999 Dunmow & District Air Cadets have been out and about this past little while - with a number of exciting and poignant events taking place supporting the Royal British Legion and the Remembrance Day services.

First up we spent time in Tesco selling poppies and on the day helped to raise over £700 for the RBL.

The cadets received universal praise from the community for their appearance and behaviour and politeness when approaching the public and selling poppies and other memorabilia.

Saturday, November 9 saw two cadets and staff attend Chelmsford City Racecourse for their annual Remembrance Saturday Raceday event.

Once again we were delighted to support the RBL and their standard bearers and all the other military organisations represented on the day.

We were proud to lay a wreath alongside the other wreaths in front of such dignitaries as Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lt Col Paul Bowen from RAF Lakenheath and many other veterans and associated groups that were represented.

The two cadets both have less than one year's service within the Air Cadets and neither looked out of place with their drill and discipline amongst all the serving personnel.

One comment made to us was "If that's the standard you're teaching your cadets, then they'll go a very long way in life".

Comments like that from people makes all the hard work we put in worth it!

(Image: Dunmow & District Air Cadets) The following day was our most poignant day of the year as we partook in the Dunmow Remembrance Sunday parade at the War Memorial.

Almost all enrolled cadets turned out for the event, highlighting just how important our cadets take services like this.

Again there was nothing but praise from the local community for our young people and Claire, a registered nurse, said "I stood in front of where the cadets were and they looked so proud and smart in their uniforms and it was wonderful to see how well they paraded amongst all the other groups there. Well done to them".

Onto more Drill Hall based news and we held a mini awards night where we gave out over 12 certificates and badges for cadets passing exams.

We also had our new intake almost all pass their drill exam and for those that didn't quite make it, we'll keep working with them until they past.

As they say in other branches of the military 'no one is left behind'.

As a small aside, we have temporarily said goodbye to our Commanding Officer Flt Lt April Fuller who has chosen to take extended leave to concentrate on her business and personal life.

In the interim FS Nigel Thomas and Sqn Ldr Chris Newton have taken command of the Squadron with Fg Off Anthony Thomas assisting the staff and cadets.

Coming up we have various courses and activities our cadets will be attending and then our annual awards night and Christmas social night will take place just before the Christmas break.

If you're interested in joining, either as a cadet or staff member, then please drop us a line to 999@rafac.mod.gov.uk.