A Birstall Air Cadet has been nominated for the ‘Dacre Sword’ – the most prestigious award in the RAF Air Cadets.
Air cadet Flight Sergeant Morgan McCaffrey attended an interview on April 18, competing for a place to become the nomination to represent the Central and East Region for the most prestigious award in the RAF Air Cadets – ‘The Dacre Sword’.
The Dacre Sword is an annual competition to identify the best cadet in the Corps, the final round of interviews will be in a “Dragon’s Den” style scenario held at RAF College Cranwell.
To achieve this, a personal statement and a record of achievements and events throughout his service in the cadets, including a reference from the Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant, Sarah Mayoh-Smith, 1947 (Birstall) Squadron was submitted. Wing Commander Carl Wilson, South & East Midlands Wing, was fully supportive of his application and it was submitted as one of only two cadets from the Wing.
Morgan, who is currently sitting A-levels in maths, further maths, physics and computer science at Beauchamp College, Oadby, said he was delighted to have been selected.
“It’s a real honour to have been selected from all of the cadets who have applied. I know that the competition was fierce and I’m immensely proud to be the first cadet from Birstall to be nominated,” said the 18-year-old, who has been a cadet for six-and-a-half years.
Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant Sarah Mayoh-Smith added that she was also incredibly proud of Flight Sergeant McCaffrey’s nomination.
“It’s not only an achievement for Morgan, but for the entire Squadron,” she said. “To have our first cadet to achieve this nomination is something of which we can all be very, very proud”.
