1216 Eastleigh Squadron Air Training Corps

10/06/2026

1216 have been very busy lately! Here’s some highlights of what we’ve been up to! 📍📈

✈️ CWO Bradley completed his ACPS (air cadet pilot scholarship) and is well under way with gaining more flying hours! This is a huge achievement and the pinnacle of only a few cadets’ career! Well done CWO.

📚We ran training days for our new recruits on recent weekends, and they are progressing well with their first class training. A huge thank you to the staff, Cdt NCOs and Cdt Demo Troops for giving up their time for the benefit of our new cadets.

🧮 Our Padre ran a civics night incorporating elements of STEM to build a floating ark!

🏆 FS Shepherd was awarded his Lvl 2 BTEC in personal development and teamwork, adding another string to his bow

🏆 Many first class, leadership and first aid badges awarded to our September 25 intake.

🔫 1216 attended a range day at Barossa Ranges and many cadets conducted Live Firing Marksmanship Training for the first time.

🎖️Some cadets attended Exercise Falcon, a deployed weekend exercise on Salisbury Plain gaining either their Bronze or Silver fieldcraft qualifications!

🧭 Boss, assisted by FS Burn and Cpl Shepherd ran a radio-navigation exercise in our extended unit footprint (land we are authorised to use), and the cadets honed their radio skills, and we narrowly avoided the downpour of rain!

☢️ Boss and Sgt Bow completed their Dangerous Goods Awareness course meaning they are now able to further support shooting and fieldcraft events by transporting ammunition and other restricted items.

We’ve got a very busy schedule lined up for summertime too, and while we’re under way conducting our regular training, there are plenty more exciting and challenging events lined up.

Follow for more updates.

03/06/2026

1216 Sqn welcome our newest intake of cadets! 🎉🥳

We held an introductory evening with the parents/guardians and new cadets who then went and got to know each other by playing some team building games.

Welcome to the RAFAC and 1216, there are so many incredible opportunities awaiting you and remember, you get out what you put in 💪✈️

Hampshire and IOW Royal Air Force Air Cadets Commandant Air Cadets South West Region Royal Air Force Air Cadets Royal Air Force Air Cadets

30/05/2026

A fantastic achievement on the squadron last night as Sgt Bradley was presented with his Gold Shot badge and certificate.

Gold level is our highest standard qualification, and this was awarded to Sgt Bradley on completion of his Fundamentals of Coaching Course, meaning he is now a qualified range coach.

Congratulations Sgt, another string to your bow!

25/05/2026

25/05/2026

1216 are incredibly proud of FS Shepherd on achieving his Silver Wings after his first solo and now Gold wings!

Here’s what he had to say about his first solo gliding experience!

‘Recently, I achieved my Silver wings, after achieving solo flight in a Glider at 622 Volunteer Gliding Squadron. This experience is something I will forever hold close to my heart, and a summary of the incredible experiences the Air Cadets has to offer.

Having wanted to fly and work in aviation for as long as I can remember, this solo flight is an opportunity of immeasurable value to me, helping me to develop powerful, decision making and technical flying skills. Having completed it in an environment in which I felt confident, safe and thoroughly enjoyed pushed me to secure this achievement, something which would have been considerably more difficult outside of the organisation.

I am incredibly grateful for what the Air Cadets has and continues to offer me in the form of gliding, aviation training and more.

Further to this, I have been invited back to 622 VGS to complete the Advanced Glider Training Course, this includes a further 5 solos, and more ground school and flight-based practical training, which so far has been challenging, but immensely rewarding.’

Well done again on this incredible achievement Flight Sergeant! You are a credit to yourself and the squadron 👏

Commandant Air Cadets
South West Region Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
622VGS

07/05/2026

🤩🎉Celebrating 1216 Eastleigh Sqn at our 2026 presentation evening! 🎉🤩

What an evening! On Friday 1st May, staff, cadets, parents & guardians and our civilian committee came together to celebrate our incredible cadets and all their amazing achievements over the last year!

Whilst we would like to award everyone, we had a difficult time selecting the winners of the various awards categories as we have so many incredible and deserving cadets. Our winners for the 2026 awards are:

🏆Academic Excellence - Cpl Malinowska
🏆Best Attendance - Cdt Betenson
🏆Best Instructor - Sgt Bradley
🏆Most Improved - Cdt Latalski
🏆Best NCO - FS Burn
🏆Best Deportment - Cpl Wise
🏆Best Recruit - Cdt Ley
🏆Cadets Choice - Cdt Enright
🏆Best Cadet - Cdt Jamieson

Not only did we give out these well deserved awards, we also took the opportunity to promote some fantastic cadets. Congratulations on your promotions:
✅ Corporal Shepherd
✅ Sergeant Longo
✅ Flight Sergeant Burn
✅ Sergeant Rai

Not only did the Wing Commander come and celebrate the cadets achievements, he also was able to present some OC Wing commendations for FS Burn and Sgt Rai as well as announce that FS Shepherd is the SW Regions Dacre Sword nomination! Outstanding work all! 🤩

Several of our cadets bravely presented about subjects or events that have attended or are passionate about including fieldcraft, space and RIAT. Well done to FS Shepherd, Sgt Peica, Sgt Bradley, Cpl Malinowska, Sgt Cotton and CDT Enright on for excellent presentations. 👏

Our own Officer Commanding, Flt Lt Liam Clarke received a gift from the sqn as a heartfelt thank you for all his dedication and perseverance through our shut down and return back to sqn. Thank you Boss!

Joined by our esteemed guests, HIOWs Wing Commander Gary Knell and Sqn Ldr Nicky Knell, Eastleigh Mayor Cllr Janice Asman and Mayoress Cllr Sarah Turl, Eastleigh’s Deputy Mayor Cllr Richard Gomer and parter and the Mayor Emeritus Cllr David Pragnell and deputy Mayoress Emeritus, we are so grateful for your ongoing support of our sqn and thank you for attending. The Mayor also provided such a lovely and motivational speech really portraying the importance of Youth and organisations like the RAFAC.

A huge well done everyone, here’s to the next year of 1216!

Commandant Air Cadets
South West Region Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Hampshire and IOW Royal Air Force Air Cadets

05/05/2026

03/05/2026

Such kind words from the Eastleigh Bid team. We are very proud of our cadets and how they conduct themselves and it’s so lovely to receive such wonderful feedback! They had a fantastic time and are always proud to support our Eastleigh community 💙

05/02/2026

We celebrate 85 amazing years of the Air Training Corps today!

5th Feb 1941, Air Commodore J A Chamier started the organisation which has now evolved into the largest air cadet organisation in the world!

Learn more here about the RAFACs history: https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/who-we-are/our-history/

Happy birthday ATC! 🎂🎉🤩

Happy 85th birthday to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets!!! 🎂

The RAFAC turns 85 this year, started on the 5th Feb 1941, this aviation minded youth organisation has encouraged, supported and developed so many incredible cadets over the years. From leadership, flying, gliding, qualifications, shooting, sport and so so much more, this really is an organisation that you get out what you put in.

So many cadets from all walks of life have come through those squadron doors and learnt so much! The RAFAC couldn’t be what it is without the incredible force of volunteer staff, permanent staff and civilian committees so thank you all for everything you do!

Were you an Air Cadet? What’s been your favourite memory or experience? Share your photos and stories in the comments below!

Here’s to 85 amazing years of VentureAdventure! 🎉 we’re just getting started! ✈️💪

South West Region Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets