed for the weekend of 26/12/09 - 27/12/09 and will reopen on the weekend of 02/01/10 - 03/01/10. For urgent matters please contact the Commanding Officer.

FAREWELL - This month sees the departure of one of the Squadrons most dedicated members of staff. Civilian Gliding Instructor James Phillips originally joined the Squadron as a Flight Staff Cadet from 722 (Chivenor) Sqn and went on to become a C Category Instructor flying many of the Squadrons Gliding Scholarship trainees over the last few years. James is leaving the Squadron to pursue a degree at Coventry University where he also hopes to transfer to 637 VGS RAF Little Rissington. We wish James every success for his furture studies.

ROYAL JORDANIAN FALCONS - Today the Squadron played host to the aircrew and ground staff of The Royal Jordanian Falcons. The Royal Jordanian Falcons are a perennial national aerobatic team formed in 1976 at the initiative of His Majesty the Late King Hussein Bin Talal. They have an international reputation for precision, professionalism and spectacular performance.

Royal Jordanian Falcons function as a highly specialized asset for the promotion of Jordan, serving as the country's "roving ambassadors". Their unique status as a professional aerobatic team allows them the opportunity not only to present the sophisticated state of aviation in Jordan, but also to promote goodwill and interest in their native country.

The Royal Jordanian Falcons team presently consist of 5 Extra-300 L aerobatic aircraft. The team headquarters has recently been transferred by Royal Decree to King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba (Red Sea), in an effort to enhance tourism and investment there. The visit took place as part of the teams diplomatic visits to the United Kingdom.

STAFF TRANSFER - Following his university studies Officer Cadet Markus Adcock has decided to continue his involvement with the Air Cadet Organisation and as such will shortly be transferring to 631 VGS RAF Woodvale. We wish him every success at his new Squadron and with his postgraduate studies.

UNIVERSITY SUCCESS - Congratulations go to CGI Craig Whyatt who has successfully achieved a First Class Honours Degree in Mathematics with Computer Science from the University of Exeter, Devon.

Nevertheless, the police officer is confident his experiences at the Wiltshire base will stand in him in good stead for the foreign environment he has been thrown in to. Now just a week into his detachment Chris has been impressed by the team spirit shown by his comrades in the tight-knit community he is now part of.

He also recognises that the conditions he is currently living in are far better than those of some of the other detachments in the area, or those serving elsewhere. "We are very lucky in that respect and it is such a small community," he said. Chris also commented on Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 27, which he was fortunate enough to celebrate with his own detachment. He said: "Even though it was still a normal day we made it fun."

It seems as though Chris, also a former student of Richard Huish College, Taunton, was destined to join the forces as four of his uncles have served with the RAF. But he hopes to continue learning when he returns to the UK by signing up for a law course with the Open University.

When deployed, Chris' main task is making sure other service personnel on his detachment remain safe. He carries out patrols and security checks and is available to investigate any crimes. He is also responsible for screening passengers and their luggage before they travel on RAF transport aircraft.

Chris is still finding life in the desert a bit different and admitted he struggled with the heat for the first few days. He said: "It is a bit of a culture shock and acclimatising is quite difficult." But he is realistic about his prospects for future detachments and considers it part of the job.

Chris said: "I always knew I was going to be in the RAF and I hope this will prepare me for further tours. I don't think anybody would look forward to leaving friends and family for four months but, when you sign up for the military, you know what to expect." (Article adapted from the Mid Devon Gazette).

STAFF RESIGNATION - It is with deep regret that the Squadron must announce the resignation of CGI Steve Dicksee ATC wef Sat 4 Jul 09, who leaves the Squadron due to work and family commitments. We wish him all the best for the future.

ARMED FORCES DAY - The first Armed Forces Day is 27 June 2009, and is an opportunity for the nation to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, and from veterans to recruits. Across the county people are getting involved: communities are holding local events, businesses are showing their support through promotional offers, and to kick off the proceedings, local authorities are holding flag-raising ceremonies at 1030 on 22 June.

For the National Event, The Historic Chatham Dockyard opens its doors, so you can learn more about the Army, Navy and RAF, meet members of local units and lunch out surrounded by history. Chatham is just one event being held in support of Armed Force Day. If you want to know more about how to get involved and what's going on in your area, click here to find out how you can celebrate Armed Forces Day in support of our nation's Armed Forces – past, present and future.

AIR LEAGUE 2009 - It has been confirmed that CGI Chris Puxley and CGI James Phillips will represent the Squadron at the 2009 Air League Challenge to be held at RAF Syerston in July. The Squadron had a winning record at the event with three wins in the 1990s but were unable to staff a team last year. We wish Chris and James the best of luck at this years event. More information on the event can be found by following the link above.

STAFF APPOINTMENTS - Following a successful recruitment campaign the Squadron is pleased to welcome three new Civilian Gliding Instructors this month. CGI Daryl Mansbridge, CGI Konrad Paszkiewicz and CGI Anthony Russell will all begin flying training towards Graded Pilot status throughout the next few months. The Squadron is also pleased to welcome back CGI Alex Dacre, following a successful course of training for an Airline Transport Pilots Licence (ATPL) in Spain during the last year.

REGIONAL VISIT - Today the squadron was pleased to welcome Wg Cdr Tony Clavell RAF VR(T), South West Regional Gliding Liaison Officer. As the first of his visits to RMB Chivenor the Wing Commander was given a tour of the squadrons facilities and an overview of activities on the base before talking to individual members of staff to identify potential means of increasing cadet trainee numbers on courses. The Wg Cdr was particularly interested in the recent introduction of squadron promotional visits by squadron staff and was also fortunate enough to witness a cadet first solo from the airfield and kindly presented a set of gliding scholarship wings to the successful trainee.

STAFF APPOINTMENT - Following a short trial period CGI Chris Puxley has been appointed as the Squadrons Allocations Officer, responsible for liaison between the Squadrons Flight Commanders, Wing Gliding Liaison Officers and Combined Cadet Force TEST NCOs to ensure the Squadron has sufficient cadet trainees to conduct targetted induction and scholarship courses throughout the year.

allocations@624vgs.co.uk

STAFF TRANSFER - The squadron is pleased to welcome CGI Jonny Rayner who is transferring from 645 VGS RAF Topcliffe following his relocation to the South West. Jonny is a former C Category Instructor but will rejoin the VGS movement as a Grade 1 Pilot initially prior to recategorisation training.