Personal Development and Leadership Training
While
participating in UBAS activities leads to personal development, UBAS
encourages students to organise and lead activities themselves to
extend this development further. Any student can suggest or organise
an activity, with support available from students and staff if needed.
Becoming a member of the student leadership team is a great way to
build on these skills and take on more responsibility.
At the
fortnightly training nights, students may give presentations on
current affairs topics or recent UBAS events.
Florida (USAF)ROTC Exchange
In early 2020 UBAS sent a team of 5 students on exchange with the US Air Force in Daytona Beach, Florida. While there they spent a week with the USAF equivalent of UBAS, learning about how they train future air officers. This involved everything from lectures at the university to learning close quarters combat tactics with training weapons. This was the first time any UAS had accomplished this and in doing so we built a long-standing relationship with a key NATO partner. Not only was the exchange itself an incredible week of learning and personal development, it was proposed and organised almost entirely by students, this itself providing outstanding opportunities for learning. Not to mention a bit of time in the Florida sun.
Air Power Study Exercises
Many
students have had the opportunity to visit landing sites along the
Normandy coast, including Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches, Pegasus Bridge
and Merville Battery. Students also visited the Commonwealth Cemetery
at Ranville and the US Cemetery near Colleville-sur-Mer, allowing time
for reflection. The trip is especially moving, guided by extremely
knowledgeable UBAS staff, giving students an incredible insight into
operations during World War II and the D-Day landings. Other exercises
are run to The Somme and Ypres.
Remembrance Parade
UBAS
are invited to take part in the parade in Birmingham on remembrance
Sunday each year, representing RAF Cosford.