Sandy Cadets Complete Bronze Expedition

Seven Air Cadets from 22 (Sandy) Squadron recently complete their final Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expeditions, walking a total of 33 kilometres over two days.

On Saturday 16th, the cadets set off in two groups from Little Gransden, walking the first 17 kilometres to the campsite at Bassingbourn Barracks. Despite walking through the rain and mud, the groups managed to meet their checkpoints on time, making it to the campsite before dark, where they set up camp and cooked the evening meals. As the night went on the temperature dropped and the cadet headed off for an early night.

The cadet were up in the early hours of Sunday morning in the cold and damp, packing away camp, and despite some aches and pains, headed for the finishing points 16 kilometres away.

Along the way moral was high, with everyone supporting and helping each other to make every checkpoint on time, and even having enough time for a cooked lunch. The moral was so high that one group even ran the last 100 metres of the expedition. At the end of the weekend the cadets felt like they had achieved something special walking 33 kilometres, after being totally self-sufficient for the two days.

Cadet Simon Parsons (15) said “Even before the weekend I knew it was going to be tough and challenging, but at the same time rewarding. The expedition stretched my limits, but I really enjoyed the whole experience and I can't wait to finish the rest of my bronze award so I can do the silver expedition”.

After finishing the expedition section, the cadets have only three more sections before completing their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards.

By Cadet Simon Parsons