Solihull air cadet finishes at top after six years of service

Last Sunday, 20-year-old Cadet Warrant Officer Alex Edwards finished as top cadet at Solihull 492 Squadron Air Training Corps after six years of service.

Alex joined Solihull Air Cadets in October 2010 at the age of 14, along with several others, as part of the squadrons regular recruit intake – he was quickly identified as a youngster with ‘the right stuff to go the course’.

He was promoted through the ranks whilst completing academic aspects of the Air Cadet syllabus, passing an Institute of Leadership and Management Level 3 award and achieving his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Alex was promoted in December 2014 to the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer, the highest Cadet promotion available within Air Cadets.

He has led the squadron of 88 cadets through a variety of successes, notably best squadron in Warwickshire and Birmingham in 2015 and second best squadron across the entire of central England region in 2016.

Alex then topped off a successful cadet career by becoming Warwickshire and Birmingham areas best Drill Non-commissioned officer (NCO) in 2016 – a coveted award giving him the honour of parading with the Warwickshire and Birmingham area Drill cane.

On his leaving parade Alex said “Its been an amazing six years at 492 (Solihull) Squadron, I’m so grateful for the opportunities cadets has offered me”.

Alex’s final years saw him assisting Squadron adult staff with various activities, putting all his training in to practise by training younger cadets on and off the squadron including various adventure training expeditions across the UK, allowing other cadets to take part in the activities Alex himself completed several years before.

Solihull Air Cadets commanding officer Flight Lieutenant Elliot Hemes said:: “Alex is a brilliant example of what Air Cadets can offer, after he joined as a 14 year old, he now possesses personal and leadership qualities to rival many adults with twice his experience, he is a true asset to the community”.

Alex will now be spending time during the summer in Ghana, volunteering with a community project, using his locally learnt skills on an international stage. His future aspirations are to return to the Air Cadet Organisation to become an adult volunteer.

If you are aged 12 to 16, or know someone that is, and would like more information on joining Solihull Air Cadets, visit: www.492aircadets.org or call 0121 744 9362.