140 Matlock Squadron RAFAC

21/05/2026

This week we held a presentation evening for our Cadets who have been working hard over the last several months. A total of 67 certificates and badges were handed out including ones for Essential First Aid, 1st Class Cadet, Basic Swimming Proficiency, Blue Space, Blue Fieldcraft, Blue Pre Duke of Edinburgh,Bronze Duke of Edinburgh, Blue Wings, Prestation Skills and Blue Leadership.

The night also saw the re-opening of our Air Rifle Shooting Range which has not been in use since before covid.
Many Thanks to our Civilian Committee Chairperson Mrs McCarthy who cut the ribbon for us to open it officially.

15/05/2026

09/05/2026

🧗‍♀️Not the usual parade night for our cadets this week 🧗🏻‍♀️

Harnesses on, helmets fitted, and straight onto the wall! Our Air Cadets swapped boots for climbing shoes this week as they tackled an exciting climbing session.

From first-time climbers to those reaching new heights, every cadet showed courage, determination, and brilliant teamwork. There was plenty of encouragement from the ground and some impressive problem-solving on the wall!

Adventure training isn’t just about the activity — it’s about building confidence, resilience, and trust in each other. Safe to say, they all rose to the challenge! 👏

29/04/2026

Tonight, members of Matlock Air Cadets had the fantastic opportunity to visit Red Watch at Chesterfield Fire Station 🚒

The cadets were given an insightful tour of the station, where they learned about the vital role firefighters play in keeping our community safe. Red Watch demonstrated their equipment, explained how they respond to emergencies, and shared valuable advice about teamwork under pressure.

It was inspiring for our cadets to see first-hand the professionalism, dedication, and courage shown by the crew. Experiences like this help build confidence, leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of public service.

A huge thank you to everyone at Red Watch for taking the time to host us and for the warm welcome. We are incredibly grateful for the work you do every day to protect our community.

11/04/2026

11/04/2026

Introducing the Trent Wing DofE Squadron Performance Competition

Following Trent Wing’s success in winning the Roger Austin Sword last year, the Wing has introduced a brand new initiative to recognise and celebrate squadron achievement in the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme — the Trent Wing DofE Squadron Performance Competition.

We are delighted to announce the first results of this new competition.

The competition is run along similar lines to the Roger Austin Sword, measuring squadron performance based on the number of Bronze, Silver and Gold DofE Awards completed between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. Results are calculated as a percentage of each squadron’s cadet strength, ensuring a fair and balanced comparison across all units, regardless of size.

Congratulations to 1401 (Alfreton & Ripley) Squadron, who are the inaugural winners of the Trent Wing DofE Squadron Performance Competition. 👏

This achievement reflects the squadron’s commitment to developing cadets through the DofE programme, encouraging them to challenge themselves, build resilience and gain valuable life skills.

Royal Air Force Air Cadets Commandant Air Cadets Central & East Region Air Cadets East Midlands Reserve Forces & Cadets Association OC Trent Wing RAFAC The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

08/04/2026

⛳️ Cadets Take on Crazy Golf! ⛳️

This week, our cadets swapped drills for putts and headed out for a round of crazy golf. From trick shots and unexpected hole-in-ones to dramatic near-misses, the competition was fierce but friendly.

It was a brilliant chance to relax, build teamwork, and enjoy some well-earned downtime together. Activities like this remind us that being a cadet isn’t just about discipline and skills — it’s also about friendship, confidence, and making great memories.

Well done to everyone who took part — and congratulations to our crazy golf champion! 🥇👏

Bonkers Illumination GOLF

25/03/2026

Tonight we had the pleasure of our ex cadet Sgt Tom McPhillips join us on a Teams meeting all the way from Ghana to give us a presentation on what he has been doing over there.
Tom has taken 3 months off work to do volunteering work in Ghana, and it looks and sounded like he is having an amazing time. What a great experience and achievement, well done Tom 😁

11/03/2026

Dream. Dare. Do. 🤩

Every week, thousands of air cadets gain the confidence, skills and resilience that will shape tomorrow’s workforce. The Air Cadet Charity helps make sure financial barriers don't hold them back.

Thanks to our brilliant corporate partners, cadets can access opportunities that truly transform lives; from aviation to essential kit and training.

Does your company support charities? We’d love to chat!

If your workplace might be interested in supporting young people:

👉 Tag them below
👉 Share this post
👉 Or send us a message

Together, we can help every cadet reach for the skies.

11/03/2026

To The Stars ✨

Cadets and staff spent the evening at The Barnett Observatory in Chesterfeld this evening learning about space, planets and the universe. They were also lucky enough to spot Jupiter and Orion's Nebula through the telescope.

Thank you to the volunteers there who gave up their evening to help make this happen.