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]
| 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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Prior to 1 October 2017, the RAFAC was called the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO).[4] As of 1 April 2023, the ACO 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]
Organisation
editThe RAFAC's infrastructure consists of:
- Headquarters RAF Air Cadets (HQRAFAC) at RAF Cranwell
- 6 Regional Headquarters
- 34 Wing Headquarters
- Two National Air Cadet Adventure Training Centres
- Over 900 Air Training Corps Squadrons in the UK and overseas[7]
- Around 200 RAF contingents of the Combined Cadet Force[7]
Regions
editThe six regions consist of:
- 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.[8] Examples of these CFAV posts include Region Staff Officer, Region Training Officer, and Region STEM Officer.[9]
RAFAC Sections of the CCF
editAir 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.
Activities
editAir Cadet activities vary vastly, however some of the most common to take place include:
- First aid
- Radio
- NavEx (Navigational Exercise)
- Physical activities
- Drill and Discipline
- Band and Music
There are also more rare, but enriching activities that take place also. Examples include:
- Gliding, at a Volunteer Gliding Squadron (VGS)
- Flying (on an RAF base)
- RAF base visits
- Shooting
- International trips/base visits to RAF Akrotiri
- International Air Cadet Exchange (Exchange program within the Cadets of other Air Forces)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "ATC & CCF (RAF)". RAF Air Cadets. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ "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.