17 September 2019

The RAF Leadership Residential was an incredible week of activities at Gilwell Park, combined with a trip to RAF Benson. The week begun with a day of team building activities including raft building and high ropes, which quickly allowed us to get to know each other. Additionally, we took part in a pioneering course and built items including a swing and a table out of only bamboo and string.

On Wednesday we had the amazing opportunity to visit RAF Benson and discover what it is like to be an engineer in the RAF. One part that was particularly interesting was seeing the flight simulators and learning about some of the unbelievable technology that was implemented in them. Being able to go inside a Puma helicopter was really exciting, and I’m sure I was not the only one riveted by learning about the complexities surrounding the helicopter blades.

Thursday came with a beautiful hike, followed by a huge bonfire in the evening, a highlight for many of us. Several of the other evenings during the week were spent completing and learning about the SDI motivational system and how we react in different situations. I found this exceptionally useful in gaining a greater understanding of myself as it was incredibly accurate.

Overall the week was an unforgettable whirlwind of activities and learning which significantly improved all our leadership skills. I think it is safe to say that many of us will now be considering a career in the RAF having experienced such an amazing week.