No. 9 Squadron ATC

No 9 Squadron’s first parade was in September 1941. Since then around 2200 cadets have been part of No 9 Squadron and some RSA members will have been cadets in those early years. To the fore of the Squadron is our ATC crest and motto. All cadets learn about this as it underlines who we are.

The heraldic description; A New Zealand Sparrowhawk over a taiaha.

The motto; We Train to Serve.

Reason for Design; The design is intended to represent flight, speed and tenacity – three characteristics which cadets endeavour to attain. The spirit of the service is embodied in the motto.

The squadron has strength of 60 cadets, three uniformed officers, one Under Officer and two civilian instructors.

Bushcraft training is very popular with the Cadets.

On the Wednesday parade nights training includes; foot & rifle drill, bushcraft, map & compass, 1st Aid, small arms safety, leadership, instructional technique. With aviation been an important area to us these classroom lessons have been enhanced and made easier for the cadets to understand this year by the Support Committee purchasing a multi-media projector. Our first year cadets have built a chuck glider during the year and we have also visited RNZAF Base Ohakea on a parade night.

We run 3-4 weekend activities per term to complement the parade night training. This year cadets have been gliding and 5 selected senior cadets flew in an RNZAF Air Trainer. The last range shoot to be held in term 4 will be the annual Parents vs Cadets shoot and there is hope our training and three previous range shoots will assist the cadets to win the trophy. In addition to these activities an inter-unit sports day with local Sea and Cadet Corps Units has been held.

Bushcraft is also an important component of our training, fitting with the aims of NZ Cadet Forces and recently we held our first year cadets basic bushcraft exercise with 26 cadets. Prior to this our senior cadets completed a day walk in the bush to further develop their bush skills and teamwork. In August the NCO’s spent a weekend in Tongariro National Park learning about a different environment and also upskilling before they are responsible for a group of cadets in the bush. Our final squadron bushcraft exercise will be held in Waiouru at the end of October.

Weapons training and Rifle Range firing is an important drill to be learned.

For 3 of the last 4 years No.9 Squadron has won the No.75 Squadron Drill trophy for the ATC Squadrons in Central Area. However, it has been a number of years since winning the National Drill competition, the Davy Drill Trophy. This competition is excellent for the cadets as it is the SNCO’s who run the practices and compose the drill routine, assisting in developing their leadership and organisational skills.

Support is provided to the RSA by the selling of poppies and providing various details at the ANZAC Dawn Parade and Maori Service in Wanganui. In September our other major civic commitment is to the RNZAFA and the Battle of Britain Commemoration Service.

Feedback is provided to the parents and community through 4 newsletters a year and via the Squadron’s web site: www.9squadron.org.nz The site contains information on upcoming events, photo gallery, newsletters, and guest book and there is a link to our friend’s site containing information and photos of our history.

We would be interested in hearing from any RSA members who were cadets of No.9 Squadron to include them in our database or to invite them to be part of the “Friends of No.9 Squadron.” They can contact us through the web site or writing to us at PO Box 560, Wanganui.