About Us

The SQUADRON

We are 22 (City of Upper Hutt) Squadron, of the Air Training Corps, part of the New Zealand Cadet Forces.

We meet at our unit headquarters on Trentham Military Camp on Tuesday nights during the school term between 6.50 pm and 9.15 pm. There are also weekend activities and courses during the school holidays.

You can join if you are aged between 13 (or in year 9 at school) and 15. Cadets can stay on until they reach the age of 20.

The officer team

Each NZCF unit is run by a team of officers who are unpaid volunteers from the local community, commissioned under the Defence Act into the Corps by the Minister of Defence.

All Officers undergo the required police checks and a commissioning course which has a focus on our duty of care and risk management. Further courses include Instructional Technique and Training Management, Fieldcraft, Shooting Coaches, Range Conducting Officer and Command.

CADET unit commander

SQUADRON LEADER JAMES FERGUSON, NZCF

James is a former cadet, officer and Unit Commander of 22 Squadron. He is a qualified glider pilot, Range Conducting Officer and Shooting Coach. Following a posting as an Area Support Officer, he returned to 22 Squadron in 2020 to look after aviation training on the squadron, in particular our flight simulators and resumed command in July 2024.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

FLIGHT LIEUTENANT CHRIS ROBLETT, NZCF

Chris is the Executive Officer (XO) of the Squadron. A former UK Air Cadet, he was commissioned into the NZCF in 1998, following UK service as an officer in Training Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He is a qualified Range Conducting Officer and Shooting Coach also completing the Commissioning, Instructional Technique and Training Management, and Fieldcraft courses.

EQUIPMENT OFFICER

Officer Cadet Joy Dalton

Joy's daughter joined the squadron as a cadet in 2022 and now Joy is following the path many parents take, by joining the squadron staff to help with activities and explore the commissoning process.

TraINING TEAM

SQUADRON LEADER PAUL HARLAND, NZCF

Squadron Leader Harland joined 2 Squadron (Petone) in 1981. He was promoted to Corporal in 1984 and Sergeant in 1985.

He enjoyed camps at Fernside in the Wairarapa, attended various parades such as the "Freedom of the Borough" parade in Petone. He also enjoyed shooting, at Keene Range in Petone, gliding on the "winch" system which he says was a "real buzz compared to the tamer tow planes".

RNZAF Base Ohakea has fond memories for Squadron Leader Harland. From base visits and Junior NCO courses as well as "Airforce Day 81" air show. Squadron Leader Harland left cadets in late 1985 to pursue a career in the timber industry.

By 2006 Squadron Leader Harland was once again back in cadets, this time with 22 Squadron as his daughter had become interested. From an information evening he found himself getting involved more and more with the unit. He rejoined officially in September 2007 and completed his Officers Commissioning Course in May 2008.

Squadron Leader Harland has staffed NCO Courses at Ohakea & represented NZ as Escort Officer on the 2013 International Air Cadet Exchange to Canada and in 2014 with the inbound cadets around New Zealand.

FLYING OFFICER ASHLEY HANARAY

Ashley is a former a cadet with 22, reaching the highest cadet rank, Warrant Officer. She has now moved to the adult staff and is leading the training team. She has completed the commissioning course, instructional technique and training management course, officer's bushcraft course and shooting coaches course. She also looks after the Squadron's Facebook and Instagram pages.

SUPPLEMENTARY STAFF

Civilian supplementary staff members support of the officer team in running the unit, including some who are currently going through the commissioning process. Like the officer team, supplementary staff undergo the three yearly police checks required for anyone working with children

unit support committee

As with other NZCF units, we have a support committee, made up of parents and other community representatives, including a former unit officer and an RSA representative.

The committee raises funds for the squadron and supports the unit commander in developing and running the training programme.

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