The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A Spalding air cadet is celebrating after off fighting stiff competition to complete a specialist aerospace course.
Cadet Sergeant Jordan Bertolaso (18) was selected to take part in the Qualified Aerospace Instructors Course (QAIC), which is notoriously difficult to get chosen for.
He was selected as one of 40 cadets from more than 300 applications to take part in the course.
A member of the 1406 (Spalding) Squadron Air Cadets, he was invited to travel to RAF Linton-on-Ouse, near York for his selection weekend.
“I was ecstatic that I had passed selection and would continue with the course,” he said.
He travelled to the station once a month for intensive working weekends.
From September through to March he built on his knowledge and developed skills to teach others.
In April his cohort and the other 20 from a different base gathered for a week of tests.
Part of the process included a 40 minutre presentation based around Remotley Piloted Aircraft Systems.
His presentation was selected as one of the top four from the course.
He successfully graduated and was awared the highly-prized blue lanyard as a result.
Jordon will now assist in the running of regional aviation courses, help at Aerospace Camp and possibly at future QAI courses.
“I have developed a plethora of skills that I will be able to use to teach and grow in other cadets in a subject that I am very fond of. I have seen an improvement in my skills,” he said.
Alongside the course the cadets also completed an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 2 qualification in teamwork.
“I cannot recommend the course enough,” said Jordan.
