Former King's Lynn cadet reunites with peers after joining RAF

Air Cadets of 42F (King’s Lynn) Squadron were surprised with a visit from their former peer who has recently completed his basic raining for the Royal Air Force.

Aircraftman Ben Carter, from Clenchwarton, formerly Cadet Sgt Carter, attended the unit to reunite with cadets and staff after he “passed out” of basic training at RAF Halton earlier in the month. He spent part of the evening explaining his experiences so far and his next steps.

Ben joined the RAF Air Cadets in 2019 and progressed through the ranks and varied syllabus to gain skills and experiences that would help him in his future career.

Ben developed leadership, teamwork and mentoring skills during his time as an Air Cadet, learning military skills such as drill, discipline and being part of a larger team.

Recently, Ben applied and was accepted into the RAF to train as an aircraft technician.

In September, he completed his Phase One training, which focuses on military life, discipline and teambuilding skills – all of which are vital to a successful career in the Armed Forces.

When asked about his experiences as an Air Cadet, Ben said “I am very grateful for the support and training that was provided to me as an Air Cadet.

"Learning about leadership, self-discipline and teamwork when I was younger put me at a great advantage when applying to the RAF and during my training as I could adapt to the lifestyle.

"I was also comfortable with working as a team with people that I didn’t know thanks to the Air Cadets which made getting to know my colleagues easier.

"I would highly recommend the Air Cadets to anyone considering a career in the Armed Forces or to improve their skill-set for any future career.”

Ben is now looking forward to his next phase of training where he will learn more about his trade and the skills he will need.