282 (East Ham) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets

03/03/2026

🎉 London Wing Warrant Officer 🎉

Huge congratulations to our very own Warrant Officer Shoheb Akhtar, who has officially stepped into his new role as London Wing Warrant Officer, taking over from Warrant Officer Wright after seven years in post. 🫡

With 26 years of dedicated service at 282, his professionalism, commitment and unwavering support for staff and cadets have left a lasting mark on the Squadron. We have no doubt that he will continue to inspire and support cadets and staff across London Wing. 🔥

Although he will be greatly missed, we couldn’t be prouder to see him take on this well-deserved appointment and wish him every success in his new role. 🙌🏼

It’s not goodbye… just see you soon! ✨

27/01/2026

✨ “𝕀𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟!” ✨

Congratulations to our 9 amazing cadets and Civilian Instructor Sebastian Stewart on achieving their Jack Petchey Achievement Awards. 🏆

They were proudly presented with their awards in front of loved ones and colleagues, recognising their hard work and dedication not only at Squadron level, but beyond it too. 👏🏻

To make the occasion even more special, our band delivered a fantastic performance, celebrating the achievements in true style. 🎺🥁

Well done to all the award winners, truly well deserved. 💪🏼

16/12/2025

11/12/2025

🎄 ’ᴛɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ’🎄

This week, 282 proudly represented the Squadron at two significant events. 💫

✈️ Aviation Focus Group - Flight Lieutenant Shirley and Flight Sergeant Johnson were invited by to a lunch at the , where they delivered a short presentation on the Scottish Heights 2025 expedition from August. A huge thank you to Ulysses Trust for their continued support! 🙌🏼

🎶 RAF Benevolent Fund Carol Concert - Massive well done to the cadets who served as carpet guards, and to Corporal Lixandru who gave a reading during the concert. They even had the chance to speak with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth! 💙

Incredible effort from all involved! 🔥

09/12/2025

🫡 𝓢𝓮𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓬𝓮. 𝓒𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓲𝓽𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽. 𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹 🫡

Congratulations to Acting Pilot Officer Timothy Jeyamani on passing her Cadet Forces Commission Interview 👏🏻

With over 11 years dedicated to the RAFAC, from ex-cadet to Civilian Instructor, she now steps into uniform to continue supporting 282 and the wider organisation. 🔥

Officer Commanding 282 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Shirley, has said: “This is a truly well deserved appointment! APO Jeyamani is integral to the successful running of 282. I, along with all our CFAVs and cadets, wish her well in what I’m sure will be a very successful continued RAFAC career as a Cadet Forces Commissioned Officer!” 💪🏼

07/12/2025

🏃‍♂️ 𝕊𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤, 𝕤𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 🏃‍♀️

Amazing effort from 282 at the Cross Country Competition! Despite the tough conditions, the team showed incredible resilience and brought home 6 medals.

Their dedication, sacrifice, and hearts were on full display with

- Senior Girls taking 🥈
- Sergeant Shepherd earning 🥈
- Corporal Manaois securing 🥉
- The Squadron finishing 🥉 overall

What a way to close the year 👏🔥

09/11/2025

🕊️ “𝓐𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓾𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝔀𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶” 🕊️

19/10/2025

💪 ꜱᴜᴄᴄᴇꜱꜱ ꜰᴀᴠᴏᴜʀꜱ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ꜱᴛᴏᴘ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ 💪

It was an action-packed weekend for 282 Squadron, full of achievements across three major events. 🎖️

🏅Religion Field Day - Our team proudly represented in Drill, Fanfare, and First Aid, giving it their all. They placed 2nd in Fanfare, and London Wing took the overall win. 👏

🏆 No.2 & No.3 Sector Competition - Starting bright and early, our cadets faced tough challenges across 7 activities, battling against other Squadrons from both sectors. Finishing 1st in , and taking home the West Essex Cup Championship title. 🔥

🎺 The Lord Mayor’s Competition - Our very own Cadet Ssesemwogerere represented with excellence, his dedication paid off as the team came out on top. 🙌

An unforgettable weekend of teamwork, skill, and success for 282 🎉

30/09/2025

✨ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓟𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓼✨

282 Squadron proudly welcomed Wing Commander Braddy-Green and Wing Warrant Officer Wright for the squadrons Annual Formal Inspection - chance to show what the squadron is all about. 🫡

It was the first inspection under the new Officer Commanding, Flight Lieutenant Shirley, and the cadets and staff truly delivered. From showcasing the brand-new Xbox flight simulators, to the winning Region Drill, Fanfare, and First Aid teams in action. 💪🏽🔥

The evening concluded with five well-deserved Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards, celebrating the hard work and achievements of some outstanding cadets. 🏅

282 Squadron has seen big changes recently and it’s only moving upwards from here. ✈️💫

02/09/2025

🍃 A Little Green Leaf 🍃

282’s Staff and Cadets had the honour of experiencing ‘A Little Green Leaf’, an original one-act play inspired by the incredible true story of Odette Hallowes, right here at our very own Squadron.

The play brings Odette’s bravery and resilience to new audiences, sparking conversations about the Holocaust, sacrifice, and what peace truly means today.

Odette Hallowes, our past Squadron President, served as an agent for the UK’s Special Operations Executive in World War II. Captured by the Gestapo in France, she endured months of interrogation, torture, and solitary confinement. Her courage and strength remain at the heart of our Squadron, carried in our crest and our memory.

A big thank you to .little.green.leaf for the performance and for sharing Odette’s Story.

Que Je Surmonte 💫

30/08/2025

🏔️ Remind Yourself: If It Was Easy, Everyone Would Do It 🏔️

12 cadets from 282 and took on their Gold expedition in the stunning Scottish mountains. 🌄 Through challenges, resilience, and determination, they smashed it and came out stronger than ever. 💪✨

After conquering the trails, they swapped boots for adventure gear — taking on high ropes, kayaking, climbing, abseiling, and canoeing 🚣‍♂️🧗‍♀️🌊.

A huge thank you to for your constant support — you help make moments like this possible! 🙌