19/10/2026
Meet Warrant Officer Jess Ness, Staffordshire Wing Deputy Wing Warrant Officer...
✈️ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐂?
I was getting into trouble at school and, admittedly, wasn’t always making the best choices. My parents decided that joining the Air Cadets might give me some much-needed discipline and structure.
When I first joined, both the OIC and I agreed that I’d give it two weeks and see how I got on. Somehow, those two weeks turned into 19 years, and I’m still proudly involved in the organisation today!
For me, cadets has always been about so much more than an interest in aviation. It gave me direction at a time when I needed it, taught me leadership and responsibility, and gave me the confidence to make my own decisions and push myself outside of my comfort zone.
It has played a huge part in shaping the person I am today.
✈️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 ’𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐛’?
I’m a Police Officer, a role which keeps me busy alongside my commitments with the RAF Air Cadets.
✈️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐀𝐂 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞?
The most rewarding part for me has been supporting cadets who remind me of myself when I first joined.
Those who perhaps aren’t the most academic, are struggling at school, or are starting to make choices that could take them down the wrong path. Having been in a similar position myself, I know how much of a difference the right guidance, encouragement and opportunities can make.
Being able to see those cadets grow in confidence, find something they’re good at and start making positive choices for themselves is incredibly rewarding.
If I can have even a small part in giving a young person the same sense of direction that the organisation gave me, then that makes the time I give to cadets completely worthwhile.
𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞? 😊
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞? 📧📞
