Others
Other Activities
Being a cadet is not just about flying in the Air Cadets, there are many other activities we provide opportunities for you. We will help you if you want to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (DofE) or take a BTEC. You’ll get to learn radio communications; we’ll test you with leadership training and give you opportunities to visit active Royal Air Force units. Part of your training is going to be technical subjects but we will include aircraft recognition, first aid certifications, undertake aero-modelling projects and even have competitions!
Camps
Going camping to work on your survival skills, or for your DofE expeditions, the annual Easter/Summer camps held at RAF stations around the UK all of this will test you in the wild or whether the RAF is something you consider possible for a career in the future.
Overseas camps – Spend 10 days in Cyprus with fantastic weather, swimming and sailing.
Adventurous training – We have two centres, at Windermere in the Lake District and Llanbedr in coastal Wales, both with stunning scenery. Rock climbing, abseiling, high-level hill walking, mountain-biking, canoeing, high rope work and sailing.
Adventurous training
Adventurous Training is part of the training syllabus and where team effort really matters – we’ll be looking for you to make new friends, learn to rely on the other people to get the job done and show off your leadership qualities.
Whatever your personal tastes, nothing is compulsory. Sometimes what’s on offer depends on the squadron you attend, but everything you do is supervised by qualified trainers who will ensure you get the most out of it. Between local activities and visits to camps, you will have the chance to experience kayaking, hill walking, camping, caving, mountain biking, offshore sailing and winter sports to name just a few.
International Air Cadet Exchange
The International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) links the Air Cadets with the world. For 15 days every July and August we exchange students so each gets a taste of the other’s culture and another great cadet experience. Places are limited, and if you’re aged between 17 and 19 you’ll need to apply as soon as the scheme allows to be in with a chance – you can find out more from your instructors.
The first exchange was in 1947 between the UK and the Canadian Air Cadets. The world-wide cadet family now comprises more than 20 nations, with around 600 cadets/volunteer staff exchanging annually. About 90 of those are from the UK, who head off to about 15 different countries around the world. English is used as the common language.
Country Cadet Organizations
Aerospace Cadets of the Philippines, Air Training Corps Association of New Zealand, Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC), Belgium Cadets de l’Air de Belgique, Canada Air Cadet League of Canada, France Aero Club de France, DGLR – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt together with the German Luftwaffe, Ghana Ghana Cadet Corps, Hong Kong Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps, Israel Gadna Avir, Japan Aerospace Scouts Association, Netherlands Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association, Philippines Aerospace Association, Singapore National Cadet Corps (Air), Switzerland Aero Club of Switzerland, The Luxembourg Aeronautical Federation, The Turkish Aeronautical Association, The Young Falcons of Korea, Turkey Turkish Air League, United States US Civil Air Patrol
Visit http://www.iacea.com/ for more details.
DofE Award
Your participation in the DofE scheme allows you to follow a programme of activities that will leave you a more confident, motivated and capable person. We’re proud to be the DofE Award’s largest participant. If you’re 14 or over, then you can begin – just ask at squadron and we’ll help you get started.
There are three award levels, Bronze, Silver, Gold and four sections for each:
- Volunteering – Get involved providing services to individuals or the community and make a difference to other people’s lives
- Physical – Get active and improve your skills and fitness in sport, dance or other physical activities – it’s your choice
- Skills – Find new interests and get new talents (or perfect existing ones), with increased practical and social skills
- Expedition – Get outdoors and plan, train for and complete an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad – an unbeatable experience
- Residential – Only at Gold level. Getting to the Gold level is a big deal and this last stage could see you going to another country, sharing tasks and activities with people you’ve never met. It’ll test your mettle, and set you up for what life throws at you in the future
Visit http://www.dofe.org/ for more details.
Leadership training
As a cadet you will build your experience, take on extra responsibilities and have further opportunities to develop your self-confidence and leadership skills. There is formal leadership training provided at the following three levels – they’ll test you! Teamwork and leadership is the ultimate test for a cadet and could be the greatest achievement of your time with us. If you aspire to be the best, we’ll help you achieve it.
- Wing and Regional Leadership Courses Typically two or three days long, aimed at training potential Junior NCOs (Corporals) and Senior NCOs (Sergeants and above). This will sort out the natural leaders and if that includes you, you could improve your rank.
- Cadet Leadership Courses Three sets of Cadet Leadership Courses, aimed at 16 and 17 year olds. Each course lasts a week and ends with the award of the Cadet Leadership Badge if completed. The Army Cadet Force (ACF) runs three courses over the Easter period at Nesscliff in Shropshire and three courses in July at Frimley Park in Surrey. Sea Cadets also take part along with Army Cadets, so be ready for some serious competition! The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) runs an Air Cadet Leadership Course at RAF Cranwell each July which is open to air cadets from both the CCF and the Air Cadets.
- The Air Cadet Junior Leaders Course The Junior Leaders Course is physically demanding and requires real commitment and determination. Running from September to Easter, nine weekend training camps and an assessment week in total. Aimed at older cadets – you must be 17 or older in the year you begin the course. It’s also open to Sea Cadets and Army Cadets and culminates in the award of a Level Two Certificate in Team Leadership from the Institute of Leadership and Management.
BTEC qualifications
Building on your favourite area of study or working though our training syllabus, means that you could end up with a number of widely recognised BTEC qualifications awarded via the CVQO, when you’re talking to possible employers in the future; they should already be impressed that you’ve been a cadet, but BTECs will really show them what you’re made of.
- BTEC Certificate in Aviation Studies (equivalent to 2 GCSEs, A-C grades) – Air Cadets only If you achieve the ‘Master Cadet’ of our training syllabus you’re automatically entitled to this qualification without any further work. And it’s free to cadets.
- BTEC First Diploma in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community (equivalent to 4 GCSEs, A-C grades) This is the new qualification for 2015, it mixes theory and practical elements with an emphasis on leadership, teamwork, communications, problem solving and fitness. Most of the content is covered by activities you’ll be doing normally. You’re eligible for this BTEC if you are between 16 and 19 years old.
- BTEC First Diploma in Music (equivalent to 4 GCSEs, A-C grades) This course helps you develop a basic understanding of music as a profession, and combines both technical skills with practical elements and research. By the time you finish, you’ll have demonstrated an understanding of all aspects of performance, including solo and ensemble work and how to manage rehearsals. You will also learn how to market, budget, advertise, programme and publicise a music event. You’ll be expected to be able to play a musical instrument prior to enrolling on the course, but do not have to be able to read music. This award is also free if you’re 16-19 years old.
- ILM Certificate in Team Leading – Level 2 – Air Cadets only The ILM stands for Institute of Leadership and Management, who manage the course. It mixes theory and practical elements with an emphasis on leadership, teamwork and communications and is your first step to being a great manager or leader in the future – it’s a valuable award recognised by employers as a real achievement. You have to have graduated from the Air Cadet Junior Leaders Course to do it, but this award is free.