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Royal Canadian Air Cadets

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Royal Canadian Air Cadets Crest
Royal Canadian Air Cadets Crest

The Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a national youth organization of close to 24,500 young men and women from 12 through 18 years of age. There are 448 air cadet squadrons located across every province and territory in Canada. The Royal Canadian Air Cadets form one of the three Canadian Cadet Organizations, which also includes Royal Canadian Army Cadets and Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. This organization is made possible through a partnership between the Canadian Forces and the Air Cadet League of Canada. Cadets are not military members and are not expected to join the Canadian Forces at any time. This is noted in Section 49 of the National Defence Act.

Contents

[edit] Aim

The aim of the Canadian Cadet Organization (QR&O Cadets Sec 2:03) includes:

  1. To develop in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership;
  2. To promote physical fitness; and
  3. To stimulate youth interest in the activities of the Canadian Forces.

[edit] Motto

The Air Cadet motto is "To learn. To serve. To advance."

[edit] Rank structure

A new person joining the Air Cadet program holds the rank of "Air Cadet" (AC). As a cadet is appointed, following training, experience and demonstration of aptitude, more and more responsibilities are given to them. A senior cadet often teaches more junior cadets while also learning from junior officers.

Often, more senior members are labelled non-commissioned members, as in the Canadian Forces. Responsibilities are given to cadets upon reaching the rank of Cadet Corporal, the first non-commissioned member rank, which is now automatic at some squadrons after one or two years of training, or still merit-based at others. Cadet Sergeant is the first of the senior ranks, and these members of the squadron are responsible for most day-to-day activities. Cadet Flight Sergeants work to administrate the Sergeants, while in some cases taking over from them and using them as aids. They are also in charge of disciplining the flights on the whole. The Cadet Warrant Officers mainly deal with administrative tasks that are in close conjunction with the Commanding Officer and his/her staff. A list of ranks is given below along with a description of the associated badge. There is also a chart describing the vacancies of ranks vs. squadron quotas.

Rank information

</table> Quota vs. vacancies
Air Cadet rank Insignia More Information

Warrant Officers</td> </tr>

Cadet Warrant Officer, 1st Class (C/WO1) Coat of Arms of Canada Warrant Officer 1st Class (WO1) (Royal Canadian Air Cadets)
Cadet Warrant Officer, 2nd Class (C/WO2) Edward Crown within laurel wreath Warrant Officer 2nd Class (WO2) (Royal Canadian Air Cadets)
<p align="center">Senior non-commissioned officers
Cadet Flight Sergeant (C/FSgt) Edward Crown above three chevrons, point down Flight Sergeant (FSgt) (Royal Canadian Air Cadets)
Cadet Sergeant (C/Sgt) Three chevrons, point down Sergeant (Sgt) (Royal Canadian Air Cadets)
Junior non-commissioned officers
Cadet Corporal (C/Cpl) Two chevrons, point down -
Junior members
Leading Air Cadet (LAC) A propeller -
Air Cadet (AC) None -
# of Cadets WO1 WO2 F/Sgt Sgt Cpl LAC
29 or less Note 1 Note 1 1 2-3 - -
30 - 59 1 1 2-3 4-6 - -
60 - 89 1 1-2 2-4 6-9 - -
90 - 119 1 1-3 3-6 8-12 - -
120 - 149 1 2-3 4-7 10-15 - -
150 - 179 1 2-4 4-8 12-18 - -
180 - 209 1 2-5 5-10 14-21 - -

Note 1: Squadron with a quota of 29 and less are authorized one WO2 or one WO1.


[edit] Summer training centres (CSTCs)

[edit] Air Cadet summer courses

Over 10 000 Air Cadets take part in summer training. Some of the courses offered:

  • Air Traffic Control Course
  • Advanced Aviation Technology - Airport Operations Course (courses commencing summer 2007)
  • Athletic Instructor Course
  • Basic Training Course
  • Basic Music Course
  • Basic Pipes & Drums Course
  • Glider Pilot Scholarship
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – Australia
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – Belgium
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – France
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – Hong Kong
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – Netherlands
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – New Zealand
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – Singapore
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – Sweden
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – Turkey
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – United Kingdom
  • International Air Cadet Exchange – United States
  • Introduction to Aerospace Course
  • Introduction to Aviation Course
  • Introduction to Instruction Course
  • Introduction to Leadership Course
  • Introduction to Physical Education and Recreational Training Course
  • Introduction to Rifle Coaching Course
  • Introduction to Survival Training Course
  • Music – Level 1 to 5 course
  • Music – Level 1, 2
  • Music – Level 1, 2, 3
  • Music – Level 3, 4, 5 course
  • Music – Level 4, 5
  • Oshkosh Trip
  • Pipes and Drums 1 to 5 course
  • Power Pilot Scholarship
  • Senior Leaders Course
  • Service Band
  • Survival Instructor Course
  • Technical Training – Basic Electronics Course
  • Technical Training – Photography Course (canceled after summer of 2006)
  • Technical Training –Aircraft Servicing Course
  • Staff Cadet Employment

[edit] Summer courses qualification badges

Image:AIC cstc badge.jpg Image:BASIC cstc badge.jpg Image:GLIDER cstc badge.jpg Image:INTER cstc badge.jpg Image:AERO cstc badge.jpg Image:ITAC cstc badge.jpg Image:ITI cstc badge.jpg Image:LEAD cstc badge.jpg Image:PHYS cstc badge.jpg Image:RIFLE cstc badge.jpg Image:INTROSURVIVE cstc badge.jpg Image:SENIOR cstc badge.jpg Image:SERVICEBAND cstc badge.jpg Image:INSTRUCTSURVIVE cstc badge.jpg Image:TECH cstc badge.jpg Image:STAFF cstc badge.jpg

[edit] Air Cadet flying programs

Image:Wings both.jpg
Power wings and glider wings

Each year, 22,000 junior air cadets participate in familiarization gliding flights during the spring and fall. In summer, 320 senior cadets earn their Transport Canada Glider Pilot Licence through the Air Cadet Gliding Scholarship. An average of 55,000 glider flights are done every year. In Canada, the majority of glider pilots licenses are earned by Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Cadets must be 16 to write the certifying Transport Canada exam.

Each year, 250 air cadets earn their Transport Canada Private Pilot Licence through the Air Cadet Flying Scholarship program. Cadets aged 17 and 18 years old who have proven themselves to be high achievers in the cadet program and who have a particular interest and aptitude in the field of aviation have the opportunity to learn to fly.

[edit] Gliding familiarization flights

Gliding familiarization – better known as glider fam flights - occurs at over 50 locations across Canada. Flights take place on weekends from March to June and from September to December. In addition to flying, junior air cadets become part of the glider ground crew. Cadets learn how to position the gliders for take-off and help retrieve them after they land. The cadets also learn signal operations, and help with the set-up and take-down of the airfield. All Air Cadets are given the chance to go up in a glider.

Familiarization flights are a learning experience. Before getting in the glider, a member of the crew will give cadets a pre-flight briefing. They will explain how a preflight inspection is done and what all the instruments in the glider are for. During the flight, the pilot will show cadets how the controls of the aircraft work and what an aerodrome circuit is.

[edit] Funding and military partnership

The Royal Canadian Air Cadets, along with Royal Canadian Sea and Army Cadets, is sponsored by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence. The Civilian Army Cadet, Air Cadet and Navy Leagues of Canada fund local requirements to provide accommodation, utilities, liability insurance, training aids and local transportation not provided the by the CF. Each Cadet Program is supported by a civilian sponsoring group that is responsible to the National League.

The basic Air Cadet program is free, including unforms and trips. Cadets only need to raise money normally twice a year, and pay around $3 for a name tag. Cadets who go tagging or raise money in any other way for the Air Cadets of their squadron get first priorities in trips.


The program does not actively recruit members for military service. While some youth involved in the Cadet program do go on to join the Canadian Forces, there is no expectation of a military career.

Further, the program promotes the nationalism of Canada by bringing together various Canadians of different languages, religions, regions and ethnicities.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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