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
Military aviation is the design, development and use of military aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling aerial warfare, including national airlift (air cargo) capacity to provide military logistics, logist ...
. Part of the
Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC), the ATC is sponsored by the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
(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.
Members of the Air Training Corps are known as Air Cadets, which is often interchanged with the term 'ATC cadets'. Although many ATC cadets subsequently go on to join the Royal Air Force, or the other branches of the
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the unified military, military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its British Overseas Territories, Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests ...
(or have the desire to do so), the ATC is not a recruiting organisation for its parent service (the Royal Air Force).
Activities undertaken by the Air Training Corps include sport,
adventure training (such as walking and paddle-sports),
ceremonial drill, rifle shooting, fieldcraft, air experience flights in both powered aircraft and sail-plane gliders, and other outdoor activities, as well as educational classification training. Week-long trips, or 'camps' to
RAF stations, along with other camps offering adventure training or music, allow the opportunity for cadets to gain a taste of military life, and often some flying experience in RAF gliders and RAF training aircraft such as the
Grob G 115, an aerobatic-capable elementary flying training aircraft, known in UK military service as the Tutor T1. The Viking T1 glider is used to train cadets on gliding the manufacturer name for the Viking T1 is the Grob G103a Twin II, manufactured by Grob.

Cadet membership can begin when cadets are 12 years old and in school
Year 8 (England and Wales), or equivalent in
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
and Northern Ireland. New members will join with a rank of Cadet and can earn positions of increasing responsibility in a military rank structure, as well as having increasing skill and competence recognised in a classification scheme (joining as a Junior Cadet, progressing to Second Class Cadet after enrolment then First Class, Leading, Senior, Master). As a cadet becomes more experienced with camps and activities, the skills they will acquire will be rewarded with a corresponding badge according to the skill achieved and how advanced the cadet is at that particular skill (e.g. drumming, shooting, leadership, first aid).
Service as a cadet in the Air Training Corps ends at the age of 18, although a cadet over the age of 18 can continue service until the age of 20 if appointed as a
Staff Cadet. As of 2 September 2024 Cadets reaching the age of 18 can also transition to become a Cadet Forces Adult Volunteer (Adult staff member). However, cadets wishing to serve on the same Squadron must spend a minimum six months secondment period at a different Squadron.
, the ATC strength is 34,070 cadets (30% female) and 9,190 adult volunteers (30% female).
Together, the RAF contingent (or RAF section) of the
Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and the Air Training Corps comprise the
Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC), previously known as the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO), part of the British Government's
Community Cadet Forces
The Community Cadet Forces is a term used by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD) to group together the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, and Volunteer Cadet Corps. Together with the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) the ...
.
History
Foundation
Air Commodore
Sir John Chamier is affectionately known as the 'father of the air cadet movement'.
He joined the
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...
(RFC), the forerunner of the Royal Air Force, where he served as a pilot in
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. He transferred to the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
(RAF) upon its formation in 1918. After retiring from the service in 1929, Chamier became
Secretary-General
Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, Power (social and political), power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the org ...
of the
Air League; an organisation made up of people who wanted to make the British public aware of the importance of
military aviation
Military aviation is the design, development and use of military aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling aerial warfare, including national airlift (air cargo) capacity to provide military logistics, logist ...
. With the clouds of war beginning to form over Europe, and the personal memory of how young men with only a few hours of training had been sent into air combat only to fall victim to well-trained enemy aviators, he conceived the idea of an aviation cadet corps.
Air Defence Cadet Corps
The purpose of the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC), set up in 1938 by Air Commodore Chamier, was to train young men in various aviation-related skills.
The ADCC proved popular, with thousands joining up. In 1941, to provide the means of giving part-time air training to teenagers and young men who might later join the Royal Air Force, the ADCC was formally established as the Air Training Corps by
Royal Warrant.
Air Training Corps
On , the Air Training Corps (ATC) was officially established, with
King George VI
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of In ...
agreeing to be the Air Commodore-in-Chief, and issuing a
Royal Warrant setting out the Corps' aims.
Within the first month of its existence, the size of the old ADCC, now the ATC, virtually doubled to more than 400
squadrons, and continued to grow thereafter. A new
badge
A badge is a device or accessory, often containing the insignia of an organization, which is presented or displayed to indicate some feat of service, a special accomplishment, a symbol of authority granted by taking an oath (e.g., police and fir ...
was designed for the ATC and, once approved by the King, was distributed in August 1941. The motto 'Venture Adventure', devised by Air Commodore Chamier, was adopted by the ATC and incorporated into the badge.
The new ATC squadrons adopted training programmes to prepare young men for entry into the Royal Air Force. Squadrons arranged visits to RAF and
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five :Fighting Arms of the Royal Navy, RN fighting arms. it is a primarily helicopter force, though also operating the Lockhee ...
stations as part of the cadets' training, where a flight might be a possibility. Such opportunities were not widely available, however, and many cadets were disappointed. One solution was to introduce opportunities for
flying, as a way to allow a cadet to get the feel of an aircraft in flight and to handle an aircraft's controls whilst airborne. After the end of the Second World War, gliding lessons became available.
Before the 1980s, females were unable to join the ATC, although they were able to join an attached unit of the
Girls Venture Corps (GVC) which had been formed in the early years of the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, if one was available at their location.
As of 2013, the GVCAC still exists, although in greatly reduced numbers due to competition from the ATC, and the two organisations no longer share a site.
Before May 2008, cadets would spend a lot of time in the classroom before obtaining First Class classification, studying the following subjects: The Air Training Corps, The Royal Air Force, History of Flight, Initial Expedition Training, Basic Communications, and Airmanship I. After many lectures, and when the cadet felt ready, they would take a multiple-choice examination, either on paper or on a computer. Some
wings ran courses that would involve the cadet spending a few days learning, and then awarded the appropriate classification if successful in their exams. In May 2008, HQ
Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) decided to change the training programme for junior and second class cadets, sensing that recruits were being deterred by exams. In March 2016, after a review of the then current training syllabus, the new 'Progressive Training Syllabus' was introduced, which provided for four levels of each badge (blue, bronze, silver, and gold).
Investigation into sexual abuse

In 2012, payouts made to victims of
sexual abuse
Sexual abuse or sex abuse is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using physical force, or by taking advantage of another. It often consists of a persistent pattern of sexual assaults. The offender is re ...
by the MOD, across all Cadet Forces, totalled £1,475,844. The payouts in 2013 totalled £64,782, and £544,213 in 2014.
In 2017, a
BBC Panorama episode entitled 'Cadet Abuse Cover-Up' highlighted sexual abuse cases in the British Cadet Forces.
Through the years 2012 to 2017, there were 134 allegations of sexual abuse made against ATC volunteers, including historical allegations; 96 cases were referred to the Police for investigation, and 9 offenders were dismissed.
Air Cadet Organisation
Until October 2017, advertising material such as leaflets and official websites branded the Air Training Corps and
Combined Cadet Force collectively as the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO). This term was replaced by the
Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC).
Structure and organisation
The Air Training Corps includes three parts; the officer and staff cadre (which comprises uniformed and civilian instructors), the Civilian Committee, and the Chaplaincy.
The United Kingdom is split into six regions (akin to the former geographic
groups of the RAF), each commanded by a Full-Time Reserve
Group Captain
Group captain (Gp Capt or G/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British influence.
Group cap ...
in the RAF Reserves, and having a Regional Chairman and Regional Chaplain. Each region is sub-divided into many
wings. There were historically six wings per region, however, as of 2013 there were 34 wings, most named after the one or two
counties of the United Kingdom
The counties of the United Kingdom are subnational divisions of the United Kingdom, used for the purposes of administrative, geographical and political demarcation. The older term, ''shire'' is historically equivalent to county. By the Middle Ages ...
that they operate in. Wings are further sub-divided into sectors. Within the sectors lie squadrons, and it is the squadron that is the focal point for the majority of members of the Corps. As of 2019, there were 952 ATC squadrons and detached
flights, each assigned to a wing.
The Air Training Corps is the largest part of the
Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC), along with the RAF sections of the
Combined Cadet Force (CCF).
Regions
* Central & East Region
* London and South East Region (LaSER)
* North Region
* Scotland & Northern Ireland Region
* South West Region
* Wales & West Region
Wings
Governance
National
Headquarters
Royal Air Force Air Cadets (HQ RAFAC, formerly Headquarters Air Cadets or HQAC) is based at
RAF Cranwell
Royal Air Force Cranwell or more simply RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force List of Royal Air Force stations, station in Lincolnshire, England, close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. Among other functions, it is home to the RAF Colleg ...
in
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire (), abbreviated ''Lincs'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England. It is bordered by the East Riding of Yorkshire across the Humber estuary to th ...
, England. There are subordinate headquarters at region and wing levels, staffed by RAF and RAFAC officers
[Although previously Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch), ATC officers now under the Cadet Forces Commission] and civil servants. HQ RAFAC controls two National Air Cadet Adventure Training Centres (NACATC): at
Fairbourne, Gwynedd, Wales (currently closed); and
Windermere
Windermere (historically Winder Mere) is a ribbon lake in Cumbria, England, and part of the Lake District. It is the largest lake in England by length, area, and volume, but considerably smaller than the List of lakes and lochs of the United Ki ...
, Cumbria, England. These NACATCs provide a range of
adventure training courses and accommodation for squadron and wing expeditions. HQ RAFAC also controls () twelve
Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGS) around the UK, through the Air Cadet Central Gliding School at
RAF Syerston.
Local
ATC squadrons are established in most large towns in the United Kingdom. There are also ATC units in Cyprus, Germany,
Gibraltar
Gibraltar ( , ) is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory and British overseas cities, city located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Bay of Gibraltar, near the exit of the Mediterranean Sea into the A ...
, the
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They are divided into two Crown Dependencies: the Jersey, Bailiwick of Jersey, which is the largest of the islands; and the Bailiwick of Guernsey, ...
, and the
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man ( , also ), or Mann ( ), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Govern ...
. In towns not large enough to sustain a squadron of 30 cadets, or as a supplement to an existing squadron in a larger town or city, a Detached Flight (DF) may be formed. A detached
flight
Flight or flying is the motion (physics), motion of an Physical object, object through an atmosphere, or through the vacuum of Outer space, space, without contacting any planetary surface. This can be achieved by generating aerodynamic lift ass ...
operates much like any other unit, but is a component part of a nearby, larger squadron. , there were over 912 ATC squadrons and 40 detached flights.
An
Officer Commanding
The commanding officer (CO) or commander, or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually giv ...
(OC) a squadron is typically a
flight lieutenant (RAFAC). If a squadron commanded by an
SNCO,
warrant officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a Military rank, rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ...
,
pilot officer, or
flying officer, they are referred to as Officer in Charge (OIC) (unless they have completed their Squadron Commanders Course at
RAF Cranwell
Royal Air Force Cranwell or more simply RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force List of Royal Air Force stations, station in Lincolnshire, England, close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. Among other functions, it is home to the RAF Colleg ...
, then they retain the title of Officer Commanding). Officers were previously appointed in the
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) RAFVR(T), but now receive a Cadet Forces Commission, introduced in 2017. The OC has a good deal of autonomy in running their ATC unit, albeit with the responsibility that goes with it. Where a unit has other members of staff, the OC usually allocates duties and provides recommendations on appointments, retentions, and
promotions. The OC of an ATC squadron can appoint cadets up to the rank of cadet flight sergeant (Cdt FS) without any external approval. Further cadet promotion to the rank of cadet warrant officer (CWO) requires recommendation being sent to their squadron's wing HQ then appointment to the rank by the Wing Commmander (Wg Cdr) following a successful interview (known as CWO board).
The squadron
warrant officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a Military rank, rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ...
(Sqn WO) commonly holds the rank of warrant officer, or may be a
senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO) if no warrant officer is available, and will typically have spent many years working within the squadron or the ATC.
The establishment of
officers, WOs, senior NCOs, and Cadet NCOs, is dependent on the size of the squadron or detached flight, and this basic structure has many permutations; varying with the number of cadets and staff, accommodation and facilities. A typical small detached flight may consist only of the Officer Commanding and fifteen cadets, while a large squadron can consist of upwards of 120 cadets and numerous staff.
Civilian committees
A Civilian Committee (or 'CivCom') underpins all local funding that the RAF centrally cannot provide beyond core services for an individual squadron. Each is an independent charity, and operates to meet the funding needs of the local squadron. Since the Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers (CFAV) and civilian instructors (CI) in the ATC have no financial responsibilities, but still need money to manage and support cadet activities such as annual and overseas camps and adventure training, the funding responsibilities lie with the Civilian Committee. Serving as trustees, they are volunteers who support the cadet activities financially.
The RAFAC (ATC) is itself not a
charitable organisation
A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, Religion, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good).
The legal definitio ...
, and is not itself a
legal entity
In law, a legal person is any person or legal entity that can do the things a human person is usually able to do in law – such as enter into contracts, lawsuit, sue and be sued, ownership, own property, and so on. The reason for the term "''le ...
, and so has no official legal status. That defers to the MOD. For this and other reasons, the trustees within each Civilian Committee are required to be responsible for, and accountable for, the charitable fundraising of the squadron. As with any charity, three officers (chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer) are elected at an
annual general meeting
An annual general meeting (AGM, also known as the annual meeting) is a meeting of the general membership of an organization.
These organizations include membership associations and companies with shareholders.
These meetings may be required ...
(AGM), possibly with the addition of a deputy chairperson, and then exist as an independent group to raise and manage funds in a lawful manner in accordance with the Charities Act. They do this under the status of an 'excepted charity', which requires that they conduct themselves wholly to the
Charities Act 2011, but are excepted from sending in
annual report
An annual report is a comprehensive report on a company's activities throughout the preceding year. Annual reports are intended to give shareholders and other interested people information about the company's activities and financial performance. ...
s to the
Charity Commission.
The squadron commander and chaplain are ''ex-officio'' members of their civilian committee, and have no voting rights; however, common sense determines they may advise in squadron-related matters. While co-operation between the squadron and the civilian committee is desirable at all times, there is no line of command or authority of anyone other than the trustees of the Civilian Committee. This includes any uniformed personnel up to, and including, the Commandant Air Cadets.
A Civilian Committee is responsible for overseeing the initial unit formation and direction, and will monitor the welfare of cadets. Civilian committees often include parents of cadets and retired ATC staff. Many squadron charities decide to operate against the RAFAC document known as ACP-11, which has been the traditional constitution. However, there is no requirement to do so, as long as the civilian committee establishes a constitution with acceptable charitable object statements; these may be similar to those in ACP-11. The Charity Commission produced model constitutions of which the 'Model Constitution for a Small Charity' is used for the purpose of registering a charity at squadron level, and this has been the route required for all squadrons in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Any civilian committee in England and Wales that has an annual income that exceeds £5,000 in any one year, may register their charity with the Charity Commission. The charity commissions of Scotland and Northern Ireland require committees located in those countries to register and have done so for several years.
Culture
Aims and motto

The aims of the Air Training Corps, as set out in the
Royal Warrant and approved by
King George VI
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of In ...
, are:
* To promote and encourage among young men and women a practical interest in
aviation
Aviation includes the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. ''Aircraft'' include fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air aircraft such as h ...
and the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
(RAF);
* To provide training which will be useful in both the Armed Forces and civilian life;
* To foster a spirit of adventure and to develop the qualities of leadership and good citizenship.
The corps'
motto
A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...
is 'Venture, Adventure'.
In December 2015,
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, later Philip Mountbatten; 10 June 19219 April 2021), was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. As such, he was the consort of the British monarch from h ...
resigned from his role as honorary
Air Commodore-in-Chief, having served in this role since 1953. On 16 December 2015, Prince Philip was succeeded as honorary Air Commodore-in-Chief by the then
Duchess of Cambridge.
Oath
Upon enrolment into the Air Training Corps, every cadet has to make the following promise, usually at a ceremony presided over by the unit's
padre or commanding officer:
:"I, *Full Name*, hereby solemnly promise on my honour to serve my Unit loyally and to be faithful to my obligations as a member of the Air Training Corps. I further promise to be a good citizen and to do my duty to (God and^) the King, my Country and my Flag."
The promise has recently been rewritten to accommodate everyone, whether or not they are religious, by allowing the option to drop the 'God and' from the oath. The promise was formally recorded by the cadet's signature in the cadet's Cadet Record of Service Book (RAF Form 3822).
Ensign

The Air Training Corps Ensign is hoisted for every parade in the summer, and hauled-down at dusk. It is treated with the same respect and dignity afforded to the
Royal Air Force Ensign. In the event of poor weather conditions e.g., heavy rain or snowfall, the ensign would not be raised. If poor weather conditions are present whilst the ensign is raised, it would be hauled down at the soonest possible point. This is to avoid damage to the ensign and also as a mark of respect and discipline.
The ATC ensign is raised and lowered by a nominated member of the squadron, sometimes a cadet
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...
(NCO), member of staff, or simply a cadet who has been chosen, with the salute being taken by any
commissioned officer
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...
, normally the squadron's
Officer Commanding
The commanding officer (CO) or commander, or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually giv ...
. All officers within view or earshot of the ensign salute during the hoisting and hauling down.
Most ATC wings and squadrons also have a banner, in addition to an ensign, which is paraded on formal occasions. The ATC also has a Corps Banner, which is afforded the same courtesies as an RAF Squadron Standard or the RAF King's Colour, although its status is different.
Uniform

All cadets are issued with a uniform that is derived from
that worn by RAF personnel, and are regulated by dress regulations known as ACP 1358.
Cadets primarily wear one of three uniforms:
* ''No. 2A (Full) Service Dress'' -AKA 'Best Blues'— consisting of a light blue (Wedgewood) shirt and black tie, a blue V-neck wool jumper, a
brassard, blue-grey trousers or skirt / slacks, and an RAF blue beret with an Air Training Corps cap badge. The jumper is removed in variation ''No. 2A (Long Sleeved) Service Dress''.
* ''No. 2C Service Dress'' — AKA 'Working/Dark Blues'- as above, but replacing the light blue shirt and tie with a dark blue shirt, worn with the top button undone. May be worn with or without the jumper.
* ''No. 3 Service Dress - Field Clothing'' — AKA 'Greens/Combats'- consisting of either
CS95 or
PCS-MTP field clothing.
Other cadet uniforms do exist, such as
mess dress
Mess dress uniform is the most formal (or semi-formal wear, semi-formal, depending on the country) type of evening-wear uniform used by military personnel, Police officer, police personnel, and other uniformed services members. It frequently ...
and warm-weather service dress for overseas squadrons, however these are not issued to cadets unless the need arises.
Some squadrons differentiate themselves from each other at a local level. One such example would be different coloured pieces of cloth behind the cap badges on the beret, allowing cadet NCOs and CFAVs to distinguish between cadets of differing flights. However, this is an unofficial practice, and not permitted on official parades. All No.2 uniform, except black parade shoes and combat boots are provided at the expense of the
Ministry of Defence (MoD). No.3 uniform 'Greens' are not funded by the MOD for air cadets and must be purchased privately.
Squadron insignia
The first fifty Air Training Corps squadrons that were formed retain an 'F' to show they are 'founder' squadrons, e.g., 10F (Luton) Squadron, 48F (Hampstead) Squadron, or 1F (City of Leicester) Squadron. Only thirty of the original F squadrons are still in existence; the other twenty have disbanded over time. Some founder squadrons have reformed under
Roman numerals
Roman numerals are a numeral system that originated in ancient Rome and remained the usual way of writing numbers throughout Europe well into the Late Middle Ages. Numbers are written with combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet, eac ...
, having been refused permission to re-assume their F; the first squadron to do so was XIX (19 Crawley) Squadron, Sussex Wing. Although Brooklands Squadron was the first actual squadron to be established, it was given the squadron number of 11F due to a clerical error.
A Detached Flight uses its parent squadron number followed by the letters DF, to show that it is a detached flight, e.g., No 1408DF for No 1408 (Cranleigh) Detached Flight, raised by No 1408 (Dorking) Squadron.
Activities

There are also opportunities for
band music, and many camps offer teenagers the chance to spend a week away from parents, practising
fieldcraft
Fieldcraft comprises the techniques and methods involved in living, traveling, or making military or scientific observations in the field. The term "fieldcraft" is used in a broad range of industries including military, oil and gas, wildlife and ...
or receiving instruction in
gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sports, air sport in which pilots fly glider aircraft, unpowered aircraft known as Glider (sailplane), gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmospher ...
and other outdoor pursuits. Many of these activities, including gliding, have a well-defined scale of achievement that a cadet can work to build up; this includes the leadership qualities reflected in an NCO structure.
Annual camps

The Air Training Corps runs numerous annual camps each year, run on
RAF stations so that cadets may get a taste of Royal Air Force life. Annual camps are organised at Wing level, with place for all squadrons, so that every cadet who wishes to and who has achieved at least the First Class qualification may take part. Cadets usually stay in RAF
barrack blocks, and eat in the station's
mess facilities. The itinerary includes typical ATC activities, such as
drill, air experience flying, shooting, and adventure training. Cadets also have the opportunity to visit various sections of the station, and meet the people who work there. Cadets may also have the opportunity to attend other sorts of annual camp, such as a locally (i.e. wing- or squadron-) organised camp based around adventure training or
fieldcraft
Fieldcraft comprises the techniques and methods involved in living, traveling, or making military or scientific observations in the field. The term "fieldcraft" is used in a broad range of industries including military, oil and gas, wildlife and ...
, or as guests on a camp run by one of the other cadet forces such as the
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force (ACF), generally shortened to Army Cadets, is a national Youth organisations in the United Kingdom, youth organisation sponsored by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence and the Bri ...
or the
Sea Cadet Corps. There are also
Music camps for band members.
One large annual camp is the
Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) camp held annually in July for the major
airshow at
RAF Fairford. Each year, cadets aged above 16 years and their staff spend between one and three weeks, carrying out essential work in the preparation, and the subsequent taking-down of the infrastructure for RIAT. On air display days, cadets have jobs to do, and after the show weekend they are able to meet the crews and see the aeroplanes at close range.
Work experience camps
Another option for more senior cadets are work experience camps. Whilst annual camps aim to give cadets a general taste of service life, the work experience camps cater for cadets who are interested in a specific trade, such as the
RAF Regiment or
RAF Police. However, in recent years, the opportunities for work experience placements have decreased. Cadets can, however, contact their local Armed Forces Information Office AFIO.
Overseas camps
For older and more experienced cadets who have achieved the Leading Cadet qualification and have attended at least one UK Annual Camp, the Air Training Corps also offers overseas camps. These are generally more relaxed, and seen as a reward for hard-working and long-serving cadets. Since the end of the
Cold War
The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
, and the closure of
RAF stations in Germany, the number of overseas camp opportunities has decreased. As of 2007 the destinations for overseas camps are:
*
RAF Akrotiri on
Cyprus
Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...
; a seven-day camp over the Easter school holiday period and at select other times of the year.
*
RAF Gibraltar
Royal Air Force Gibraltar or more simply RAF Gibraltar (also formerly known as North Front) is a Royal Air Force List of Royal Air Force stations, station on Gibraltar. No military aircraft are currently stationed there, but RAF and aircraft o ...
in
Gibraltar
Gibraltar ( , ) is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory and British overseas cities, city located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Bay of Gibraltar, near the exit of the Mediterranean Sea into the A ...
.
*
Sennelager Training Area in Germany.
* JHQ
Rheindahlen in Germany.
*
USAF Ramstein in Germany; a camp at the base during the summer.
*
International Four Days Marches at
Nijmegen
Nijmegen ( , ; Nijmeegs: ) is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and the ninth largest of the Netherlands as a whole. Located on the Waal River close to the German border, Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the ...
, in the Netherlands; annually in July, where cadets complete a walk during four days.
Former RAF bases that hosted overseas camps included
RAF Bruggen,
RAF Laarbruch,
RAF Gütersloh, RAF Wildenrath, and
RAF Gatow.
Corps-wide trophies
Air Training Corps squadrons each have a chance annually to win the two most prized trophies in the corps. The Sir
Alan Lees trophy is awarded by the commandant Air Training Corps to the squadron with the best statistics and overall impression when inspected. The Morris Trophy is awarded to one of the six regional candidates upon inspection by the commandant.
The Foster Trophy is awarded to the cadet who has achieved the highest academic results in the entire corps over their time in the Air Training Corps, after finishing the cadet syllabus that leads to a BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Aviation Studies. In addition, there are also trophies presented annually by the
Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA). These trophies include the 'Sir Douglas Bader Wings Appeal Trophy' for the ATC squadron collecting the most money on a per capita basis, the squadron achieving second place is awarded the 'Sir Augustus Walker Trophy'. The 'Sir Robert Saundby Trophy' is awarded for collecting the highest net Wings Appeal amount.
The Quinton Memorial Trophy is a national award presented annually to the adult
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...
(NCO) who has gained the top academic results in the
senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO) initial courses held at the Air Cadet Adult Training Facility,
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
The Royal Air Force College (RAFC) is the Royal Air Force academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to become commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and is resp ...
(RAFC). This trophy is named in honour of Flight Lieutenant
John Quinton.
[Flight Lieutenant John Alan Quinton was an RAF navigator on a Wellington aircraft, which was flying an air cadet on an Air Experience Flight in 1951. During the flight, the aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision, and Flight Lieutenant Quinton gave the only parachute within reach to the cadet, pushing him out of the aircraft. His quick thinking and heroic action saved the life of the cadet but cost him his own, for which he was posthumously awarded the ]George Cross
The George Cross (GC) is the highest award bestowed by the British government for non-operational Courage, gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. In the British honours system, the George Cross, since its introduction in 1940, ...
.
Air Training Corps ranks
Cadets
Young people who have begun their 2nd year of Secondary School (Year 8), and are under 16 3/4 years old can join the Air Training Corps (ATC). They are initially given the title 'Junior Cadet', and can go along to most squadron (or flight) meetings to get a feel for the ATC. Enrolment confers the status of Second Class Cadet,
and upon completion of the First Class syllabus, they become First Class Cadets and receive their First Class badge to be worn on their
brassard. First class classification may take three to six months to achieve, depending upon the squadron's activities and schedule. Once cadets have successfully completed lessons in a number of subjects and achieved first class classification, they are able to take part in almost all ATC activities. Those who stay on beyond 18 are known as Staff Cadets, and wear rank slides denoting such. All cadets over the age of 18 must complete an Adult Volunteer Induction Programme (AVIP) prior to their 18th birthday, and must be cleared by the
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Once a Cadet has completed the AVIP, and subject to approval from the cadet's
wing commander, their Cadet service is extended to their 20th birthday. After this point Cadet service must be terminated.
All cadets are issued with a uniform (free), and must each pay a small amount in subscriptions (or 'subs' as they are commonly known), usually around £15–£20 a month, although this can vary widely from squadron to squadron. Activities such as smallbore and fullbore target rifle shooting, flying, and gliding are paid for from the Air Cadets central budget of
22 Group of the RAF.
Cadet non-commissioned officers (NCOs)
As cadets become more experienced within the Air Training Corps (ATC), and if suitable, they can be
promoted by their squadron's commanding officer (CO) to the status of cadet
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...
s (NCOs). Promotion to the rank of
Corporal
Corporal is a military rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The rank is usually the lowest ranking non-commissioned officer. In some militaries, the rank of corporal nominally corr ...
,
Sergeant
Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...
, and
Flight Sergeant is at the discretion of the Commanding Officer. They (or a representative) will make a decision based on merit and leadership potential; many squadrons have formal selection procedures including interviews, whilst others select by observing potential during normal training. All cadets, regardless of rank, must leave the Air Training Corps by age 20.
The Cadet NCO ranks within the ATC mirror those of the RAF's non-technical / non-flying trades, and are, in descending order of seniority:
It is common within the ATC to abbreviate these ranks by dropping the prefix 'cadet'. Cadet Warrant Officers are not addressed as 'Sir' or 'Ma'am', but as 'Cadet Warrant Officer' or informally as 'CWO' (pronounced 'si', 'wəʊ', or alternatively as an acronym), the former being preferred by cadets and staff, in order to reduce ambiguity with the adult substantive rank of
Warrant Officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a Military rank, rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ...
. This is the only rank in the Corps to accommodate the 'Cadet' prefix upon being referred to by members of the Corps. This is to distinguish them from the adult staff, as they are at least 17 years of age and could easily be confused with an adult member of staff, or a serving member of the RAF.
Promotion to Cadet Warrant Officer is decided by a panel at wing level, once a recommendation form has been submitted by the Officer Commanding of the prospective candidate's squadron. Prospective candidates should be a Cadet Flight Sergeant (aged 17 or above), preferably holding the Master Air Cadet classification (see below), and will be required to attend an interview with the wing commander or their representative. Once the Wing Commander approves the promotion to Cadet Warrant Officer, the recommendation is sent to HQ RAFAC at RAFC Cranwell. The recommendation will then receive final approval, and a certificate of appointment will be issued to the successful candidate.
Staff cadets
These cadets wear a rank slide with the words 'STAFF CADET' embroidered below their rank insignia (or on plain slides for those of cadet rank). A staff cadet has extra responsibilities over cadets who are under the age of 18, including a duty of care to younger cadets. These cadets also hold enhanced
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Certificates or
Protection of Vulnerable Groups certificates (in Scotland), in the same way as adult staff.
Staff cadets are sometimes considered adult members of staff to some extent, however this is erroneous. Their
ablutions and accommodation is segregated from both adult staff and cadets.
Cadet classification syllabus
Whilst not all cadets who join the Air Training Corps (ATC) will be eligible for
promotion, all cadets can progress through the (ATC) training system and, by passing exams, achieve different classifications. The classification levels are Junior Cadet, Second Class Cadet (this is automatically achieved on enrolment), First Class Cadet, Leading Cadet, Senior Cadet, and Master Air Cadet.
[Often incorrectly referred to as 'Master Cadet' - ACTO 1 does not use this terminology.] To achieve these qualifications, cadets study a variety of subjects through tuition from the instructors and / or self-study from Ultilearn. Each successive qualification generally allows a cadet greater participation in ATC activities. Cadets who have achieved the Master Air Cadet classification have completed their academic training, and could formerly attain a
Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) Level 2 in Aviation Studies (equivalent to 2
GCSE
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...
s A*–C) via
CVQO.
The Method of Instruction course is not a classification as such, but rather a qualification. This allows them to teach other cadets a variety of subjects. Although this is not compulsory, ATC Wings ordinarily feed this hand-in-hand with the Staff Cadet Course (see below). Upon successful completion of this course, the cadet will be awarded a yellow
lanyard to distinguish them. This is worn over the left shoulder, and fastened to a small black Royal Air Force button or the left shirt pocket button when not wearing a jumper.
Marking methodology
Leading Cadet, Senior Cadet, and Master Air Cadet exams consist of multiple assessment criteria each containing two questions. A cadet must achieve either 1 or 2 marks (50% or 100%) for each module in order to pass. All exams are taken online on a system called Bader Learn.
First Class Cadet
First Class Cadet is also informally referred to as 'Basic Training'. A variety of methods are used to test a cadet's understanding of the subject, including practical tests and exercises to test ability, and interviews / quizzes to test knowledge.
All junior cadets also have to pass a practical Drill Test to become first class. The drill test is a sequence of simple
drill manoeuvres essential for forming squads, and a good foundation to build on for more advanced drill.
Leading Cadet
For a cadet to become a Leading Cadet, they must have already gained First Class Cadet status. They will then have to complete three examinations: Land Navigation, Principles of Flight and Airmanship Knowledge.
Senior Cadet and Master Cadet
In September 2010, a new classification structure, syllabus and examination process came into force. The Senior Cadet badge shows a four-bladed propeller with a small four pointed star in the centre in an X orientation. The Master Air Cadet badge for the brassard shows an ATC Falcon surrounded by laurel leaves.
For each badge, cadets must pass three of the following subjects, for Master Air Cadet they may not use the same three subjects they used on Senior Cadet.
The following subjects are available:
* Aircraft handling and flying techniques
* Air Power
* Piston engine propulsion
* Jet engine propulsion
* Rocketry
* Airframes
* Avionics and aircraft electrical systems
* Basic air navigation
* Basic principals of pilot navigation
* Advanced radio and radar
* Data communications
Specialist Instructor and Leadership Qualifications
With the change of the classification structure in September 2010, the classification of staff cadet changed to become Instructor Cadet. An Instructor Cadet is denoted by a yellow lanyard worn over their left shoulder. In 2019, the syllabus for attaining Instructor Cadet was updated. There is now no minimum classification needed to obtain it, but one must complete a presentation skills course, usually delivered on the cadet's squadron, and then complete the Method of Instruction course. Previous to this, the Master Air Cadet classification was needed to obtain this lanyard.
Qualified Aerospace Instructors
Alongside Instructor Cadet there is another lanyard that can be awarded to cadets who are interested in specialising in teaching aerospace subjects. These qualified cadets are known as Qualified Aerospace Instructors (QAIs), and wear a light blue lanyard over their left shoulder. The Qualified Aerospace Instructors Course (QAIC) has been available since September 2008. The course is held at
RAF Linton-on-Ouse, and as of 2011, also at
MOD Boscombe Down (as of RAF Linton-on-Ouse's closure in December 2020, the North centre was moved to
Inskip Cadet Centre as of QAIC 14). The course is held from early September to Easter of the following year, beginning with a selection weekend in early September, and seven total weekends (as of QAIC 8, prior to this there were only six training weekends) from late September until early March. The course culminates in a 'Graduation Week' which is organised to coincide with the Easter holidays to avoid clashing with school programmes. After completing training in various modules, they carry out examinations in all modules (
air traffic control
Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled air ...
,
air power
Airpower or air power consists of the application of military aviation, military strategy and strategic theory to the realm of aerial warfare and close air support. Airpower began in the advent of powered flight early in the 20th century. A ...
,
flight simulators,
aerodynamics
Aerodynamics () is the study of the motion of atmosphere of Earth, air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dynamics and its subfield of gas dynamics, and is an ...
, and Instructional Teaching and Presentation Skills (ITPS)); satisfactory performance in all exams results in the cadet being awarded the pale blue QAIC lanyard and flight suit badge. Upon completion of the course, graduating students are offered affiliated membership to the
Royal Aeronautical Society.
Junior Leaders Course
For those interested in fieldcraft teaching and leadership, there is the Junior Leaders Course. Successful completion of the course awards the participant a maroon lanyard to be worn over their left shoulder and a junior leaders badge to sew on to the left sleeve of their No.3 Service Dress (field uniform) to show they are a qualified Junior Leader. The course used to run from September to Easter, involving six weekend training camps and an assessment week. The course is aimed at more senior cadets, and as such, an age restriction of 17 years applies. Not only this, but the course also requires the participant to hold the rank of Cadet Sergeant or higher. The course is also open to Sea Cadets and Army Cadets, and culminates in the award of a Level 3 Certificate in Leadership & Management from the
Institute of Leadership and Management.
Adult staff and ranking
Three categories of supervisory staff run the Air Training Corps (ATC) at the unit level:
commissioned officer
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer (NCO), or a warrant officer. However, absent ...
s, senior NCOs, and civilian instructors (CIs). All uniformed staff must attend training courses run by the Royal Air Force at the
Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) Adult Training Facility (ATF), located at
RAF College Cranwell (RAFC), usually within a year of appointment, with further courses as they progress up the rank structure. Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers (CFAV) are non-combatants, and there is no training for any form of active duty, or integration into the duties of other full-time or reserve military personnel. The CFAV is concerned only with the Air Cadets.
Officers
Since December 2017, all RAFAC officers in the Air Training Corps are
commissioned with a
Cadet Forces Commission (CFC) and ranks framework, with previous RAFVR(T)
officers having their commissions transferred to CFC commissions.
Squadrons are usually commanded by CFC
Flight Lieutenants (Flt Lt) and
Flying Officers (Fg Off), who are also found as Wing and Regional
staff officer
A military staff or general staff (also referred to as army staff, navy staff, or air staff within the individual services) is a group of officers, enlisted, and civilian staff who serve the commander of a division or other large milita ...
s, along with
Squadron Leaders (Sqn Ldr) and
Wing Commanders (Wg Cdr). Particularly large squadrons are sometimes commanded by Squadron Leaders (typically when the squadron has 100 or more cadets).
The most senior rank in the Cadet Forces Commission is that of Wing Commander, with the exception of the ambassador to the Air Cadets, and the single Senior RAFAC Volunteer, who both hold the honorary rank of
Group Captain
Group captain (Gp Capt or G/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British influence.
Group cap ...
(Grp Capt) RAFAC, under a CFC. The current ambassador is Emma Wolstenholme.
Unless an officer has previous service in the
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the unified military, military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its British Overseas Territories, Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests ...
, they are appointed as an
Acting Pilot Officer (A/Plt Off) until they complete the Officers Initial Course (OIC) at
RAF College Cranwell. They are then awarded a Cadet Forces Commission (CFC). Promotion to Flying Officer normally occurs after two years. Former regular commissioned officers are usually appointed as Flying Officers, subject to certain conditions being met. Upon becoming
Officer Commanding
The commanding officer (CO) or commander, or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually giv ...
of a squadron, completing a Squadron Commander's Course (SCC), and subject to certain conditions being met, officers may become eligible for promotion by either one or two ranks (in the case of a Flying Officer, promotion will not be more than one rank unless the Sqn size dictates such).
Ambassador to the Air Cadets
In April 2013,
Sir Chris Hoy was appointed the first Ambassador to the
Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC), and assumed the rank of Honorary
Group Captain
Group captain (Gp Capt or G/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British influence.
Group cap ...
RAFVR(T).
In November 2014,
Carol Vorderman accepted the appointment of Ambassador to the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, saying: "I am truly honoured to be appointed as an ambassador for the RAF Air Cadets. I can't wait to meet the cadets, and the adult volunteer staff who give so much of their time to support them. The cadets themselves are a shining example of the best of British youngsters, standing with them on a parade square will be a great privilege." Vorderman assumed the rank of Honorary Group Captain RAFVR(T) (changed to
Group Captain RAFAC from December 2017) for the duration of her appointment. She is the first female to be appointed Ambassador.
In November 2021, rower Emma Wolstenholme was appointed Wing Commander (RAFAC) and Honorary Ambassador to the Air Cadets. She is a former serving
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
officer, and planned to row solo across the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...
in early 2022. However, this attempt and later ones were postponed due to sub-optimal weather conditions. A successful attempt was made on Sunday 4 June 2023, rowing 2,000 miles around Great Britain.
NCOs and WOs
Adults may also be appointed as
senior non-commissioned officers (SNCO), these being ranks within the Air Training Corps. Adult SNCOs and warrant officers (WO) are uniformed in the same way as their RAF counterparts, except that the embroidered text of 'RAF AIR CADETS' appears below their rank insignia.
Since December 2017, Air Training Corps SNCOs and WOs had their ranks transferred to the new RAFAC commissions and ranks framework. A gilt RAFAC badge is worn on the lapels when in No.1 dress uniform, to denote membership within the cadet forces.
In 2020, all RAFAC Warrant Officers and Warrant Officers (Aircrew) in the Air Training Corps were granted use of the
Royal Arms insignia, to bring the RAFAC other ranks insignia into alignment with those of their
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
counterparts.
Staff (adult) ranks pre-December 2017
Air Training Corps officers were previously commissioned into the
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch), RAFVR(T), a specific training branch of the
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was established in 1936 to support the preparedness of the U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF) in the event of another war. The Air Ministry intended it to form a supplement to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force ( ...
, the RAFVR (
military reservists). They previously wore a gilt 'VRT' pin badge upon their rank braid, while warrant officers and SNCOs wore a gilt 'ATC' pin badge. The Air Training Corps ranks of adult SNCOs and WOs were Sergeant (ATC), Flight Sergeant (ATC), and Warrant Officer (ATC).
[Prior to the 'LaSER (London and South East Region) Review' of 2003, the adult ranks of Sergeant and Flight Sergeant did not exist, meaning that the non-commissioned rank structure of a squadron was more straightforward, i.e., Cadet, Cadet Corporal, Cadet Sergeant, Cadet Flight Sergeant, Cadet Warrant Officer, Adult Warrant Officer. This has been disturbed by inserting the ranks of Sgt (RAFAC) and FS (RAFAC) and WO (RAFAC). The rank of Sgt (RAFAC) is senior to all cadet ranks, including CWO. However, this does allow a wider scope for developing staff to progress as Senior Non-Commissioner Officers, and brings the ATC's adult rank structure more in line with those of the other cadet forces, whose adult ranks begin at Sergeant or service equivalent.]
Civilian instructors and chaplains
Civilian instructors, abbreviated CI, play an important role in training Air Training Corps cadets. Unlike adult NCOs and officers, civilian instructors do not wear a uniform. Civilian instructors are recognised by their light-blue
polo shirt and dark-blue sweatshirt bearing the name of the corps and '
Royal Air Force Air Cadets'. This is a recent effort to standardise their identity. When addressing a CI by cadets, Sir or Ma'am is used; whereas staff will use Mr, Mrs, Miss, followed by their surname to address a CI.
Many civilian instructors are ex-Royal Air Force or ex-military; they invariably bring valuable skills which directly complement the aims of the Air Training Corps. Whilst they do not form part of the squadron chain of command, in some circumstances they may hold positions within the squadron such as the
adjutant
Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed ...
, training officer, or treasurer.
Similarly, Air Training Corps
chaplain
A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...
s are usually civilian members of the local
clergy
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
(although
uniformed forces chaplains may join as Service Instructors). The role of the chaplain in the ATC is to 'provide appropriate
pastoral
The pastoral genre of literature, art, or music depicts an idealised form of the shepherd's lifestyle – herding livestock around open areas of land according to the seasons and the changing availability of water and pasture. The target au ...
care for all personnel within the Air Cadet Organisation, irrespective of religious belief or status'.
A chaplain's role in the local squadron is to offer guidance and leadership to cadets and members of staff on moral and
spiritual matters. The commitment expected of a chaplain is a monthly visit to lead what is termed 'the Padre's hour', and to conduct the formal Enrolment Service when new cadets join. ATC chaplains are supported by the
Royal Air Force Chaplains Branch.
ATC chaplains do not wear uniform, but are recognised by a chaplain's badge on their lapel, and a larger version on their
tippet (preaching scarf),
vestment
Vestments are Liturgy, liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christianity, Christian religion, especially by Eastern Christianity, Eastern Churches, Catholic Church, Catholics (of all rites), Lutherans, and Anglicans. ...
s, or other
clerical clothing
Clerical clothing is non-Liturgy, liturgical clothing worn exclusively by clergy. It is distinct from vestments in that it is not reserved specifically for use in the liturgy. Practices vary: clerical clothing is sometimes worn under vestments, a ...
.
Even if it is not their custom to do so, ATC chaplains are expected to wear a
clerical collar ('dog collar') when on an RAF station.
The equivalent No.2 working dress for a chaplain is a dark sweater with chaplain's badge and a clerical collar.
Service instructors
Members of the full-time (Regular) and part-time (Reserve) Armed Forces often assist at Air Training Corps squadrons in the role of Service Instructor; they engage in instructional duties which are often related to their serving role or profession. Service Instructors wear the uniform of their parent unit, and are addressed appropriately, with ranks junior to NCO being addressed as 'Staff'.
See also
;Royal Air Force Air Cadets
*
Air Experience Flight
*
Volunteer Gliding Squadron
;Other UK military branch supported cadets
*
Sea Cadet Corps
**
Royal Marines Cadets
*
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force (ACF), generally shortened to Army Cadets, is a national Youth organisations in the United Kingdom, youth organisation sponsored by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence and the Bri ...
;Other MoD sponsored or recognised cadet forces
*
Volunteer Cadet Corps
*
Combined Cadet Force
;Related articles
*
Cadets (youth program)
*
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (commonly abbreviated DofE) is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by the Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, which has since expanded to 144 nations. The awards recognise adolescents and ...
*
Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
*
Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation (CVQO)
*
Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets
The Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets (GVCAC) was a voluntary uniformed Youth organisations in the United Kingdom, youth organisation in the United Kingdom for girls aged between 11 and 20. It was a registered charity, and a member of NCVYS, The ...
*
National Association of Training Corps for Girls
;International Air Cadet organisations
*
Australian Air Force Cadets
*
Royal Canadian Air Cadets
*
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a Congressional charter, congressionally chartered, federally supported Nonprofit corporation, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliaries, auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CA ...
*
Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps
*
New Zealand Air Training Corps
Notes
References
External links
The Royal Air Force Air Cadets— official RAFAC website, includes links to many Region, Wing and Squadron websites
Find your local Squadron— searchable list of all active ATC Squadrons and their contact details
Air Cadets Squadron Finder— details of all squadrons, including address & location map, contacts details, parade times, and squadron website
{{Authority control
Royal Air Force
Air Cadet organisations
British Cadet organisations
Youth organisations based in the United Kingdom
Organisations based in Lincolnshire
Youth organizations established in 1941
1941 establishments in the United Kingdom