These activities included squad handling, lesson planning and outdoor leadership – all aimed at making us more capable and confident cadets, and ultimately JNCO’s.

From the course I have learnt some valuable skills and plan to utilise them in the future.  Some of these skills are useful in different aspects, for example voice projection (from squad handling) will be useful for addressing large crowds/classes, and presenting skills (lesson planning and delivery) for teaching people and possibly getting a job in the future.

All in all it was a great course and the skills I have picked up are very useful and effective.

Overall No. 41 Squadron managed to field 3 teams in the shooting competition and their respective placing against the other ATC Units nationally are:-

A team – 5th with 430pts
B team – 13th with 369pts
C team – 8th with 400pts

Finally these cadets attained their Marksmanship standard during the competition:-

The aim of this course was to teach us skills to become a SNCO, throughout the course we had to complete 3 terminals which consisted of teaching, leadership and drill. For teaching we needed to do 2 lessons, one a practical and the other a theory. My practical was on knot tying while the other was on map reading.

My next terminal was leadership, we needed to show that we understood the GSMEAC acronym (Ground – Scenario – Mission – Execution – Admin & Logistics – Command & Signals).  Unfortunately it rained all day which made it hard to complete the tasks, but leadership is always fun because everyone works better as a team and the tasks are always fun to attempt.

The final terminal was Drill, we needed to take on the “flight sergeant roll” and take the flight during a parade. The drill was fun but it was difficult to stand through everyone else’s for that long.

After all that we had a ceremony parade which concluded the week, We got told who got top of course and syndicates and we also got to read through our course reports which mine surprisingly wasn’t even that bad.  I also got to go to number 3 squadron and see the NH90 helicopters, we got a tour from one of the pilots and he explained how he got into the RNZAF this showed us the opportunity we all could have.

Seniors not only taught me skills that I can use at cadets but skills and knowledge that I can use in my everyday life, I made many new friends and got taught things I would have never learnt if I never applied for SNCO. I would definitely recommend anyone that has gone on JNCO to apply because it is great fun.

And Sgt Ogilvie was promoted to Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt)

Congratulations to both!

Also promoted from Corporal to Sergeant was Sgt Ngaro:-

Congratulations to both!

Congratulations also to the No 41 (City of Porirua) Squadron B Team who finished 8th with 1094 points.

41 Squadron’s Team A (469pts), B (413pts), C (352pts) and D (275pts) finished 2nd, 10th, 17th and 21st respectively. The A Team was 2nd over all NZCF units and the B team 12th.

We retain the Central Area (The K & P.L. Bolton Rifle Shooting Trophy) and Wellington Region (Sir Richard Bolt Trophy).

UO Fowler (87pts), SGT Ogilvie (82pts, re-qualified) and LAC Rose (83pts) are awarded Marksman with UO Fowler returning the 3rd highest score nationally behind the joint top shots of 88pts.

Congratulations also to T.S Taupo (367pts) for winning the Sea Cadet Trophy.

Good work team!

Mr Leggett’s special words to the parade are recounted below:

“It is very significant that this year’s parade is held on Te Rauaprarha Park in the centre of Porirua. Your Units serve our communities with distinction and therefore you should parade in full view of everyone in the middle of the city of Porirua.

Next year we celebrate our 50th anniversary as a City and I invite each of the Units to think about how you can assist us celebrate. You have been and continue to be vital contributors and servers of the Porirua community so it’s only proper you take part in our City celebration.

The New Zealand Cadet Forces are celebrating 150 years and is the oldest youth organisation in NZ. It comprises of the Sea Cadet Corps, the NZ Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps. It started in Otago in 1864 and today the organisation caters for secondary school aged children. There are currently 99 units around the country with over 3900 Officers & Cadets involved.

As part of the 150th Anniversary the NZCF have participated in a major camp for over 1200 Officers and Cadets at Waiouru in January 2014 where attendees enjoyed challenging activities such as flying, tramping & boating. In August His Excellency the Governor General hosted a Vice-Regal Reception at Government House for the youth leaders. The celebrations culminate with the Parade today which all Units around the country will be involved in within their communities.

Some brief information on the service of our Porirua Units:
- TS Taupo Sea Cadet Unit first paraded in October 1951 and received freedom of the city in 1979
- No. 41 (City of Porirua) Squadron Air Training Corps first paraded in May 1980 and received freedom of the city in 2005
- City of Porirua Cadet Corp Unit first paraded in October 1985 and received freedom of the city in 2014″

During the Parade Kadin Fowler was promoted from the rank of Warrant Officer to Under Officer.

The awarding of the First Class Shot badge follows qualification of the Shooting Competency Badge and the achievement of two scores of 70 or more under Wallingford Competition rules.

Well done LACs.