Cadets from Whitworth were honoured to be chosen to represent their squadron at the Greater Manchester parade to mark the 85th Anniversary of the Air Training Corps.
Fourteen-year-old Senior cadets Phoebe Shaw and Henry Eccles, from Whitworth Community High School are both planning a career in the RAF.
On February 8, an anniversary service was held at St George’s Church, Stockport, and afterwards there was a military march of about a mile through the town.
Both Henry and Phoebe said the march was hard on their feet but they felt very privileged to be a part of the ceremony.
Phoebe said: “There were eight or nine cadets from our squadron – 1263 Rochdale Air Cadets represented.
“I spent ages making sure the creases were right in my uniform, moulding my beret and fixing my brassard, a piece of fabric worn on your arm with badges on.
“I felt quote honoured and proud to be there and I was happy to represent my squadron.
“There were meant to be 60 cadets, but there were 107 including the band.”
Henry said: “It was really good to be a part of the celebrations. I was polishing my boots for two hours before the parade
“It felt good to be representing the RAF.”
Phoebe wants to become a fighter jet pilot. Last year she attended a camp when she was one of only six cadets out of the 100 on camp who were selected to fly a plane.
Once airborne, she was given control of the plane and the pilot took her through aerobatics before she gained her Blue Wings.
She is hoping to achieve Corporal status and then become a Flight Sergeant before joining the RAF at 16, after GCSEs.
Phoebe has military family history in the army as her grandmother and her aunt were both in the forces and were in charge of tanks, but she said she had always loved planes.
Henry has just finished his exams to become a Senior in the Air Cadets and he said the exams were a bit tricky.
After high school, he is considering attending a Military Preparation College for Training and then becoming an aircraft technician in the RAF.
Henry said: “I have really wanted to do this career for a few years now. I want to be the person fixing the planes.”
He is also completing his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze.
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