TWO Exeter air cadets have completed one of the service's toughest youth training courses.

Flight Sergeant Jonty Webber and Sergeant Chris Ostler from 13 (City of Exeter) Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) took on the organisation's 11th annual Junior Leaders Course.

They became only the fourth and fifth cadets from the Wyvern Barracks based unit to compete the eight-month course, which pushes students to their physical and mental limits.

Chris and Jonty also passed an Air Power examination as well being assessed at public speaking presentations.

Jonty, 17, is a student in the 6th form at Clyst Vale Community College, Broadclyst, who hopes to become an officer in the Royal Marines.

Chris, 19, is a former pupil of Clyst Vale Community College, currently studying at De Montfort University Leicester before hoping to join the RAF as an Officer.

Jonty said: "At the start I never thought I would make it to the graduation. I just concentrated on passing each weekend as it came.

"The course is incredibly mentally and physically challenging, and you really have to push yourself to succeed. However, it is great fun and you become close friends with cadets from all over Britain. It is undoubtedly the best thing I have done whilst in the ATC."

Chris said: "I came on this course to become an effective communicator as well as an efficient leader.

"I feel that from the course, I have achieved this while picking up a load of other skills and talents that allowed me to improve a lot more than I thought I could."

The 13 (City of Exeter) Squadron is open to all young people between the ages of 13-18 and meets on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7pm.

Anyone interested in joining can visit www.13atc.co.uk