AN air cadet has proved he is a top gun with a rifle. Cpl Thomas Berry, 15, from 248 (Letchworth GC) Air Training Corps (ATC) Squadron has achieved a first in shooting for Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Wing ATC. Cpl Berry has been an air cadet for nea

AN air cadet has proved he is a top gun with a rifle.

Cpl Thomas Berry, 15, from 248 (Letchworth GC) Air Training Corps (ATC) Squadron has achieved a first in shooting for Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Wing ATC.

Cpl Berry has been an air cadet for nearly three years and has never managed to achieve a marksman badge until he attended the skill at arms weekend at Longmoor Camp in Wiltshire run by the Herts and Bucks ATC skill at arms team.

During the weekend there was training on the No 8 and L98 rifles as well as live firing. Cpl Berry, was among 20 other cadets who attended a marksmanship principles lesson conducted by Flt Lt James Gilson, the Herts and Bucks Wing shooting officer. The aims of the lesson are to instruct and coach cadets on how a target shooting marksman's badge can be achieved.

On the first day, Cpl Berry took to the indoor range to fire the No 8 rifle, and Cpl Berry put into practice all that he had been taught.

There are four levels of marksman badges that the ATC offer and by the end of the weekend Cpl Berry had achieved three out of the four, Squadron, Wing and Regional Marksman's, which is a first for the Herts and Bucks skill at arms team.

Initially presented with his marksman badges by Sqd Ldr Steve Atkinson at the skill at arms weekend, Cpl Berry returned to his unit to have the badges re-presented by the ATC's regional commandant Gp Cpt Brett Morell, who was visiting 248 (Letchworth GC) Squadron.