Royal Air Force Air Cadets

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]

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)

RAF Air Cadets marching in a parade

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]

Organisation

The RAFAC consists of:

• Headquarters RAF Air Cadets (HQRAFAC) at RAF Cranwell
• 6 Regional Headquarters
• 34 Wing Headquarters
• Two National Air Cadet Adventure Training Centres, at Windermere^[7] (in the Lake District) and in Wales^{[citation needed]}
• Over 900 Air Training Corps Squadrons in the UK and overseas^[8]
• Around 200 RAF contingents of the Combined Cadet Force^[3]

Regions

Main article: Air Training Corps § Structure and organisation

The six regions are:

1. London and South East Region (LaSER)
2. South West Region (SW)
3. Wales and West Region (W&W)
4. Central and East Region (C&E)
5. North Region
6. 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

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.

Activities

Main article: Activities of the Air Training Corps

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

See also

• 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