19 Squadron

Big success on the international shooting stage!

Advanced — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:54:40 +0000

Recently, 19SQN were awarded the GOLD MEDAL in the Commonwealth-wide Ffennell shooting competition. This is an amazing achievement! Click the image to be taken to the article on stuff.co.nz where our shooters’ achievements are featured. Check the gallery for a hi-res version of this same image.

Well done team!

Cadet Story – Senior Leaders Course April 2011

Advanced — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:03:17 +0000

In the second week of my holidays, instead of being at home probably doing absolutely nothing, I was up at Tamaki Leadership Centre, a Royal New Zealand Navy base on the Whangapaoroa Peninsula. This was the Northern Area Senior Leaders Course – a Cadet course designed to develop junior NCOs into a higher class of leaders in each of the three corps, The Air Training Corps, New Zealand Cadet Corps and the Sea Cadet Corps.

The week had a lot packed into it, theory lessons and practical exercises on instructional technique, leadership and GSMEAC briefing, parade drill and more. As always, I started off not wanting to be there but as the week went on, I realised I’d made friends and memories I didn’t want to leave behind. My syndicate (the group you’re placed in for all exercises) worked well together – we bonded as a team and had a lot of fun, with help from a couple of games I introduced such as ‘Gidday Bruce’ and ‘One One Two’. And to end with a cliché, In conclusion; a good experience. I left with good memories and great friends; two of the best things in life. And Cadet Forces offers them in abundance (forgive my sentimentality…)

SGT C. Rowe, NZCF
No. 19 (Auckland) Squadron
Air Training Corps

Cadet Story – Helicopter Flying

Advanced — Wed, 04 May 2011 01:21:15 +0000

On the first of May, I got the chance to go up in a helicopter with an instructor from Ardmore. Although I didn’t sit in the front, sitting in the back seat was just as fun. The take off was smooth and the instructor made flying it look like a breeze. As we passed over mountains and houses, he answered all questions we had to ask (while showing off his skills of course) and then the LAC who was sitting in the front even got a chance to pilot the air craft. The instructor showed us all controls and told us what they do before he took control and landed in a flat grassy area by a mountain. While stationary for those brief minutes, he showed us how delicate the controls are and how easy it is to lose control. With that done, we took off into the sky for a second time, and started heading back to the Ardmore grounds. He asked us if we were comfortable with sharp turns and we all absent mindedly said “yes we are” What we didn’t know was how sharp that turn was, and I found myself looking out the window seeing mostly ground. Over all the experience was amazing, and I can’t wait to do it again in 2 years time.

CDT D. Jacinto, NZCF
No. 19 (Auckland) Squadron
Air Training Corps

Cadet Story – Outdoor Leaders & ANZAC parade

Advanced — Wed, 04 May 2011 01:17:52 +0000

People always asked me after every course “What’s the thing I
remember the most”? Usually for me it’s the mess food at every
course, but at this course at Waiouru it was all different.

This course had it all, learning some great navigation skills that
people my age never get. Going on army vehicles that you normally
would see on TV, and of course lets not forget the great mess food
we got, And making some great new friends that we will remember
for awhile. But for me all that doesn’t mean anything compared to
doing dawn parade for the first time and doing it in the bush.

The skies were dark and you can feel and see the dripping of rain
as we stood there on parade. At one point of the parade we had a
moment of silence so we can think and all. I’m not sure about the
others that were on the course, just standing there it felt like I was
there in Gallipoli. Just standing there watching bullets flying passed,
just standing there in the rain. I don’t know about the others on the
course but that morning will stay in my memories forever.

“We Will Remember Them”

FS Z. Sufi, NZCF
No. 19 (Auckland) Squadron
Air Training Corps

Term 2, 2011

Advanced — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:01:00 +0000

First night back for Term 2 will be Tuesday, 3rd May. Please note that this will be a training night for the upcoming sports day, so no uniform – but come dressed for sports!

We have a really exciting training programme ahead of us, starting this weekend 29APR – 01MAY and our bi-annual Flying Camp to be held at Ardmore Aerodrome. The 40SQN Drill competition is also being held this Sunday. Sports day is coming up on the 8th and Proficiency Flight and above cadets will have the chance to interact with other Squadrons again over Queen’s Birthday weekend at the annual Whangaparoa camp. Our Basic Flight will also get their first range-shooting experience later in the term as well.

If you have any questions, please contact your NCOs in the first instance, or send an email via the contact page of this site.

Sports Day!

Advanced — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 02:59:28 +0000

The sports day will held at Mt. Roskill Grammar School on Sunday 8th May 2011.

The first night back at ATC for term 2 (Tuesday, 3rd May) will be a practice for the upcoming AKL-wide ATC sports day. You are not required to wear your uniform on this night, but you will need to ensure you are appropriately dressed to get physical! If the weather is poor, we will still train in the ITC – so come along either way, ready to train.

No. 19 Squadron have won the Sports Competition for 6 years running – let’s keep smashing the record and make it SEVEN!

SQN Flying Camp

Advanced — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:40:33 +0000

Our bi-annual flying camp is happening very soon! We will be heading to Ardmore Aerodrome on 30th April – 2nd May 2011 (this is the last weekend of the school holidays).

For a briefing sheet, please head over to the resources page for a PDF of the info you need. If you have any questions, please contact your NCOs.

SQN Camp – Whatipu

Advanced — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 07:44:43 +0000

Well done to all for another fantastic Squadron Bushcraft Camp – held this year at Whatipu. This was the Basic cadets’ first major camp and Advanced flight’s first taste of being an NCO. Based on observations, it looks like we will have a very strong contingent of NCOs and cadets in the years to come.

Despite a spot of tough weather on Friday (following FGOFF Bainbridge’s comment of “you should try putting these tents up in the rain, you should try putting them up in the WIND!” – 10 minutes following which the heavens opened up and poured for 3 hours straight…) the sun came out and we were able to complete our training programme with no disruption what-so-ever. Lessons were conducted in the glorious sunshine and the night-ex took place under a huge full moon (bright enough to cast afternoon-like shadows when it broke through the clouds!).

All-bar-one activity was completed over the whole weekend, an excellent result given the absolute hectic nature of the 2 day training programme. All-in-all, this camp will go down with the many before it as a very successful one!

For image gallery, click here. If you have any other images you would like to share, please contact PLTOFF Gibson with your images on a USB stick or DVD/CD ready to go.

New 19 Squadron Website

Advanced — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 07:32:02 +0000

Hello and welcome to the new 19 Squadron website!

This site will continue to be your central source of official news for the unit as well as providing the central repository for important information regarding camps, activities and courses.

You will also find that the Gallery is frequently updated with all photos & video from camps and activities. If you have any photos or video that you would like to share and see up on the website, please see PLTOFF Gibson.

Finally, the new site will act as the first port of call for any prospective cadets or parents of cadets. You’ll notice the front page has change to reflect a more informational feel.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact PLTOFF Gibson or your flight commander.

Thanks!