Catalina Cup – and the winners are…
6 WING’S TOP SQUADRON, Part 2
“Who will be 6 Wing’s top squadron for 2017”?
That’s the question everyone in South Australia was asking in the lead up to this year’s Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
CAPTION: No 6 Wing salutes their Officer Commanding during the Catalina Cup Trophy Parade (in sequence, left to right): Cadet Under Officer Aaron Musk (Parade Commander), Cadet Under Officer Tahlia Sawtell (Adjutant, obscured), Cadet Warrant Officer Jack Lemar (Parade Warrant Officer), Cadet Under Officer Kyle Roberts (Commanding No 1 Squadron, obscured) and Cadet Warrant Officer Kelsey Wurfel (Squadron Warrant Officer, No 1 Squadron). Image by Pilot Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig
Cadets from the various squadrons lived on base at RAAF Edinburgh for the weekend, providing a rare opportunity to build the camaraderie which they will carry with them onto other Wing activities and promotion courses.
The Catalina Cup is awarded to the champion squadron within No 6 Wing with the highest aggregate score of all competitions held over the weekend. The 2017 Catalina Cup competition included the usual activities, plus a new Teamwork and Leadership Competition.
On ‘Green Day’ (Saturday) the squadron teams competed in the shooting, fieldcraft and leadership activities – see results here.
Then on ‘Blue Day’, the squadron teams took to the parade ground in their Service Dress uniform for Flight Drill and Freestyle Drill performances.
Other components included the academic assessments of Aviation, Aircraft Recognition and Service Knowledge.
Pilot Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig, 6 Wing Public Affairs & Communication Officer, said “The activity included ongoing assessments of dress and behaviour, giving squadrons the opportunity to showcase their talents”.
Activity Coordinator, Wing Warrant Officer for No 6 Wing, Warrant Officer (AAFC) Henry Bell, particularly thanked those who made the competition possible: “Senior cadets and staff filled the many assessor and support roles, and their assistance is very greatly appreciated”.
In particular, Cadet Warrant Officer Kelsey Wurfel (601 Squadron) and Cadet Warrant Officer Jack Lemar (602 Squadron) were responsible for drawing up the Wing parade format which saw the competing squadrons of No 6 Wing on parade for the presentation of the various trophies by the Officer Commanding No 6 Wing, Wing Commander (AAFC) Peter Gill.
Parade Commander was Cadet Under Officer Aaron Musk (604 Squadron) – Adjutant was Cadet Under Officer Tahlia Sawtell (605 Squadron) – and Cadet Warrant Officer Jack Lemar was the Parade Warrant Officer.
Teams were formed up in two squadrons, commanded by Cadet Under Officers Kyle Roberts (609 Squadron) and Samuel Mach (622 Squadron).
Blue Day results:
Inter-Squadron Drill Competition
No 605 (City of Onkaparinga) Squadron
Freestyle Drill Competition
No 605 (City of Onkaparinga) Squadron
Aviation Competition
No 601 Squadron (Keswick Barracks)
Aircraft Recognition Competition
No 604 Squadron (Hampstead Barracks)
Service Knowledge Competition
No 604 Squadron (Hampstead Barracks)
And 6 Wing’s top squadron for 2017?
Congratulations to the competition team from 609 Squadron (Warradale Barracks) led by Cadet Sergeant Zachary Clarke. Not only did the 609 Squadron win the Wing Fieldcraft Competition trophy for the second year in a row, but through their consistent performance across all the disciplines they came away as the highest placed team overall, winning the 6 Wing Catalina Cup for the second consecutive year.
Cadet Sergeant Zachary Clarke from No 609 Squadron (Warradale Barracks) receives the 2017 Catalina Cup Trophy from the Officer Commanding No 6 Wing, Wing Commander (AAFC) Peter Gill. CSGT Clarke’s team also won the Wing Fieldcraft Competition, for the second year in a row. Image by Pilot Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig
Cadet Sergeant Luke Talbot from No 601 Squadron (Keswick Barracks) receives the Wing Aviation Competition Trophy from the Officer Commanding No 6 Wing, Wing Commander (AAFC) Peter Gill. Image by Pilot Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig
Cadet Sergeant Michael Santos from No 604 Squadron (Hampstead Barracks) receives the Wing Service Knowledge Trophy from OC 6 Wing, after winning the Service Knowledge Competition for the second year in a row. The 604 Squadron team also won the Wing Aircraft Recognition Competition. Image by Pilot Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig
Cadet Sergeant Christian Custodio from No 605 (City of Onkaparinga) Squadron receives the Teamwork and Leadership Competition Trophy from the OC 6 Wing. CSGT Custodio’s team also won the Inter-Squadron Drill Competition and the Freestyle Drill Competition. Image by Pilot Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig
Cadet Sergeant James Marchant from No 622 Squadron (Murray Bridge) receives the 6 Wing Perpetual Shooting Trophy from the OC 6 Wing. Not only did CSGT Marchant’s team win the .22” Long Rifle Team Shooting Competition, but CSGT Marchant himself was the Champion Shot for No 6 Wing. Image by Pilot Officer (AAFC) Paul Rosenzweig
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The Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) is a youth oriented organisation which operates in a military and aviation environment. For recruitment enquiries in South Australia and Mildura pls contact:
paco.6wg (at) aafc.org.au