Airman receives Royal Marine Cadet volunteer award

  • Published
  • By Airmen 1st Class Kelsey Waters
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILLDENHALL, ENGLAND --  Staff Sgt. Kimberly Leonard, 100th Operations Support Squadron aviation resource manager, received the Volunteer Royal Marine Cadet Instructor of the Quarter award from Lt. Col. Christopher Bennett, 100th OSS commander, Oct. 22 here, on behalf of the TS Intrepid Royal Marine Red Lodge Cadets.

Leonard was chosen for this award for her dedication to the cadets which was shown by the more than 100 volunteer hours she has spent working with them since getting involved with the program in July.

The Royal Marine Cadets program is similar to like the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps in the states, said Leonard.

"I work with about 12 cadets between the ages of 11 and 15," she said. "Being able to have a positive impact on the cadets is so important because those are such important ages."

In the United Kingdom, teenagers can join the military as early as 16 years old.

"I get to see my cadets grow and learn," said Leonard.

Mentoring the cadets is a large part of being an instructor.
"
It's nice to be able to mentor these kids because, a lot of things are different in their military--everything from ranks to marching," said Leonard. "Even the smallest things like the proper way to salute are different and being able to learn with them is so interesting."

Cadets are taught everything from Royal Marine history to field training including simulated attacks and ruckmarches with training weapons. All of the training leads up to a final test camp where the cadets compete in a way similar to Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training in U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training.

"I think our interactions with the cadets them a lot more insight into not only the way a different branch of the military works but also how a completely different military works," said Leonard.

Leonard believes that the cadets get a broader world view because of their interactions with the U.S. Air Force members.

"We are always looking for people to help out," said Leonard. "It's a big commitment every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and some weekends, but you need to have that time so you can build trust with the cadets."

Although Leonard works with the cadets as an instructor, she says they teach her just as much as she teaches them.

"They bring fresh insight to the things we do, you can give them a task and be thinking of one way to do it and they will come back with about five different ideas of how to get the task done," said Leonard.

The cadets are smart and ready for the challenges they are given.

"It's about the kids, it's always been about the kids," said Leonard. "Honestly, the way I look at it is what is a few hours of my time here and there when, in the big picture, I could be changing someone's' life."