Royal Air Force Air Cadets (original) (raw)
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| Royal Air Force Air Cadets | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | Since 5 February 1941[1] |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Volunteer Military Youth Organisation |
| Part of | Air Training Corps Combined Cadet Force |
| Headquarters | RAF Cranwell |
| Patron | The Princess of Wales |
| Motto(s) | Venture Adventure |
| Website | www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/  |
| Commanders | |
| Commandant Air Cadets | Air Cdre Al Lewis[2] |
| RAFAC WO | WO Donna Hall RAFAC |
| Honorary Ambassadors | Wg Cdr Emma Wolstenholme RAFAC |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Trainer | Grob Tutor (Grob G103a Twin II) |
Military unit
RAF Air Cadets marching in a parade
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 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 consists of:[7]
- Headquarters RAF Air Cadets (HQRAFAC) at RAF Cranwell
- 6 Regional Headquarters
- 34 Wing Headquarters
- Two National Air Cadet Adventure Training Centres, at Windermere[8] (in the Lake District) and in Wales[_citation needed_]
- Over 900 Air Training Corps Squadrons in the UK and overseas
- RAF contingents of the Combined Cadet Force
The six regions are:
- London and South East Region (LaSER)
- South West Region (SW)
- Wales and West Region (W&W)
- Central and East Region (C&E)
- North Region
- Scotland and Northern Ireland Region (S&NI)
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.[9] Examples of these CFAV posts include Region Staff Officer, Region Training Officer, and Region STEM Officer.[10]
RAFAC Sections of the CCF
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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 greatly, but commonly include:
- First aid
- Radio
- NavEx (Navigational Exercise)
- Physical activities
- Drill and discipline
- Band and music
- Camps
- Leadership
There are also less frequent, but enriching, activities. Examples include:
- Gliding, at a Volunteer Gliding Squadron
- Flying (on an RAF base)
- RAF base visits
- Shooting
- International trips, such as visits to RAF Akrotiri
- International Air Cadet Exchange, an exchange programme within the cadets of other air forces
- The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
- Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch)
- Air Experience Flight
- Volunteer Gliding Squadrons
- Air Defence Cadet Corps (1938–41)
- Royal Air Force boy entrants
- Air Squadron Trophy Competition
- ^ "RAFAC timeline: 1941". RAFAC.
- ^ a b "New Commandant Royal Air Force Air Cadets announced". Royal Air Force Air Cadets. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
- ^ "Who we are". RAF Air Cadets. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "HM The Queen Approves New Commission For Cadet Force Volunteers". Air Cadet. Bourne: Warners Midlands plc. Winter 2017. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
- ^ "MOD sponsored cadet forces statistics: 2023". GOV.UK. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "Join as a cadet". RAF Air Cadets. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Contact us". Royal Air Force Air Cadets. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "Royal outdoors adventure with Air Cadets". Royal Air Force. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ "About Us". Central & East Region Air Cadets. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ "Region Staff". Central & East Region Air Cadets. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.