Through the Air Cadets, you will have a chance to shoot a variety of weapons. All Air Cadet weapons training and live-firing is carried out under strict supervision with qualified staff present.
We offer many types of shooting in the Air Cadets, from air rifles to the semi-automatic L98A2 rifle, both of which are used for target shooting, as well as offering alternative types such as clay pigeon shooting and target paintballing. As you progress, you are able to take part in shooting competitions and gain your marksman badges.
1015 is lucky to have a 25m indoor range, which is able to be used for air rifle shooting, as well as for the L144A1 small-bore rifle. This is able to be used on squadron nights, meaning you should have a chance to learn to shoot.
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Progression
You will start shooting either the BSA Scorpion Cadet air rifle or the L144A1 small-bore rifle. You will be trained by the Sussex Shooting Development Team, either at 1015 Squadron or at another squadron within the wing. After training, you will be able to live fire. Once you have achieved a certain score, you will be eligible for a blue marksman badge (air rifle) or bronze (small-bore).
If you wish to progress, you will be trained on the L98A2 target rifle. This rifle is a variant of the SA80, used by the British Armed Forces. After a weekend’s training, you will shoot at a military range, such as at the Longmoor Ranges, Hampshire.
The L81A2 target rifle is used over longer ranges (over 100m) for target rifle shooting. This is the rifle used during inter-cadet force competitions.
Opportunities
If you’re good enough, you may be entered in a shooting competition. You’ll most likely take part in the Wing shooting competition held during the Wing Field Weekend at Crowborough Training Camp. Here, you’ll shoot the air rifle, trying, as a squadron, to achieve the best score.
In addition, there are higher-level shooting competitions, both regionally and nationally for the L98A2 and L81A2. The pinnacle of these competitions are the Inter-Services Cadet Rifle Meeting (ISCRM), held at the Bisley ranges, and the Cadet Inter-Service Skill at Arms Match (CISSAM) at Purbright. In these competitions, you will compete against cadets from the Army Cadets and the Sea Cadets as well as other Air Cadet squadrons.
The annual National Shooting Camp also allows cadets to experience shooting for a whole week. Whether you have no experience with shooting in the Air Cadets before, or you have been trained already on the more advanced weapons, this camp will give you the opportunity to improve on your marksmanship.
Other Shooting
You may get the chance to do clay target shooting and target paintball shooting. These are not part of the marksman syllabus and do not require prior training to do it. These types of shooting are most often done on camps and other courses, with qualified instructors present.
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