Air Squadron Trophy Competition
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The Royal Air Squadron Trophy Competition, also known as the National Ground Training Competition, was created as a way for Royal Air Force sections of the Combined Cadet Force to contest the Air Squadron Trophy.
| Royal Air Squadron Trophy Competition | |
|---|---|
Combined Cadet Force Badge | |
 The Air Squadron Trophy | |
| Nickname | National Ground Training Competition |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Locations | RAF Cosford, Wolverhampton (National finals) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Inaugurated | 1985 |
| Participants | CCF(RAF) Cadets     |
| Activity |
|
| Patron | Royal Air Squadron |
| Organised by | Combined Cadet Force |
| Member | Royal Air Force Air Cadets |
The trophy has been competed for since 1985, when it was awarded to the "year's outstanding CCF(RAF) Section".[1][2] Starting in 1998, the winner of the National Ground Training Competition would be awarded the trophy, marking the beginning of the modern format of the competition.[2] The trophy had originally been presented by the Royal Air Squadron as part of the British Aerobatic Association's annual competition, first contested in 1967. The names of some of the inaugural winners are still engraved on the trophy.[3]
RAF Air Command and the Royal Air Force Air Cadets have recognised the annual competition provides "substantial external profile and value", particularly for the competitive spirit, camaraderie, and experience the competition generates amongst cadets.[4]
Competition structure
Any CCF(RAF) section that can field a full team of 13 cadets, ideally drawn from a wide range of age groups, is able to take part in the competition. The Training, Evaluation & Support Teams (TEST) Officers & SNCOs, who act as a training and support liaison between CCF contingents and the wider RAF,[5] tailor the "composition and conduct" of the six regional competitions to the local needs of their area, held in Autumn or Spring.[2] The first, second, and third placed teams from each of the six regions qualify for the national finals, held at RAF Cosford in Spring each year. The competition involves a round robin of activities that include:
- Space (13 Cadets)
- Drill and Uniform (13 Cadets)
- Command Task (13 Cadets)
- Shooting (4 Cadets)
- Cyber (5 Cadets)
- First Aid (4 Cadets)
More than 230 cadets from 18 different CCF sections took part in the national finals in 2016, after the number of teams qualifying for the national round was increased from two to three per region for the first time.[6] Individual event winners at the national finals, such as in Drill or First aid, are usually invited and given direct entry to the national competition of that discipline within the Royal Air Force Air Cadets or the wider UK Military Cadet Forces in the following year.[7]
In 2025, changes were made to the activities on offer, modernising them inline with the RAFAC Astra campaign.[8] Activities such as the RAF Knowledge quiz and Aircraft Recognition activity were replaced and renamed to Space and Cyber respectively.
Requirements for entry
Each team has 13 cadets: one team captain at a rank of Cadet Corporal or above, and 12 other cadets. The team should represent a "wide cross-section" of age groups from their RAF Section.[2] The Team Captain manages the team and delivers orders in the Drill competition. An RAFAC Officer should accompany the teams to the competition.[2]
Royal Air Squadron Day
The first, second and third place teams are invited to attend the Royal Air Squadron Day which is usually held in June or July each year at the Shuttleworth Collection, a working aviation, automotive, and agricultural collection at the Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire. During the day cadets are offered flights in aircraft belonging to the Royal Air Squadron members. Past aircraft have included Tiger Moths, Dragon Rapides, YAKs, Cessnas, and helicopters.[9]
The cadets also attend a formal parade, where the Captains of the three teams receive the Geoffrey de Havilland Flying Foundation Medals for CCF Achievement along with the presentation of The Air Squadron Trophy to the first placed team. The Sir John Thomson Memorial Sword is also presented on the day to the best overall cadet in the CCF(RAF), along with Flying Foundation Medals to the six finalists of the interview process.[10]