Junior Cadet

Once you have shown an interest in joining the Squadron, we will assign you to an intake of cadets that will see you join the Squadron and progress through being a Junior cadet to achieving your First Class Cadet Status. The basic steps are:

• Initial chat with staff and look round Squadron on intake night
• Induction
• Enrollment
• First Class Cadet Parts 1 and 2
• First Class Cadet Parts 3 to 5

Initial chat with staff and look round Squadron

INtakes will take place on specific dates, listed on the How to Join Page. On the night of the intake you can attend with your parent/guardian, and you will be given information about the Squadron and the Air Training Corps. Staff will be on hand to explain how the intake system works and answer any questions you or your parent/guardian may have.

As with all things in life there is paperwork as well. Your parent/guardian will be asked to fill out a couple of forms to allow you to join the Air Cadets, and you will also be given some more information about the Air Cadets.

With all that out of the way its now time to have a look around the Squadron and meet some more of the staff and cadets. Generally you will be given a tour of the Squadron by one of our Cadet NCOs and meet the cadets.

Induction

We will then take you through the induction process. You will be given a booklet that will tell you more about the Air Cadets and you will be assigned a ‘mentor’. This is an older cadet or NCO who will look after you in your first few weeks at the Squadron. Soon after this you may be issued with your ‘green’ uniform (a set of combat clothing) if it is available.

Uniform Issue

Your blue RAF uniform will need to be ordered through the RAF or the Squadron stores. This probably will happen after you have been with the Squadron for about 4 weeks. It may take longer if the uniform has to come from our parent station at RAF Lyneham.

Enrollment

Enrollment is the process of moving from Being a Junior Cadet to a Cadet. This can only happen once you have reached the age of 13 years 3 months. This may mean that some of your friends are enrolled before you but it won’t make any difference to what you can do on the Squadron.

Enrollments are usually performed by the Squadron Padre. You are invited to state the ‘Cadet Promise’ and the Padre will enroll you into the Air Training Corps.

First Class Cadet Parts 1 and 2

This is the first step to you achieving your First Class Cadet status. You will be given lessons on The Air Training Corps, The Royal Air Force and the history of flight. In addition you will taught how to perform static drill. At the end of this there will be an oral (spoken) assessment for the subjects and a practical test for the drill. Don’t worry you won’t be up revising for these. It is just a way to ensure that we have given you the necessary information and that you can perform the drill movements.

First Class Cadet Parts 3 to 5

This is the final step to you achieving your First Class Cadet status. You will be given lessons on Airmanship, Map Reading, Initial Expedition Training and Radio Communications At the end of this there will again be an oral (spoken) assessment for the subjects. Once you have completed your First Class Cadet Training successfully you will be able to start flying and gliding