Group Captain Roger Simon, Commandant of Wales and West Region RAFAC, has announced the appointment of Paul Roberts as our Region Warrant Officer RAFAC. 

“I am delighted that Warrant Officer Roberts will be joining the Region in this role and I look forward to working with him as he sets about continuing the good work of his predecessor. Whilst it is a pleasure to welcome Warrant Officer Roberts, it will be sad to say goodbye to Warrant Officer Hall as she now concentrates fully on her role as Warrant Officer RAF Air Cadets. She moves on with our gratitude and thanks and leaves behind a strong legacy for her successor to build upon. I hope that all of Wales and West Region will join me in warmly greeting Warrant Officer Roberts”.

Warrant Officer (WO) Paul Roberts joined the RAF Air Cadets in 1998 with 115 (Peterborough) Squadron as a cadet rising to the position of Cadet Warrant Officer.  He continued with the squadron as an adult Sergeant in 2005.  Since then, he has been a staff member on various squadrons, assisting in areas that required it.  He was promoted to Warrant Officer in 2014 then Beds & Cambs Wing Warrant Officer in 2018.

WO Roberts is an adult volunteer with RAF Air Cadets and his career is in engineering, currently working as a senior production engineer for a food processing machine manufacturer.

“I am very excited and honoured to be offering this amazing opportunity,” said WO Roberts.  “I am very much looking forward to meeting many new people and seeing where I can help to enhance the cadet experience.”

Warrant Officer RAFAC Donna Hall, Warrant Officer RAFAC, said: “I have loved every minute of being the Regional Warrant Officer for Wales & West Region.  I wish Paul the same happiness and successes I have seen in the role. Paul brings a wealth of experience and will have a fresh set of ideas for how to continue to drive forwards the role of RWO in Wales & West Region.”

Region Warrant Officers play an important role within the structure of Royal Air Force Air Cadets.  It is a non-commissioned adult volunteer position and sits within a structure similar to the Royal Air Force.  Anyone over the age of 20 years old can become a non-commissioned or commissioned office, as well as becoming a civilian instructor, within the RAF Air Cadets.  It all starts with volunteering at a local Air Cadet squadron and details of the squadrons are available on the main website.

Group Captain Roger Simon, Wales & West Region Commandant

As we seemingly rush headlong into the festive period, I wanted to express my personal thanks to everyone for the remarkable efforts and support you have provided throughout another very challenging year.  Everything you have done, whether undertaking Return to F2F Training preparations, engaging in staff requalification & training, planning & delivering camp and weekend training activities, engaging in recruiting activities, or operating routine cadet activities in a COVD safe environment, everything you do has been highly valued and greatly appreciated.

When I met and spoke with cadets and staff at the Oct Multi-Activity Camp at Altcar or during the Cosford Muster in Sep, the enthusiasm, energy, and enjoyment shown by everyone was tangible.  The opportunities to return to activity and meet with friends old and new have been so welcome and I am glad that cadets and staff continue to report positive recruitment and interest. Virtually all the squadrons and units in the Region have returned to regular activity and I cannot thank you enough for your work to get them fully prepared and ready. I know that it wasn’t an easy task, but I hope that you are now seeing the benefits of that work, the evidence is certainly there to be seen in your social media outputs!

The very recent arrival of a new strain of COVID has the potential to make things complicated again and we don’t yet know what impact it might have on our operations in the coming weeks.  We will continue to monitor developments and especially any changes in MOD or other agencies’ positions.  Until then I ask you exercise care and follow the existing measures and restrictions, taking into account any national variations.

Next year will hopefully see a continued return to a more recognisable period of RAFAC activity.  Plans are in hand to deliver national camps and events, multi-activity camps, AT camps, RIAT, RAF Station camps and more.  Cadets from across the Region will continue to go gliding at the two VGSs that support us, TUTOR AEF has returned and will gradually increase over the coming months and the AGSs remain as busy as ever. Next year will also see the next steps on our RAFAC Astra journey and whilst it will be sad to see Merseyside Wing and some squadrons from Staffordshire and West Mercian Wings leave the Region, we look forward to welcoming Warwick and Birmingham Wing when they join us in due course. The RAFAC Astra work is an exciting opportunity for us to make sure that the RAFAC remains a modern, vibrant organisation properly focussed on growing young people’s potential while fostering an interest in the RAF. This will mean change, but opportunity too, and the coming years will be very important in setting the path for us and our contributions to the Next Generation Air Force of 2040.

I look forward to the coming year, recognising the challenges ahead but also excited by the prospect of you all returning to a fuller range of activities.  I thank you again for your work and support throughout this trying year and the qualities and dedication of our staff (permanent and CFAV) remain as impressive as ever. I hope that you can spend time with families and friends and that your break is restful and peaceful. Stay safe and well and I look forward to seeing you next year.

Diolch yn Fawr

Fel yr ydym, yn ôl pob golwg fel arfer, yn rhedeg yn bendramwnagl tuag at y cyfnod Nadoligaidd, yr ydwyf eisiau cyfleu fy niolchgar personol i bawb am eu hymdrechion rhyfeddol ac y cymorth yr ydych wedi ei roddi drwyddi draw dros flwyddyn heriol arall. Mae pobeth yr ydych wedi ymgyrchu i gyflawni, pryntai ymgymryd a pharatoi i ddod yn ôl i Hyfforddiant Dychwelyd ac i Drefn Wyneb yn Wyneb, atyniadau gan gynnwys ail gymwysteru a hyfforddiant, cynllunio a chyflawni gwersylloedd, ac ymgymeryd a gweithgareddau awyr agored penwythnosol, recriwtio neu a gweithredu gweithgareddau arferol i ac ar ran ein cadetiaid mewn amgylchedd diogel er COVID; tystiaf mae eich hymdrechion yn gymeradwyol ac yn cael ei wir werthfawrogi.

Pan gwrddais a a sgwrsio gyda nifer o gadetiaid a staff yn ein Uwch Wersyll Aml Weithgareddau yn Altcar neu yn ystod ein Ymgynulliad yn Cosford mis Medi, gwelais y brwdfrydedd, yr egni ac y mwynhad a ddangoswyd gan pawb yn wir diriaethol. Mae y cyfleoedd i ddychwelyd i weithgareddau a chwrdd a ffrindiau hen a newydd wedi bod mor groesawgar, a rwyf mor falch fod ein cadetiaid ac ein staff i gyd yn parhau i ymadrodd fod cryn diddordeb positif ynglyn a recriwtio o hyd. Mae mwy neu lai rhan fwyaf o sgwadroniaid ac unedau yn y Rhanbarth wedi gallu ail agor i weithgareddau rheolaidd, ac ni allaf ond fod mor ddiolchgar am eich gwaith i gael ein sgwadroniaid wedi eu paratoi ac yn barod. Rwyf yn gwybod ac yn sicr nad ydyw wedi bod yn dasg hawdd, ond hyderaf ac y gobeithiaf yr ydych i gyd yn gallu gweld y budd y gwaith y rhoeswch i fewn yn y lle cyntaf, mae y tystiolaeth yn sicr i weld yn eich allbynnau cyfryngiadau cymdeithasol!

Mae dyfodiad diweddar o’r straen newydd o COVID gyda’r potensial o allu creu fwy o gymlethdodau, ac yr ydym ddim eto yn sicr sut y gallai cael effaith ar ein gweithgareddau yn yr wythosau i ddod. Fe fyddem yn parhau i fonitro datblygiadau ac yn fwy arbennig unrhyw newidiadu a sefyllfaoedd a ymgymerir gan y Weinyddiaeth Amddiffyn neu a asiantaethau eraill. Hyd nes hynny gofynnaf yn daer arnoch i gymeryd ac ymarfer gofal a dilyn unryw ganllawiau, cyfyngiadau a mesuriadau cyfredol, gan gymeryd i ystyriaeth unrhyw wahaniaethau rhanbarthol a hysbysebir drwy y Deyrnas Gyfunol.

Blwyddyn nesaf gobeithir parhau i weld mwy o gyfnodau o weithgareddau adnabyddadwy gan Awyr Cadetiaid Y Llu Awyr Brenhinol. Mae cynlluniau ar y gweill i gyflawni gwersylloeddfeydd cenedlaethol a digwyddiadau, gwersylloeddfeydd aml weithgareddau, gwersylloeddfeydd Hyfforddiant Antur, RIAT, gwersylloeddfeydd LlAB a mwy. Bydd darpariaeth gleidio i’n cadetiaid gan ein ddau Sgwadroniaid Gleidio Gwirfoddol sydd yn ein cefnogi ar draws y Rhanbarth yn parhau i ffynu, fel fydd hedfan yn ein Hediadau Profiadau Hedfanol yn yr awyren y Grob Tutor yn ail ddechrau yn raddol dros gyfnod y misoedd nesaf i ddod, a bydd ein Sgwadroniaid Hyfforddiant Efelychiad Gleidio Gwirfoddol yn dal i fod mor brysur ac erioed. Yn y flwyddyn nesaf hefyd fe fyddem yn yn gweld y cam nesaf ar ein taith fel Astra Awyr Cadetiaid y Llu Awyr Brenhinol (ACLlAB), ond er fydd yn drist gweld colli Adain Glannau Merswy a rhai sgwadroniaid o Adennau Swydd Sir Stafford a Gorllewin Mercia yn gadael ein Rhanbarth fe fyddem hefyd yn croesawy rhai sgwadroniad o Adennau Warwick a Birmingham maes o law. Mae y gwaith wrth law gan Astra ACLlAB yn creu

cyfleuoedd arbennig a chyffrous i wneud yn sicr for ACLlAB yn aros yn gorff modern a bywiog wedi ei ffocwsio yn ei wir gyfanrwydd i weld a datblygu potensial ein cenhedlaeth ifanc nesaf, gan faethu eu diddordeb yn y Llu Awyr Brenhinol. Golygai hyn bydd angen newid, ond bydd cyfleoedd hefyd ar gael, a bydd y blynyddoedd i ddod mor bwysig yn gosod y llwybr i ni ac ein cyfraniad gwerthfawr i Llu Awyr y Genhedlaeth Nesaf yn 2040.

Yr ydwyf yn wir edryvch ymalen i ddatblygiadau yn y flwyddyn i ddod, yn cydnabod y heriau i ddod, ond hefyd yn wir ymgyffred a chyffrous ar ac am y gobaith i bob un ohonom gael ail gychwyn a dychwelyd i lawnach amrywiaeth o’n gweithgareddau. Diolch yn fawr i chwi eto am eich gwaith ac eich cymorth dros y flwyddyn heriol ddiwethaf ac am eich brwdfrydedd a rhinweddau (pryntai yn staff Parhaol neu yn Wirfoddolydd Lluoedd y Cadetiaid) ac yn aros yn drawiadol fel arfer drwadd a thro.

Gobeithiaf y gallwch cael amser teilwng gyda eich teuluoedd ac eich ffrindiau dros y cyfnod Nadoligaidd, ac yn aros yn un gorffwysol a thawel. Arhoswch yn ddiogel ac yn iach a byddaf yn edrych ymlaen i’w eich gweld eto yn y flwyddyn newydd.

Cadlywydd Rhanbarthol Cymru a’r Gorllewin

Group Captain Roger Simon, RAF, Wales & West Region Commandant, is delighted to announce that Wing Commander Amanda Evans has been appointed Senior Staff Officer (SSO) within Wales & West Region Staff. This role also makes her the first female SSO within RAFAC.

The Senior Staff Officer roles are relatively new posts and have been created to act as the focal coordinating point for the work of Regional Staff Officers in support of Regions’ and Wings’ delivery of the cadet experience.

She is a passionate advocate of the Welsh language which will advance the inclusivity of Welsh speaking cadets and adult volunteers within the Region.

Prior to this appointment, Wing Commander Evans was the Regional Training Officer, supporting the Region’s six wings with the training syllabus and activities. She has also provided liaison with Air Officer Wales, acting as Air Commodore Williams’ Project Officer for a number of Wales-focussed initiatives; the most recent project being the Wales Battle of Britain Competition.

“ We look forward to welcoming Amanda as the Regional Senior Staff Officer. The SSO role is going to be key in the coming months and years as we adjust towards RAF Astra and this is an exciting time to be taking on this new role” said Gp Capt Roger Simon.

Wing Commander Evans started her service in the air cadets 28 years ago, starting as an air cadet at 2318 (Aberkenfig) Squadron before becoming first a civilian instructor and then an Adult Warrant Officer. After four years Wing Commander Evans then became a commissioned officer, taking over the helm at 2318 Squadron as the commanding officer.

From there, Wing Commander Evans was asked to join No 3 Welsh Wing as a Wing Staff Officer and became the Wing Training Officer and Deputy Officer Commanding the Wing. From here, she was selected to become the Wales & West Region Training Officer.

During her time as an adult volunteer, Wing Commander Evans has also been heavily involved in Road Marching, starting out as part of the No 3 Welsh Wing marching team and is now the RAF Air Cadets Road Marching Officer, responsible for road marching policy and overseeing the delivery of the road marching team leaders’ course.

Said Wing Commander Evans: “I am really excited to be given this opportunity to lead the way in our Region – we are in a period of change as ASTRA develops within air cadets. I am proud of the roles during my career in the air cadets as this has helped me to be who I am and to be confident in my new role.”

Born into an English speaking family, Wing Commander Evans’s opportunities in her life meant she took the Welsh speaking path and her current role is as Chief Language Officer with Menter Bro Ogwr, a charity that promotes and furthers the use of the Welsh language in Bridgend County.

At this time, we would usually be lined up in a parade or standing outside of a church or cenotaph, with our highly polished shoes, wearing our poppy and standing proud to take part in the act of Remembrance. However, 2020 has become no ordinary year, so we are making our respects in our own individual ways.

The team of Wales and West Region is working hard – some together, some as individuals- all with the same focus: to raise money and awareness for The Royal British Legion #poppyappeal.

Flight Lieutenant Karl Nicholson, Wales and West Radio & Cyber Officer and Sergeant Luke Ford, the Training Officer for 187 City of Worcester Air Training Corps (West Mercian Wing) are on course to complete 111 miles with a 11kg dead weight in eleven days and aim to finish at 11:00am on the 11th November, the same time when people across the UK will be taking part in the two minutes’ silence.

Their link for donations is: https://bit.ly/2HLrtoI

Several Regional Staff Officers, including Wing Commander Lou Hall (First Aid Officer), Warrant Officer Donna Hall (Region Warrant Officer), Squadron Leader Russ Dowling (Adventure Training Officer) and Squadron Leader Lisa Railton (Shooting Officer) are taking part in the #mypoppyrun and have so far raised £880.

They would like to raise more. One of the links to donate is here:
https://bit.ly/3lceXxd or you can donate to their individual poppyrun pages.

Let’s reflect on why we wear the poppy and take part in Remembrance Day. The poppy is worn as a symbol of memory and hope, for those who gave their lives in battle. The reason a poppy is worn is because, despite years of fighting and destruction of the landscape in western Europe during World War One, as the countryside was used as a battlefield, poppies continued to grow.

As the The Royal British Legion says “Our red poppy is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. Poppies are worn as a show of support for the Armed Forces community. “

“Whether you are running, walking, standing on your doorstep, thank you for being part of Royal Air Force Air Cadets and making today a special day of remembrance,” concludes Wales and West Regional Commandant, Group Captain Roger Simon.