LEIGHTON air cadet Emily Clark usually has her head in the clouds but, in a novel initiative, the teenager has taken a change of tack and sailed off on an exchange trip with the sea cadets.
Emily, 19, who is a cadet warrant officer at the 1003 Leighton Buzzard Squadron, was given the opportunity to join a tall ship, the brig TS Royalist, which is normally used to train sea cadets.
And she made such an impression that the staff have invited her back to join the crew.
Emily, of Hydrus Drive, has been a member of the ATC in Leighton for seven years. During that time she has tried her hand at shooting, flying, and a range of sports.
Members of the ATC, which meets twice a week at their headquarters in Adastral Avenue, off Stanbridge Road, can work towards qualifications, including The Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and BTec qualifications in aviation studies during their time in the group
In November last year the teenager took her first solo flight in a glider and has taken part in endurance walks.
The Nijmegan Marches, the largest marching event in the world, saw Emily, an assistant events manager at Tilsworth Golf Centre, yomp 100 miles in four days in full uniform, a feat she has completed two years in a row. She has also taken part in the Death March which sees entrants walk more than 60 miles in just 24 hours.
But she recently found her sea legs sailing around the Isle of Wight.
“There’s absolutely no reason for teenagers to be bored these days when the ATC offers them so much to do,” said Emily. “There’s something to interest everyone and most of it is free of charge.
“We have a scheme where we swap with one of the other cadet groups and I was invited by the sea cadets onto the Royalist. There were 25 air cadets many of who had never been on a ship before.
“We arrived on a Friday night and met other members of the team and were talked through the running of the ship. The conditions are very cramped. There’s no chance of being embarrassed. We’re all billeted in very close quarters.
“I was put in charge of the sails at the bow of the ship. The sea was really choppy and lots of cadets were seasick but I earned a distinction for exceptional seamanship and the organisers invited me back to sail as a temporary member of staff. It was a tremendous experience and one I will always remember”
For more information about the ATC go to www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/