Flight Sergeant Matthew Smedley joined 370 (North Sheffield) Squadron as a Cadet at the age of 15. Upon reaching the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer he transferred to 148 (Barnsley) Squadron where he saw out the rest of his Cadet career. His highlights as a Cadet include coming second in the South & West Yorkshire Wing DI competition on his first attempt and also being part in the armed guard of honour for the Commandant Air Cadets at the North Region Training Day.