Cdt Sgt Masters goes to camp at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus

I have been a cadet for nearly 4 years now and I have been fortunate to do most things that the Air Training Corps has to offer. However, one activity had eluded for the last few years, an Overseas Camp. At the end of 2006 details came through to my Squadron with regards to an overseas camp at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The main difference to this camp as opposed to a UK camp is that it is for 2 weeks. Flt Lt Sermon asked me if I’d like to go and I knew that this was an opportunity not to be missed. Over the next few months I received details regarding the camp and started to prepare all the different types of clothing, uniform and other things that were required. Planning for this camp is essential.

On Wednesday 4th April I set off for London Heathrow – with 5 other Kent Wing Cadets - for the 4-hour flight to Larnaca in Cyprus. It was only when I got to Heathrow I realised how many cadets were coming on this camp and the fact that they were from all over the country. Around 80 Air Cadets (ATC & CCF) were at Heathrow waiting to catch the flight to Cyprus. We left Heathrow mid morning on the 4th leaving the dull cold British weather behind on route to the sunny climbs of the Mediterranean. After 4 hours we landed at Larnaca, and to my delight, it was sunny! After picking up our bags we made our way to the coaches.

It then took about 2 hours by coach to get to the Akrotiri peninsular in the south of the island. When we arrived the station police/drug dog sniffed everyone’s bags and, we went straight into our accommodation blocks. I was put in a room with 13 other cadets. It was then a case of quick food and un-pack before lights out.

The next day consisted of getting up at 05:00 ready to go to breakfast at 06:45 (there were only 5 showers for 40 males, so we had to get up early so we all had time to shower), it was not until the morning that I realised actually how big RAF Akrotiri was; the sheer scale of the base was mind blowing. After breakfast we went through the obligatory briefs, fire, health and safety etc, we also had a brief from the Station 2I/C, which I found very informative. After that it was onto the usual Station FAMEX, we found our way around the station surprisingly easily, and it gave me chance to get to know the other people in the flight.

The camp consisted of a lot of very interesting section visits; we went to Air Traffic Control, Fire Section and Survival Equipment, we also got to visit the Met office and the American squadron that are based there with their U-2 Spy Planes. As well as all the visits, we played some sport, football and rounders. As the camp went on everyone got to know each other a lot better. We went out for dinner a few times to local restaurants, it was very enjoyable for the cadets.

One of the things I found very thrilling was a ride in one of 417 Maritime Troop's Rigid Raider high-powered speedboats. Never before had I experienced anything like that, we jumped the wake of larger boats and the boat was airborne for most of the time, it has a top speed of 37 knots. My first question when I got off it, was how much was it, because, I wanted one for my birthday!

As well as going out in their Rigid Raider we took part in sea survival and abandon ship drills. This was quite frightening I found, we had 3 minutes to put a survival suit and life jacket on. The reason we only had 3 minutes is because that's all the time that ship crews in the Falklands War had to get the kit on before they had to abandon ship because it was going down in flames. At the end of 3 minutes I had both legs in the suit, no life jacket on and the suit was not done up. After being given an extra few minutes to finish getting the kit on, We jumped off into the cold of the Mediterranean and had to swim for shore and I found it very exhausting and frightening.

One of the other things that we did that were popular with all the cadets was to take a flight in an 84 Squadron Griffin helicopter. We walked over to the Griffin, which already had its rotors running, this was quite an experience. We took off for a tour around the Akrotiri base area, the door was open all the time and I was sitting right next to it. This gave me a new slant on the world! I was almost hanging out of the door at times.

As well as all the visits we did a lot of fun things as well. We went on trips out to towns like Paphos, a popular tourist destination, as well as Limassol. As well as visiting those 2 tourist destinations, we also spent the day in Nicosia, whilst there we went to the UN buffer zone between the Greek and Turkish parts of the island. This was a fascinating experience but it was also frightening knowing we were in the middle of a war zone. We were also the first cadet unit/camp to ever visit the UN buffer zone. We also had a tour of what used to be RAF Nicosia and then we spent some time throwing rocks at the UN riot police (they did agree!).

We also took advantage of the on base go karting track, it was another round of comedy sketches as we watched cadets come off the track and disappear off across the grass at full speed. We spent many evenings doing various things as well. We had a number of discos whilst on camp and we also went bowling and we also visited the on-site beach and most of the cadets experienced the thrill of banana boating. As well as this, we also spent the day at a Water Park, which was great fun. We also watched a display by the world famous Red Arrows as they did a performance just for the cadets and staff of the camp.

The Cyprus camp is one of the most rewarding camps to go on as both a cadet and a senior NCO and is definitely the best camp that I’ve ever attended. We did a lot of serious hard work in the mornings, what with section visits, and drill and other things, but come the afternoon it was time to play hard too. The combination of Sun, Sea and excellent facilities for every kind of activity gave way for some serious fun. Everyone was able to take part in the wide range of activities on offer. It would also not be complete to talk about the Cyprus camp without mentioning the hard work of some of the staff that came with us, especially the 2 regular RAF Sergeants (who were part of the CCF), who did a lot to keep us occupied and make sure we enjoyed our stay in Cyprus.

Now that I have been on a Cyprus camp I feel that I have now tried nearly everything the ATC has to offer and I am extremely happy to have been on such an amazing camp, I think the sad expressions on everyone's face as we drove out of the gates of RAF Akrotiri for the final time showed just what that camp had meant to us all, and what incredible memories we had been left with not to mention the great new friendships that we had formed during our stay. I think if any cadet came to me and said, "is it worth paying the money to go to Akrotiri?" I would most certainly say YES and, "take me with you".

Sgt Masters