Merseyside Wing Air Cadets

15/10/2026

🚑 Merseyside Wing First Aid Team – Regional FTD 2026 🚑

On Sunday 4 Oct 26, four Air Cadets proudly represented Merseyside Wing in the Regional First Aid Competition at RAF Leeming as part of the Regional Field Training Day (FTD).

FS Nisbet - 90 (Speke) Sqn
FS Mansell - 2184 (Upton) Sqn
Cpl McGregor - 2184 (Upton) Sqn
Cdt McGregor - 2184 (Upton) Sqn

These Air Cadets took part in both individual and team assessments, demonstrating their first aid knowledge and skills through a range of challenging CASSIM (Casualty Simulation) scenarios. They were tested on their ability to assess and treat casualties, communicate effectively with bystanders, and work together as a team under pressure.

🥉 A fantastic achievement, with Merseyside Wing finishing joint 3rd in the competition!

This team had been training and practising hard in preparation for the event, putting in the effort to develop their skills and work together as a team. Despite a very early start, they rose to the challenge and represented the Wing brilliantly.

👏 The Merseyside Wing First Aid Team are incredibly proud of all four cadets for their commitment, hard work and achievement. Well done to you all!



90 (Speke) Sqn ATC


North Region - RAF Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Comdt AC

12/10/2026

12/10/2026

🏆 INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR 🏆

At the conclusion of the very first National Cadets Week, OC Merseyside Wing, Wg Cdr J O'Riley, is delighted to announce the introduction of the Merseyside Wing Instructor of the Year Award, and invite nominations for the new Merseyside Wing Instructor of the Year Award!

We want to hear from Cadets and Staff about the instructors who make a real difference — the people who inspire, develop, support and create better opportunities for others.

This award is about impact, not how many courses someone has delivered or qualifications they hold.

Ask yourself:

What about the organisation is better for the Cadets and Volunteers because this person was here?

Full details and the nomination form can be found in the announcements on Cadet Portal and Volunteer Portal.

Nominations close on 8 November 2026.

Good luck to everyone!



Wg Cdr Joe O'Riley
North Region - RAF Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets

10/10/2026

✈️ NEXT OPEN DAYS — JOIN THE ADVENTURE ✈️

You've seen us celebrating National Cadets week all this week, but have you ever wondered what the Air Cadets is REALLY all about? Now is the perfect time to find out! 💙

As we celebrate National Cadets Week, we're inviting young people across Merseyside to discover the opportunities waiting for them in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.

✈️ Interested in aviation and flying?

🎯 Want to try shooting, fieldcraft and adventurous training?

🤝 Looking to build confidence, make new friends and develop leadership skills?

🌟 Or simply want to try something different, challenge yourself and be part of a team?

There's a place for you in the Air Cadets!

Across Merseyside Wing, our 26 squadrons offer young people opportunities to learn new skills, take on exciting challenges, make lifelong memories and discover their potential.

While not every squadron will be holding an Open Day today, there's never been a better time to find your local squadron and find out when you can visit!

📍 FIND YOUR LOCAL SQUADRON

Search for your nearest Air Cadets squadron, follow its social media pages and keep an eye out for announcements about upcoming Open Days and recruitment evenings.

You can also find your nearest squadron through the official RAF Air Cadets website.

Parents and carers are encouraged to get in touch too — our local squadrons will be happy to explain what's involved, answer your questions and help you take the first step.

Your next adventure starts with a single visit.

Who knows where it could take you? ✈️

🇬🇧 National Cadets Week 2026 | Join the Adventure | 10 October 2026



North Region - RAF Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Comdt AC

7F City of Liverpool Squadron, Royal Air Force Air Cadets
90 (Speke) Sqn ATC
146 (Northwich) Air Cadets
273 (Wallasey) Sqn
273 (Hoylake & West Kirby) DF

306 Sqn RAF Air Cadets
310 (Widnes) Sqn
400 (Birkenhead) Squadron
440
610 (City of Chester) Squadron Air Cadets
611 (Woodvale) RAF Air Cadets
969 (St Helens) Squadron RAFAC
1026 Ormskirk Squadron RAF Air Cadets
1074 (Ellesmere Port) Sqn ATC
1123 Hooton Park
1128 (Crosby) ATC
1438 (Prescot) Sqn RAFAC
1439 (Skelmersdale) Sqn RAFAC
1908 (Bootle) Squadron
1913 Knotty Ash Sqn RAFAC
1982 (Huyton) Sqn RAFAC

2348 (Maghull) Squadron ATC
Woolton Air Cadets, Liverpool
2375 (Neston) Sqn RAFAC

09/10/2026

🛠️ SKILLS FOR LIFE 🛠️

Being an Air Cadet is about so much more than wearing a uniform. It's about developing the skills, confidence and character to succeed in whatever life brings your way.

Across Merseyside Wing, our cadets are continually learning, challenging themselves and discovering their potential. At 273 (Wallasey) Sqn, we're proud to see these skills being developed in action every week.

📚 Knowledge & Learning — developing understanding, embracing new subjects and building the foundations for future success.

🗺️ Problem-Solving & Decision-Making — working together to interpret information, think critically and find solutions to unfamiliar challenges.

🤝 Teamwork & Communication — supporting one another, sharing ideas and learning that we can achieve more when we work together.

🎯 Leadership & Resilience — taking responsibility, overcoming obstacles and having the confidence to step outside our comfort zones.

These skills aren't just useful on Squadron nights. They're skills their cadets can carry into their education, future careers and everyday lives.

Whether they're tackling a classroom lesson, working together on a map exercise or putting their teamwork into practice during a practical activity, every experience is an opportunity to grow.

At 273, they're not just interested in what the cadets can achieve today. They're investing in the people they're becoming tomorrow.

Because the greatest achievement isn't simply earning a badge or passing an assessment — it's discovering what you're capable of and having the confidence to take that ability into the world. 💜

🚀 National Cadets Week 2026 | Skills for Life | 9 October 2026



273 (Wallasey) Sqn
North Region - RAF Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Comdt AC

09/10/2026

🛠️ SKILLS FOR LIFE 🛠️

Being an Air Cadet is about so much more than learning to march, taking part in activities or earning badges.

It's about developing the skills, confidence and character that will stay with you long after your cadet journey ends.

✈️ Leadership — learning to take responsibility and inspire others.

🤝 Teamwork — discovering what can be achieved when we work together.

🗣️ Communication — finding the confidence to speak up, share ideas and support others.

🎯 Resilience — learning to overcome challenges, adapt and keep going when things get difficult.

💡 Problem-solving — thinking independently, making decisions and finding solutions.

And these are just some of the skills our cadets develop every week across Merseyside Wing.

Whether they're leading a team in the field, delivering a presentation, learning first aid, supporting a community event or stepping outside their comfort zone for the first time, every experience offers an opportunity to grow.

Because the Air Cadets isn't just about preparing young people for their next activity.

It's about preparing them for life's opportunities and challenges.

Today, as part of National Cadets Week, we're celebrating the skills that help our cadets become confident, capable and ambitious young adults — ready to take on whatever comes next. 🚀

🇬🇧 National Cadets Week 2026 | Skills for Life | 9 October 2026



North Region - RAF Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets

08/10/2026

❤️ Cadets Save Lives ❤️

When it comes to saving lives, preparation matters.
And 90 (Speke) Sqn have certainly shown that they know their stuff! 👏

As part of National Cadets Week, we're shining a spotlight on 90 (Speke) Sqn and their commitment to developing the life-saving skills that every cadet should have.

Their hard work was put to the test at this year's Merseyside Wing Competitions Day, where they finished joint 1st place alongside 2184 (Upton) Sqn in the Wing First Aid Competition! 🏆

From CPR and treating casualties to assessing situations, working as a team and remaining calm under pressure, first aid training gives cadets practical skills that could one day make a real difference.

But competitions like this aren't just about winning.

They're about building confidence, developing teamwork and ensuring that our cadets are prepared to step forward when someone needs help.

A huge congratulations to the cadets and staff of 90 (Speke) Sqn on an outstanding achievement — and for demonstrating exactly what we mean when we say:

Cadets Save Lives. ❤️

🇬🇧 National Cadets Week 2026 | Cadets Save Lives | 8 October 2026



North Region - RAF Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Comdt AC

08/10/2026

❤️ Cadets Save Lives ❤️

What if YOU were the person who could make a difference?

Across the Air Cadets, young people are given the knowledge and skills to respond when someone needs help.

From first aid and CPR, to recognising an emergency, raising the alarm and knowing what to do until professional help arrives, our cadets learn skills that can extend far beyond the parade square.

Because in an emergency, confidence matters. Knowledge matters. And knowing what to do matters.

These aren't simply skills for a badge or an assessment ... they are skills for life.

And while we hope our cadets never have to use them in a real emergency, we want them to have the confidence to step forward if that moment ever comes.

Today, as part of National Cadets Week, we're celebrating the life-saving skills our cadets develop — and the potential they have to make a real difference to those around them.

They might be cadets, but they have the skills to save lives. ❤️

🇬🇧 National Cadets Week 2026 | Cadets Save Lives | 8 October 2026



North Region - RAF Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets

07/10/2026

🎉 Volunteer Celebration 🎉

🫡 I Was a Cadet Once… 🫡

Before they were Instructors, Staff, Squadron Commanders and Leaders … they were cadets.

Across Merseyside Wing, there are countless volunteers who can look back and remember wearing their first uniform, standing on their first parade, going on their first camp and discovering experiences that would stay with them for life.

Years later, many of them have come back through the doors — this time wearing the uniform of a Civilian Instructor or Adult Volunteer, and helping the next generation experience the same opportunities that once meant so much to them.

Their stories are all different.
Some joined for the adventure.
Some for the friendships.
Some discovered a passion for aviation, the outdoors, leadership or service.

And some simply found a place where they belonged.
But they all have something in common ... They were cadets once.

And now they're helping create the next generation of memories.

This National Cadets Week, we're thrilled to introduce you to some of the volunteers across Merseyside Wing who can genuinely say:

“I was a Cadet once…” 💙

Take a look at the faces from then and now — and discover the stories behind them.

Because sometimes, the best way to understand why people volunteer is to understand where their journey began.

🇬🇧 National Cadets Week 2026 | Volunteer Celebration | 7 October 2026



North Region - RAF Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Comdt AC

07/10/2026

🎉 Volunteer Celebration 🎉

Behind every cadet, there is a volunteer who chose to give their time.

Across Merseyside Wing, hundreds of volunteers give their time, skills and experience to support the next generation.

They are there on parade nights, at weekends, on camps, at competitions and on countless activities and events throughout the year.

They teach.
They encourage.
They organise.
They lead.
They listen.
They inspire.

And often, they do it quietly, simply because they believe in giving young people the opportunity to learn, grow and achieve more than they thought possible.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and bring an incredible range of skills and experiences to the Air Cadets. Some have been with us for decades; others have only recently joined. But they all have one thing in common:

They choose to give their time to make a difference.
Today, as part of National Cadets Week, we're celebrating the volunteers who make everything we do possible.

To every Cadet Forces Adult Volunteer, Civilian Instructor, Padre, Civilian Committee Member and supporter across Merseyside Wing - Thank you. 💙

Your time matters.
Your contribution matters.
And the difference you make matters.

🇬🇧 National Cadets Week 2026 | Volunteer Celebration | 7 October 2026



North Region - RAF Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets