Arnold pupil is a leader of distinction

This summer, Michael John (MJ) Phipps, a leading NCO in our RAF section, was asked to attend the prestigious RAF Air Cadet leadership course at RAF College Cranwell. The week long course consisted of a series of physical and mental tests, and MJ was part of a team of cadets who took part.  

The idea was to put the cadets into conditions of extreme tiredness and then to test their mental and physical capacities to make effective decisions and work well with others. By the end of the week each cadet in the flight would be assessed on a task which they had led and their achievement scored. MJ not only passed but achieved a distinction, only the second pupil ever from Arnold to achieve such a result. The other, Philip Hardisty, now flies as a pilot for BA out of London Heathrow.

To achieve such a result says a lot about MJ and augurs well for his chosen career path in medicine. The picture below shows MJ with his flight at the graduation ceremony outside RAF College Cranwell. MJ is third from the right on the front row. When asked about the course he said: "It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I felt I had achieved a lot. I’ll never say I’m too tired to get something done in future!"

Posted by: J R Davey
Date: Friday 10/09/2010

  • Arnold pupil is a leader of distinction