Mirfield Air Cadet Kiara’s top nomination

Two years ago, Kiara Baillie, completed an amazing double by being selected by Wing Commander Brian Daniel, Officer Commanding South and West Yorkshire Wing ATC, as the Wing’s nomination for the annual national competition to find the year’s best cadets, for two years running! Now she has topped that with not only a third nomination as the representative for the Wing, but also gaining the selection to be the representative for North Region Air Cadets.

Cadet Warrant Officer Baillie was put forward by her Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell who said: “Kiara is an extraordinarily accomplished and competent young lady, who thoroughly deserves this accolade; she has achieved so much during her time as a cadet.”

In this difficult time, of course, we have no face-to-face activity for the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, so Kiara was required to attend a ‘virtual’ interview over a video link. As part of her interview Kiara had to make a short presentation about her life and experience as an air cadet to the interview board, headed by Regional Commandant North, Group Captain Mark Leeming.

A short presentation was no easy task because of the vast array of qualifications and experience Kiara has managed to accumulate in her six years as a cadet:

○ Promotion to Cadet Warrant Officer

○ International Air Cadet Exchange to Australia in 2019

⦁○ Air Cadet Pilot Scholarship – training to solo flight standard in a light aircraft

○ Gold level Duke of Edinburgh Award

○ Completion of Air Cadets Junior Leaders Course, now help to deliver subsequent courses

○ St John Activity First Aid qualification

○ Captain of her squadron’s first aid team: winners of both South & West Yorkshire Wing and North Region competitions, and competitors in the national competition

○ South & West Yorkshire Wing Sportscadet of the Year 2017

⦁○ Fieldcraft Instructor

○ Cadet Drill Instructor course

○ Requested by Regional Commandant North to be one of two cadets, nationally, to deliver a presentation to AOC 22 Group at the Royal Air Force Air Cadets Formal Inspection

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