Sea cadets continue to fly high

Kettering Sea Cadets continued to strengthen their affiliations with the Fleet Air Arm by hosting Captain Mark Garratt Royal Navy, Commanding Officer Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose at their Burgee efficiency award day. 

‘Training Ship 800 NAS’ ( 800 NAS SCC) proudly have the name of the last Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm fixed wing fighter squadron who were decommissioned in 2011.

“We remain extremely proud of our strong links with the Fleet Air Arm”, said Lieutenant (SCC) Marc Pether RMR, Commanding officer of 800 NAS. “It’s a great honour to be able to host the Commanding Officer of HMS Seahawk. We aim to ensure that every cadet gains the most from attending our Unit activities, and that they acquire lifelong practical skills to take them forward and a sense of self-discipline and pride in what they can achieve.” 

The Kettering Sea Cadets are distinctive as the only Unit with a Fleet Air Arm cap tally and in addition to strong traditional ties with Naval Bases in Portsmouth and Plymouth can boast links to Royal Naval Air Stations at Yeovilton and Culdrose. Amongst the usual Sea Cadet activities of boating and Seamanship skills, they also take on airborne pursuits and even look at air engineering aspects as well, visits to the Naval Air Stations. 

This also includes a new affiliation, 14 Cadets Visited 736 NAS following their return from Cougar 14 in which they had the opportunity to speak with Pilots and view the Hawk T1 flown by the Squadron.

 “Sea Cadet Units was established in 1854; created by communities wanting to give young people instruction on a naval theme. The tradition of community based Sea Cadet Units continues today with 400 across the country, each with charitable status enabling them to raise funds. All Units are members of the Sea Cadet Corps and are governed by the national charity, ‘The Marine Society & Sea Cadets’ (MSSC). Their core purpose is to celebrate Britain's maritime heritage and contribute to its future development by supporting young people as Sea Cadets. 

Presenting the Unit with a prestigious ‘Sea Cadet Burgee’ for the year in recognition of continued development of the Unit and Cadets, Captain Mark Garratt Royal Navy, was impressed by the facilities and friendly atmosphere at the Unit.