Promotion Board - to Cadet Corporal

On the 22nd July 2008, 5 cadets aged 15-16 were given the opportunity to apply for the rank of Cadet to Corporal. Cadets Ranson, Cunningham, Hallam, Whitehouse and Britton had an interview to prove whether they have what it takes to become a good NCO. Waiting for their interview tension grew, as they all wanted it so much, not knowing how many of them were going to be promoted. Cadet Cunningham was quoted as saying: "I felt really scared waiting for my interview as I didn’t know whether they thought I was going to be good enough or not. But I was really pleased the interview was over because I gave it my best because I knew that I had the potential to give it my all." One by one the cadets were called into the OC Flt Lt P. Bannister’s office to await himself, Flg Off G. Fowler and WO G. Tinsley, they were asked a series of questions about themselves, their input into the ATC and how they saw themselves being able to be an NCO. In the interviews the staff had to decide what positive and negative aspects each cadet has and how they could build on that so the cadets would become better cadets in the near future becoming an NCO.

Not knowing how many they were going to promote that night, some cadets were worried that they thought they didn’t do such a good job in their interview. Cadet Hallam told us how her interview went; "I had prepared myself for a few questions, but they were not the questions that I had been asked. However, I gave it my all, and I thought I couldn’t of said much more to give a positive view of myself, to the staff." The staff had a hard decision deciding who they thought would make the better Corporals. They were so stuck on who they thought had more potential to be a good NCO and role model for the other cadets, that all 5 of them we promoted the same night. Now the 5 new Corporals are settling to their new role, seeing how much work the NCO put in to the Sqn and finally being able to put something back in the Sqn.

Cpl Cunningham