Ely Air Cadets have marked another milestone with a national award.
Cadet Warrant Officer James Munday has completed the most arduous, challenging and longest training course that the Air Cadets offer and one that is seen as the pinnacle crowning achievement that any cadet can achieve known as The Junior Leaders Course.
It has taken seven months of commitment, dedication and resilience, with James attending long weekends as well as week-long intensive leadership and fieldcraft training "interventions" provided by military instructors.
The course is recognised by the Armed Forces as a pre-cursor for aspiring officers and only open to the very best cadets nationally.
From the 46,700 Air Cadets who took the course this year, only 62 cadets passed. This is a rare achievement and the first Junior Leaders award in Ely's Air Cadets history.
James said: "I have been a student on the Junior Leaders course and have recently been living out in the field on the final Test Phase from March 27 to April 5.
"Over the past seven months, myself and every other student of JL Course XXIV have learned, developed and applied our knowledge and skills in leadership, presentation/ briefing skills, fieldcraft and other areas that allowed us to become self-sufficient in the field and be more effective and diligent leaders.
"Junior Leaders has been the most challenging, the most intense and the most rewarding experience that I have ever had the pleasure of doing.
"The seven days spent in the field during Test Phase (and the course as a whole) has tested me both physically and mentally and has taught me more about myself than anything I have previously done.
"After a huge amount of time, perseverance, and hard work, I am proud and privileged to say that I have successfully completed Junior Leaders Course XXIV and have become a qualified Junior Leader and a fieldcraft instructor for my squadron.
"A final 'thank you' to everyone in the Ely Community who supported my fundraiser for the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation, whether you donated, shared or followed its progress; you have helped be a part of the total £26,000 that the students Course XXIV have raised."
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