Reading Air
Cadets
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Reading Air
Cadets
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Marksmanship
As a cadet, you have the chance to take part in shooting practices. Shooting is a very popular activity, and cadets are given the appropriate training and guidance by qualified staff. Each cadet has the opportunity to fire Air Rifles through to 7.62mm Target Rifles on specially constructed ranges under the supervision of qualified range staff. The most common type of range a cadet will use is the 25m barrack. This is an outdoor range normally located on an RAF station. Other types of range include 25m indoor and gallery long distance range.
Safety is paramount with all ATC activities, and shooting is certainly no exception. Training is an integral part of the system, and each cadet is fully trained in whichever rifle they will be using. Supervising staff are similarly trained to deal with any eventualities and to ensure that the range is run safely and efficiently. All rifles are fired from the prone position (the firer is lying on their stomach) at appropriate targets. The first rifle that a cadet will be trained on is the No.8 bolt action rifle - each round must be fed in manually. The No. 8 rifle is a nice, simple weapon - ideal for training. The sights are simple iron-sights. There is very little noise from the rifle, though ear defenders are always worn when it is being fired. "Dry training" is part of a cadet's initial training, and they are shown the No.8 rifle in detail. They are also taught the commands and practices used on the range, so that the cadet knows exactly what to expect when they take part in a range practice. Only after the cadet has successfully passed the Weapon Handling Test (WHT) will they be taken to the range and allowed to fire.
Onwards and UpwardsCadets over 14yrs old may fire the L98 A1 Cadet GP rifle (L98 A1) The L98 is a modification of an existing design, it is modified from the standard British Forces issue rifle - the Enfield L85A1. It fires the same ammunition as the L85 (5.56mm) but is manually cocked and can only fire one round at a time. The primary difference in operation is that ammunition is supplied in a magazine which is fitted to the rifle rather than loose to be fed by hand each time the rifle is fired. Since the weapon is different from the No.8, firers must be retrained with this weapon and go through dry training and a WHT again before they are allowed to fire. You notice that you are firing higher calibre rounds because it makes a louder noise and gives a more robust kick in your shoulder.
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©381 (Reading) Sqn ATC, 2008 V2007.002
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The
Squadron
