Durham Northumberland Wing Air Cadets

16/06/2026

🌟Bronze and Silver Leadership Awards Success🌟

Sqn Ldr McNeill, the newly appointed Wing Lead for NCO and Leadership Courses, has successfully re-introduced Bronze and Silver Leadership Courses across the Wing.

In recent weeks, 9 cadets completed a Bronze Leadership Course at 2214 (Usworth) Sqn, and 12 cadets completed a Silver Leadership Course at the Wing Activity Centre last weekend.

All 21 cadets passed and are now entitled to wear their respective badges on their uniforms.

More course opportunities will be available in the coming months, and cadets should check the pre-course requirements before signing up.

15/06/2026

🏕️Gold DofE Expedition Training🏕️

This weekend, cadets and staff from across the wing took part in a training weekend in advance of their Gold DofE practice and assessed expeditions taking place over the next couple of months!

08/06/2026

⛑️ First Aid Course ⛑️

This weekend, staff and senior cadets from across the Wing spent two days at our Wing Activity Centre undertaking an Activities First Aid course! As well as being able to administer first aid, this course enables staff and instructor cadets to teach basic first aid to cadets at their squadrons.

Well done to you all!

❤️

05/06/2026

🌟Upgraded Wing Website!🌟

We're delighted to announce that the upgrade of our Wing website is complete! If you want to find out about who we are, what we do, or where our Squadrons are located, this is the place to be!

https://www.dnwaircadets.org/

With huge thanks to JUMP UP who did a brilliant job developing this for us, and taking on board all our wishes and requirements! We're really pleased with the finished product!

Are you up for fun, adventure, incredible experiences and making new friends? Are you looking for something to give you the edge in life?

04/06/2026

🌟Volunteers' Week 2026 🌟

One of the Regional Commandant's Commendations presented at our Wing Presentation Night was for Flying Officer Liam Blackie.

Flying Officer Blackie has demonstrated outstanding commitment, initiative, and leadership in the delivery of adventure training and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities across Durham Northumberland Wing and the wider North Region.

As the lead officer for cycling Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions, Flying Officer Blackie has successfully delivered the Wing’s only alternative expedition offering, significantly broadening participation and enabling cadets to access challenging and rewarding opportunities beyond traditional formats. His expertise has ensured that these expeditions are conducted safely, professionally, and to an exceptionally high standard.

Flying Officer Blackie has provided invaluable support to squadrons across the Wing, offering expert guidance on the procurement and maintenance of mountain bikes. His advice has enhanced capability at unit level, ensuring sustainable and safe delivery of cycling activities. In addition, he has personally delivered numerous mountain biking events, inspiring cadets and fostering resilience, confidence, and teamwork.

He has played a key role in the development and delivery of Wing Adventure Training Camps at the Cadet Residential Training Centre, Windermere. Initially supporting and now leading these camps, Flying Officer Blackie has been instrumental in planning comprehensive training programmes, coordinating complex logistics, and organising staff resources. His collaboration with Adventure Training personnel from across North Region has strengthened inter-wing cooperation and enhanced the quality and scope of joint camps.

Furthermore, Flying Officer Blackie has made a significant contribution to the development of adult volunteers. Through his involvement in staff development courses, he has enabled CFAVs from across the Region to gain new skills and qualifications in mountain biking, thereby increasing the capacity and capability of the organisation.

In addition to these considerable achievements, Flying Officer Blackie has recently assumed command of 1248 Prudhoe Squadron Air Cadets. In this role, he continues to demonstrate exemplary leadership and commitment, ensuring the ongoing development and delivery of high-quality cadet experiences at unit level.

Flying Officer Blackie’s dedication, professionalism, and sustained contribution to adventure training, staff development, and squadron leadership reflect great credit upon himself and the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.

Congratulations, Flying Officer Blackie!

03/06/2026

🌟Volunteers' Week 2026 🌟

Squadron Leader Phil Magee, our Wing Sports Officer, tells us about what motivates him to volunteer.

Our volunteers give so much to our organisation, without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Thank you to each and every one of you.

02/06/2026

🌟Volunteers' Week 2026 🌟

At our Wing Presentation Night earlier this year, we celebrated some of our amazing volunteers and their contributions to Squadrons across Durham Northumberland Wing.

Mrs Joyce Parker, Squadron Treasurer for 1409 Consett Squadron - RAF Air Cadets, was awarded a Wing Commander's Commendation for her dedication over many years.

Mrs Parker’s association with the Squadron started through her late husband Flt Lt David Parker who was a former 1409 Sqn cadet, Sqn officer and Officer Commanding. Initially running the sqn canteen she then soon progressed to becoming a full committee member. She briefly held the role of sqn secretary, and has for the last 16 years been the squadron treasurer.

Her service to the committee has been exemplary with the many administrative demands placed on the treasurer, always making sure the F60 accounts and the external audits were carried out annually and on time.

Additionally she has always supported the squadron at bag packing events, coffee mornings and fetes, and ensured that funding was always available to support both small and large scale sqn projects.

Joyce has also been a great support also to the Civilian Committee chairman, Mr John Burdon, and the previous OC Sqn Ldr Keith Gilmour during his 15 years as the officer commanding, keeping their courses both steady and true.

As a church warden of the local Church of England Church in Consett, Mrs Parker she has been pivotal in maintaining a strong relationship with the church and the squadron for Remembrance Day parades, ATC Sunday and the development of the Consett poppy appeal service.

More recently she has arranged for the squadron to use the church hall for sporting events such as archery on a weekly basis with agreement to store sports equipment on site. This has been of great benefit to the sqn to be able to extend the squadron footprint, which is limited and hence offer additional space for the staff and cadets to use.

Mrs Parker’s involvement with 1409 (Consett) Squadron’s Civilian committee spans in excess of 30 years uninterrupted service, and she is most deserving of this Wing Commander’s Commendation.

Congratulations, Mrs Parker!

01/06/2026

🌟Volunteers' Week 2026🌟

We’re proud to be taking part in Volunteers’ Week 2026 – marking 42 years of saying thank you to all volunteers across the UK for everything they do for society.

Today we celebrate Flt Lt Gareth Todd, Officer Commanding 1409 Consett Squadron - RAF Air Cadets and Deputy Wing Sports Officer, as he tells us about why he volunteers.

30/05/2026

🏃‍♀️ Inter Squadron Athletics Competition 🏃🏻‍♂️

Today we saw over 400 cadets and staff from across the Wing head to Monkton Stadium for our annual Athletics competition!

Over the course of the day, we saw our cadets compete across numerous track and field events. Despite the warm temperatures, the effort levels and grit showed by the cadets did not diminish, with a number of Wing records also broken!

A well done to the following Squadrons who walked away as winners of the respective categories:

Under 14 Boys: 404 Morpeth Squadron ATC
Under 16 Boys: 404 (Morpeth) Squadron
Junior Men: 473 Hartlepool Squadron RAFAC
Under 16 Girls: 473 (Hartlepool) Squadron
Junior Women: 404 (Morpeth) Squadron

And a congratulations to the following units who made up our top three:

🥉 1407 Newton Aycliffe Squadron RAFAC
🥈 473 (Hartlepool) Squadron
🥇 404 (Morpeth) Squadron

A number of the cadets who achieved winning efforts, will be called up to represent the Wing at next month’s Inter Wing Athletics event.

A well done to all of the cadets for the efforts today and a massive thank you to our adult volunteers for supporting the event and making it happen! Stay tuned on our social media platforms for further shots of today’s event!

Our next sporting event in the calendar is our rescheduled Wing 5-a-Side Competition, speak to your Squadron staff for more info on how you can get involved!

North Region - Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Regional Commandant North - Air Cadets
Royal Air Force Air Cadets
Commandant Air Cadets

29/05/2026

🌟NEW REGIONAL COMMANDANT NORTH 🌟

We are delighted to introduce Wing Commander Steve Fry as the new Regional Commandant for North Region!

On his appointment, Wg Cdr Fry said:

“It’s an absolute privilege to be appointed as Regional Commandant for the North Region. I’m hugely excited to carry on the great work of Gp Capt Leeming and the team. Working alongside our dedicated full-time staff and the fantastic adult volunteers who give so much of themselves for the nearly 10,000 cadets across the Region will be incredible.”

Please join us in welcoming Wg Cdr Fry to his new role and wishing him the very best of luck! 🚀

Welcome to our fantastic region Sir!!!