A HIGH-FLYING pupil has been presented with the one of the most prestigious honours in the Combined Cadet Forces.
Will Moon, 18, of Main Street, Lowdham, received the John Thompson Memorial Sword at an event at Old Warden, in Bedfordshire.
The sword is presented to the best CCF cadet in the country, from a pool of around 9,000.
Will, a student at Trent College, Long Eaton, joined the cadets as part of a requirement at his school but sped through the ranks as his enthusiasm caught on.
As well as claiming his gliding scholarship Silver Wings award, he has been a member of the cadets' brass band and attended overseas Nato summer camps.
He said that the sense of responsibility and achievement through leading others had spurred him on.
"I started to get really involved and got promoted early on. I got a taste for leadership and studied to get up the ranks..
"I enjoyed the responsibility; it spurred me on to do more."
In the long term he will be focusing on joining the RAF regiment, but now plans to study philosophy at Durham University.
He said that studying the great thinkers should put him in good stead with the air force.
"I like asking questions about all sorts of things. It involves problem-solving and being logical about important issues.
"I think if I joined the RAF, I'd need to be able to do a lot of problem-solving in the field."
Mum Stella, 48, and dad Peter, 56, have both been blown away by Will's achievements.
Peter said that two years ago, they'd attended the same ceremony with Will performing in the brass band.
"I didn't think that two years later he would be receiving the same award.
"We're very proud of him. It's quite an honour to be selected as the best RAF cadet in the country."
Stella said Will had been an inspiration to the younger cadets in the force.
"It's very difficult to be modest when you're talking about your son but he's been great with the younger cadets. He's always encouraging them to achieve their full potential."
Flight Lieutenant Sue Haris, RAF Station Commander at Trent College, said that Will had throughout his four years with the cadets rarely passed up any opportunities he was given.
She said: "From coming in at year 10, every chance that we put forward he grasped.
"He wouldn't have been awarded this if he wasn't an exceptional cadet.
Flight Lieutenant Harris added that Will had all the qualities to go far in the RAF.
"He's enthusiastic, positive, a self starter, proactive and independent. I know he'll go far, no matter what he chooses to do."
