Royal Air Force Air Cadets | |
---|---|
Active | Since 5 February 1941 [1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Type | Volunteer Military Youth Organisation |
Headquarters | RAF Cranwell |
Patron | The Princess of Wales |
Website | www |
Commanders | |
Commandant Air Cadets | Air Cdre Al Lewis [2] |
RAFAC WO | WO Donna Hall RAFAC |
Honorary Ambassadors |
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The Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) is the combined volunteer-military youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force, which is formed by both the Air Training Corps and RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force. [3] The organisation is headed by a former serving RAF officer, Commandant Air Cadets. The current commandant is Air Commodore Al Lewis. [2]
Prior to 1 October 2017, the RAFAC was called the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO). [4] As of 1 April 2023, the RAFAC had a strength of 42,190 cadets and 10,070 cadet force adult volunteers. [5] Cadets are aged between 12 and 17 on entry to the organisation, and can remain until they are 18, or with special permission, until they are 20. [6]
The RAFAC's infrastructure consists of:
The six regions consist of:
Each Region is commanded by a "Regional Commandant" (RC), who holds the rank of group captain, and is usually retired regular RAF. The Region is further staffed by a number of cadet forces adult volunteers (CFAV) who maintain the day-to-day operations of each of the regions. [8] Examples of these CFAV posts include Region Staff Officer, Region Training Officer, and Region STEM Officer. [9]
Air Cadet sections within the Combined Cadet Force usually follow their own chain of command within their school's unit. Above their school unit, they diverge into the same chain of command as the Air Training Corps, which is usually their Wing, or Region.
Air Cadet activities vary vastly, however some of the most common to take place include:
There are also more rare, but enriching activities that take place also. Examples include:
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which operates in schools, sub divided into Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force sections. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance".
The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a British volunteer youth organisation; aligned to, and fostering the knowledge and learning of military values, primarily focusing on military aviation. Part of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) the other major section being the joint cadet corps, the ATC is sponsored by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the wider Ministry of Defence (MoD). The majority of Air Training Corps staff are volunteers, though some staff are paid for full-time work; including Commandant Air Cadets, who is a Royal Air Force officer as part of a Full Term Reserve Service commitment.
Royal Marines Barracks Chivenor is a British military base used primarily by UK Commando Force. It is situated on the northern shore of the River Taw estuary, adjacent to the South West Coast Path, on the north coast of Devon, England. The nearest towns are Barnstaple and Braunton.
The New Zealand Air Training Corps is one of the three corps in the New Zealand Cadet Forces (NZCF), alongside the New Zealand Sea Cadet Corps and the New Zealand Cadet Corps. It is funded in partnership between the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and local communities. Members are civilians with no obligation to enlist in the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). Should a cadet enlist, their service in the ATC cadet does not translate into higher pay, rank, or seniority.
The officer ranks of the Royal Air Force, as they are today, were introduced in 1919. Prior to that Army ranks were used.
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch), often abbreviated to RAFVR(T), was a Volunteer Reserve element of the Royal Air Force specifically appointed in a cadet training role within the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Members of the RAFVR(T) had no call-up liability and often operated part-time with the Air Experience Flights and Volunteer Gliding Squadrons, which provide flight experience for the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.
Commandant Air Cadets is the title given to the Royal Air Force officer who is responsible for running the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, embracing the Air Training Corps (ATC) and the RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force. The current Commandant Air Cadets is Air Commodore Allen Lewis, who assumed the post in September 2024.
A Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS) is an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) which provides flying training in glider aircraft for Royal Air Force Air Cadets. All current operational Volunteer Gliding Squadrons operate a sole type of aircraft, the Grob G103A Twin II Acro, a conventional winch-launched tandem-seat sailplane known by its British military designation, Viking T1.
Air Commodore Gordon Moulds, CBE DL is a retired Senior Royal Air Force Officer who held various commands including most recently Commander of Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was established in 1936 to support the preparedness of the U.K. Royal Air Force in the event of another war. The Air Ministry intended it to form a supplement to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF), the active reserve for the RAF, by providing an additional non-active reserve. However during the Second World War the high demand for aircrew absorbed all available RAuxAF personnel and led the RAFVR to quickly become the main pathway of aircrew entry into the RAF. It was initially composed of civilians recruited from neighbourhood reserve flying schools, run by civilian contractors with largely RAF-trained flying instructors as well as other instructors in related air war functions, such as observers and wireless operators.
Royal Air Force Newton or more simply RAF Newton is a former Royal Air Force station located 7 miles (11 km) east of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and 10.7 miles (17.2 km) south west of Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England. It was used briefly as a bomber base for squadrons to re-equip after the Battle of France and then as a flying training school during the Second World War and beyond until 2000.
Royal Air Force Upavon, or more simply RAF Upavon, is a former Royal Air Force station in Wiltshire, England. It was a grass airfield, military flight training school, and administrative headquarters of the Royal Air Force. The station opened in 1912 and closed in 1993, when it was transferred to the British Army and became known as Trenchard Lines.
Tactical recognition flash (TRF) is the British military term for a coloured patch worn on the right arm of combat clothing by members of the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. A TRF serves to quickly identify the regiment or corps of the wearer, in the absence of a cap badge. It is similar to, but distinct from, the DZ Flashes worn by members of Airborne Forces.
Royal Marines Cadets (SCC) are part of the Sea Cadets, a United Kingdom uniformed youth organization was formed in 1955 by the then Commandant General Royal Marines – General Sir Campbell Hardy. The Royal Marines Cadets of the SCC specialise in activities such as orienteering, fieldcraft, and weapon handling.
A warrant officer (WO) in the British Armed Forces is a member of the highest-ranking group of non-commissioned ranks, holding the King's Warrant, which is signed by the Secretary of State for Defence.
The following table displays the ranks of the Community Cadet Forces, the Combined Cadet Force, the Volunteer Cadet Corps, and the Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets. This table is based on equivalent Rank Structures within the Cadet Forces as detailed in regulations of the SCC, RMC, and the Air Cadets.
2353 Squadron ATC is a squadron in the Air Training Corps based in Cascade, Hengoed, Wales, UK. The squadron is part of No. 1 Welsh Wing ATC in the Wales and West region of the ATC. The squadron was founded on 4 September 1960.
The Volunteer Cadet Corps (VCC) is a national youth organisation managed by the United Kingdom's Royal Navy and sponsored by the UK's Ministry of Defence. The VCC comprises:
621 VGS is a Volunteer Gliding Squadron based at RAF Little Rissington in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. 621 VGS is one of 10 remaining Volunteer Gliding Squadrons and operates under No.2 Flying Training School, within No.22 (Training) Group of the Royal Air Force Air Command.
This is the structure of the Royal Air Force.