BY FLT LT ERICA VEY
———————
Three lucky cadets from 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron have recently returned from attending the Central & East Region overseas camp at Joint Headquarters (JHQ) Rhiendahlen in Germany.
Corporals Matthew Woodward (15), Douglas Johnson (16) and Henry Wisdom (16) enjoyed an action packed week and Corporals Johnson & Wisdom had the added bonus of using the camp as their gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award residential project.
Established in 1954, JHQ Rheindahlen is situated in Monchengladbach North Rhine-Westphalia and serves as the main headquarters for British forces in Germany.
After arriving following a flight from Stansted airport, the camp saw forty-eight cadets from around the region enjoy a busy week. No blue uniform was required – it was DPMs, sports kit or civvies only. Activities included L98 shooting, a DCCT detail, go-karting, visit to a movie park, sports, a visit to 12 Flight Army Air Corps, bowling, high ropes course, a drill competition, Rhine Army workshop and visits to various towns. In addition the cadets also visited Arnhem cemetery, Soesterberg museum and Arnhem Bridge.
Cpl Henry Wisdom who was attending his first overseas camp said ‘Rheindahlen was an absolutely fantastic camp. It was great to meet so many different cadets and to do all the amazing activities we did in such a short space of time! My favourite moment was the drill competition where we had been told to do a continuity drill sequence. We practiced all week but secretly taught everyone the dance routine to Soulja Boy and did that for the competition instead!’