Cadet Warrant Officer Jeremy Page from 1284 Sqn. Tenby, has recently completed the in service Royal Air Force flying scholarship awarded through the Air Training Corps. The selection was tough with only four places available out of 39,000 cadets in the Corps.

CWO Page was successful passing interviews and his CV impressed the board for his achievements in and out of service.

He was then sent to Royal Air Force Cranwel, Lincolnshire to the RAF central flying school; this is where the cream of the RAF pilots are trained to become instructors. Jeremy flew the new Grobe Tutor aircraft which recently replaced the Bulldog, his instructor was an ex Vulcan Nuclear bomber pilot Group Captain Lawry.

The course was intense with an extremely diverse syllabus modelled on the elementary flying course done by all RAF pilots before being streamed to fast jets, multi-engine or rotary aircraft.

The syllabus included air navigation with a 300 mile land away, low level flying, general handling tight turns stall recovery, sequencing an aerobatics display and performing it to the crowd line and much more... there were also ground lessons on meteorology, air navigation, aircraft performance and instruments.

A typical day would include up at six, two flying sorties a day with briefs and debriefs, physical training gym, running, swimming, then preparation for next day going through the 120 memorised aircraft checks or flight planning.

Every day was different and exciting, packed with activities such as go-karting, paint balling, flight in jet streams, to section visits, air traffic control, flight operations, college hall, military exercises, air crew selection and swimming tests. Jeremy also gave the time he had left in assisting the staff of the ATC summer camp from Surrey in running activities.

The evening would usually finish down the base's bowling alley or pizzeria for refreshments. Jeremy made many friendships, built a close rapport with his instructor and met many interesting people such as the station commander and pilots who flew in the Gulf and all shared their stories and experiences happily with Jeremy whilst in the crew room.

Every sortie was closely monitored and graded depending on performance; Jeremy maintained a very high standard of general handling and airmanship and scored high above average in every criteria. His previous pilot experience in gliders and air experience flying assisted him greatly.

At the end of the two-week course Jeremy gained a level far beyond that of solo and was awarded his wings with an excellent detailed report to add to his CV.

Jeremy describes his two weeks as "the most incredible experience of his life." He is now entering his second year of his sports science degree at the University of Glamorgan.

Currently he's applying to join the University Air Squadron at RAF St. Athan. He will then enter the RAF as a graduate and hopes to join a front line Squadron as a fast jet pilot flying the Euro fighter.

All expenses were paid by the RAF and was made possible through the Air Training Corps. If anyone would like to know more about the great opportunities that the air training corps has to offer pop in to the headquarters at Tenby train station on parade nights Wednesday or Friday, at 7-9.30 pm. All welcome.