(Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance)Qualified Weapons InstructorPresentation& Graduation Day<strong>The</strong> intensive Qualified WeaponsInstructor (Intelligence Surveillance& Reconnaissance) course beganin January......with enthusiastic studentsarriving at RAF Waddingtonfrom across Defence and as farafield as California. <strong>The</strong> studentswere drawn from Air BattlespaceManager, Intelligence Officer, RNAircrew, Army, USAF IntelligenceOfficer and RAF Aircrew Branches.Over the next 7 months thestudents were uniquely trainedas ISR leaders and tacticians,demonstrating extensive ISRknowledge during the numerousexams. <strong>The</strong>y demonstrated skillsthroughout the Direct, Collect,Process, Disseminate (DCPD)process and across the J2/3/5/6domains, both academically andpractically during demandingABTC exercises and at Ex CQWI.During the course they were posedtwo challenging research topicsby Army ISTAR and the MaritimeWarfare Centre and identified somesignificant issues and potentialsolutions that could mitigatethese problems both in the nearand longer term. <strong>The</strong> syndicatepresentations are their opportunityto share these thoughts andshowcase themselves to aninfluential audience fromacross the ISR domain.Despite being only the 4th QWI(ISR) course to graduate, such isthe profile of the course and thesuccess of previous graduatesthat the audience included AOCNo. 1 Gp, AVM Atha. Followingthe presentations the AOCshared his thoughts on theircontent and offered a welcomeinsight into the shape of ISR inthe years to come. <strong>The</strong> covetedQWI patches were awardedby Commander Joint ForceIntelligence Group, BrigadierDavies; whose organisation isat the very heart of UK DefenceIntelligence modernisation.<strong>The</strong> new graduates take theirplace amongst the elite of ISR,with posts contributing toISR Operational effect in suchdiverse locations as Afghanistanand Colchester. In addition tothe coveted patch, graduatesalso have the opportunityto enrol for the MSC in ISRManagement, this collaborativeprogramme in associationwith Lincoln University createsthe framework for civilianaccreditation of this uniqueMilitary course. Graduates arerequired to produce a researchframework, an essay and adissertation to complete the MSc.Course 5 will commence inJanuary 2014, with 12 willingvolunteers selected.An exciting day’s cricket on 14 Aug13 at RAF Vine Lane, Uxbridge, sawRAF Waddington clinch the RAFT20 Cup from RAF Lossiemouthand RAF Odiham.Having won the RAF T20 Cup forthe 4 previous years, Lossie arrivedas favourites and were confidentof extending their hold on the title.However, after an early flight, theywould need to maintain focus inorder to deliver on their potential.Conversely, Waddington were thein-form team, enjoying an excellentregular season and lying second inthe league. A quiet self-assurednesspervaded the team – all were eagerto bring silverware to Lincolnshire.RAF Odiham made up the trio (thesame three sides as last’s final day).Odiham had some good playersand were certainly capable ofan upset.<strong>The</strong> early match was RAFLossiemouth vs RAF Odiham. <strong>The</strong>low scoring match set the tone forthe day, as Lossie only managed 104all out. Odiham’s response startedbriskly, as they were keen to chasethe total quickly. A bright startsoon fell foul of some audaciouslyattacking strokes. <strong>The</strong>y succumbedto 63 all out, a loss of 41 runs.Lossie, now on the victory march,were keen to claim the title byputting Waddington to the sword.Fortunately, Waddington hadother ideas.<strong>The</strong> second match of the day sawRAF Lossiemouth clash with RAFWaddington. Lossie batted first.<strong>The</strong> top order was keen to batthrough and marshal the team toa good score. However, they failedto capitalise on a good base to theirinnings, crawling toward a total of96-3. Waddington bowled well(Corporal Lee Griffiths 1-7 from 4overs, Sergeant Rob Buckley 1-10from 4 overs) and kept it tight inthe field. Waddington took tothe total in aggressive fashionand Lossie were soon punishedfor their small total. SergeantStuart Fraser-Cattanach was themain Waddington protagonist,bludgeoning a rapid-fire 47 toensure Waddington achieved agood run-rate in addition to totalvictory and winning by 7 wkts inside14 overs.<strong>The</strong> final match of the day turnedout to be the best. Waddingtonneeded to win to claim the title –Odiham had disappointed in theirfirst game but were keen to restorepride. Waddington elected to batfirst, hoping to set a commandingRAF Waddington Cricket Team RAF T20 Winners 2013:Back Row (left to right): Chas Gimenez (President), John Dawson, Mat Haisman(OIC), Mark Lamper (Secretary), Paul Keymer, Lee GriffithsFront Row (left to right): Alan Cowdale (Dep OIC), Craig Reilly, Stuart Fraser-Cattanach (Vice-Capt), Rob Buckley (Capt), Ryan Watson (Treas), Jaime GreenRAF WADD<strong>IN</strong>GTON ENDRAF LOSSIEMOUTH T20 DYNASTYtotal for the fragile Odiham battingline up. Unfortunately, despitegood performances by LanceCorporal Craig Reilly (24), SergeantFraser-Cattanach (24) and CorporalGriffiths (23), Waddington mustereda below-par 114. Odiham losttheir Captain (C Thomas) andbest batter in the first over to theoutstanding Waddington CaptainSergeant Rob Buckley (1-13 from 4overs). However, the other openerSenior Aircraftman Neil Langhamwas progressing the total nicely.Eventually succumbing on 36,the foundation was set for a goodchase. Waddington had other ideas.Senior Aircraftman Ryan Watsonwas reintroduced to the attackand bowled superbly well underpressure to produce arguably thebowling performance of the day.He took an important three wicketsat the death to deny Odiham theironly victory of the day and confirmWaddington as RAF T20 victors.Special note should go to StuartFraser-Cattanach, who was awardedthe Player of the Day Trophy byGroup Captain Reaves, RAFCAChairman. He complemented hisunique brand of aggressive battingwith two wickets and a resoluteperformance in the field.RAF Waddington have also reachedthe Final of the RAF Cricket Cupwhich is due to be played at RAFVine Lane on Mon 2 Sep 13; areport will follow for that event, indue course.Captain Paul Keymer, 5(AC) Sqn38 <strong>Insight</strong>MAGAZ<strong>IN</strong>E
It was “wheels-up” of a differenttype on the runway at RAFWaddington on Friday 16thAugust as Ex-RAF RegimentGunner Sean Allerton (48)completed the next stageof his PUSH 500 CharityWheelchair Challenge.Push(another) 500!Following a motorcycle crashnearly 20 years ago, Sean fromSherburn-in-elmet, near Yorkwas left a tetraplegic and is nowconfined to a wheelchair.Inspired by the news that <strong>The</strong>Proclaimers had become patrons ofthe Forgotten Heroes Charity, Seanset himself a 500 mile wheelchairchallenge which he successfullycompleted in March of this year.Not one to rest on his laurels Seanhas set himself another 500 milechallenge, 3 miles of which hecompleted on a loop of the airfieldat RAF Waddington on Friday.Sean said:“As a recipient of thesupport of the RAF Charities I’mable fully appreciate just howmuch of a difference they canmake to the life of someone whoneeds it. I hope you can sponsormy efforts which provides vitalfunds for them”.Sean was joined on his challengeby several of his supportersincluding personnel from8 Force Protection Wing RAFWaddington who regularlyprovide specialist forceprotection capabilities at Bastionand Kandahar Airfields, membersof the Yorkshire University AirSquadron who have supportedSean throughout his challenge,and an RAF Waddington PhysicalTraining Instructor (PTI) CorporalOllie Loak. Keen to experiencethe challenge as Sean does, hissupporters completed part ofthe course in wheelchairs.When he’s not too busy raisingmoney for Charity Sean canbe found flying, a hobby he’srecently discovered and excelledat. Having been given a flyingscholarship for disabled peopleSean is now an accomplishedsolo pilot.More info can be found atwww.push500.com/the-challengeTo donate please go towww.push500.com/sponsor<strong>Insight</strong>MAGAZ<strong>IN</strong>E 39
Change language