A former RAF air cadet from 2443 (Okehampton) Squadron has graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps after completing officer training.

Joe Manners, formerly a cadet warrant officer, recently completed 44 weeks of training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He will now attend RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, the main centre for joint helicopter training in the UK and home to No. 1 Flying Training School. The school trains aircrew for the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force. After completing his training, Joe will be assigned to fly either the Wildcat or Apache helicopter.

At a recent visit to 2443 Squadron, Joe presented badges of rank and shooting achievement badges for marksmanship skills to seven cadets.

L-R: Second Lieutenant Joe Manners and current Officer Commanding 2443 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Dave Wilkinson
L-R: Second Lieutenant Joe Manners and current Officer Commanding 2443 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Dave Wilkinson (Submitted)
L-R: Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Corporal Nathanial Bales
L-R: Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Corporal Nathanial Bales, promoted to sergeant (Submitted)
L-R: Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Corporal Felicity Pahdi
L-R: Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Corporal Felicity Pahdi, promoted to sergean (Submitted)
L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Cadet Lacey Adams, promoted to corporal
L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Cadet Lacey Adams, promoted to corporal (Submitted)
L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Cadet Lacey Adams, promoted to corporal
L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Cadet Lacey Adams, promoted to corporal (Submitted)
L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Corporal James Huyton receiving the Gold Crossed Rifle badge
L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Corporal James Huyton receiving the Gold Crossed Rifle badge (Submitted)
L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Flight Sergeant Liv Walker receiving the Gold Crossed Rifle badge. It was also her last parade with 2443 Squadron.
L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Flight Sergeant Liv Walker receiving the Gold Crossed Rifle badge. It was also her last parade with 2443 Squadron. (Submitted)

L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Corporal Ollie Walker receiving the Gold Crossed Rifle badge.
L-R- Second Lieutenant Joe Manners with Corporal Ollie Walker receiving the Gold Crossed Rifle badge. (Submitted)