- To equip its youth members with the tools required to become useful members of the community,
- To have the self confidence to carryout individual and group tasks within and outside of the Squadron,
- To foster a feeling of pride and self-esteem, all within a fairly disciplined environment.
To this end, we as a Corps provide the cadets with qualified and experienced staff to provide them with the skills that they will need to gain their classification qualifications within the ATC, as well as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and the new B-Tech Qualification in Public Services for those over 16, that can provide the equivalent to 4 GCSE passes.
As a Squadron, we promote teamwork and positively encourage the cadets in accepting responsibility. This will aid them with any aspirations that they may have for promotion within the Squadron, proceed to joining any of the Armed Forces, or in anything they choose to do later in life.
On Entry to the Cadets
Your child has now been accepted as a probationary member of the Squadron and will be known as a ‘Junior cadet’. This period will normally last for about two months, where he/she will use this time to become acquainted with the Squadron, other cadet members and the staff.
Cadets can use this ‘settling in’ period to decide if we are an organisation worth belonging to as they find their feet and to learn more about what the ATC has to offer in the way of training, aviation based activities, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, leisure activities and adventure training. The staff will also use this period to evaluate your son/daughter for his/her ability to work as a team member, participate enthusiastically in all Squadron activities and to adopt the correct bearing that fits an organisation which is very much in the public eye.
In-accordance with the ‘Rules and Regulations for the Air Training Corps’, we are unable to enrol anyone who is also an enrolled cadet with one of the other cadet forces (Army Cadets or Sea Cadets).
After this probationary period, your son/daughter will be issued with a consent form for you to give permission for them to participate in the various activities the ATC offers. We will also begin to issue them with a uniform (free of charge). As part of the induction into the ATC, your son/daughter will be fully enrolled into the Squadron by our Chaplain, which is an occasion that you will be most welcome to come and watch.
At this time a blue ‘Record Of Service’ log book will be issued to the cadet and must be kept up to date. Cadets must be in possession of their “Blue Book” at all times while on cadet duty.
Uniform
The uniform that your son/daughter will be issued with comprises:
1 beret and cap badge
1 light blue shirt/blouse (Wedgwood)
1 dark blue shirt/blouse (working blue)
1 black tie
1 pair of trousers/skirt
1 pullover
1 brassard (for Squadron identification and classification badges)
1 belt
1 water proof jacket
The issue of uniform does not include shoes, any kind of boots, or socks/tights.
Any items of uniform/kit issued by the ATC will need to be returned when a cadet leaves the Corps.
TrainingAll training is carried out by qualified staff in the given subject. All adult staff are security vetted and checked by the Criminal Records Office, under the Child Protection Act. Staff are knowledgeable in first aid and health and safety. All staff are volunteers and maintain civilian jobs during the day.
We endeavour to ensure that your son/daughter, when left in our charge, is in an environment that is challenging to them but at the same time, is as safe as is practicably possible.
Most, if not all, of our training is covered by signing a specific parental consent and health form, or has already been consented to when you sign the initial parental consents for your son/daughter to join the ATC on the RAF F3822A (White form).
Camps
The ATC holds camps annually for 1 week both at Easter and in the summer. They are held on operational RAF stations and usually cost in the region of £50. This charge covers accommodation, the activities, food and travel.
There are also adventure-training based camps held at training centres in Windermere and North Wales. In addition to these there are also locally run camps which we participate in.
As part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, we run a series of tented camps at normal camp sites, where the cadets are taught the skills required to meet the obligations of the Award Scheme and to have fun while learning camp-craft and hiking skills.
Flying and Gliding
The ATC offers powered flying training and gliding courses throughout the year. A cadet can expect to have one (or more) half hour, individual flying lessons per year from the RAF and a series of gliding sessions.
SportThe ATC promotes a wide range of sporting activities and cadets are encouraged to participate. Devon & Somerset Wing (‘The Wing’) holds regular trials for football, rugby, hockey, netball and athletics. If a cadet is successful enough, he/she can represent not only the Squadron but The Wing, Region and the Corps at National levels.
Shooting
At both Squadron premises, we have an indoor small-bore rifle range. Cadets have the opportunity to fire the 0.22in rifle as part of their training. Full-bore shooting is available at weekends away from the Squadron HQ. All shooting is target-based shooting only.
Shooting training takes place in a strictly controlled environment with fully-qualified Range Conducting Officers (RCO’s), Weapon Instructors and experienced coaching staff present at all times.
Again, as in other sports, your son/daughter may, if they have the aptitude, represent the Squadron and The Wing up to National levels.
Finance
Subscriptions are currently £8.00 per month (roughly £1 per night) for all cadets irrespective of rank. ‘Subs’ are due for payment on the first Tuesday of each month, even if the cadet is absent. (New Cadets are charged at £2 per week during the Probationary Period). This is a policy decision made by Headquarters Air Cadets and the Squadron is charged calculated on the number of cadets attending, irrespective of attendance. In addition to the monthly subs, there is a one-off joining fee of £20. You will agree that our costs are comparable with other youth organisations and are quite reasonable.
Welfare
We as an organisation are aware that not all families are in a position to fund their son/daughters participation in all the activities that the ATC can offer. However, most of the activities that we provide cost very little. Flying and gliding, for instance, costs you as a parent nothing at all. The largest financial outlay will probably be for annual camps and any footwear that your son/daughter may require.
To help you as a parent/guardian, the Squadron operates an easy payment scheme which could help towards the ‘mad scramble’ for funds when camps come round. Staff will notify all the cadets in ample time of any camps or other high cost activities in ample time and we can start to receive part payments at any time.
If for any reason a genuine case of financial hardship exists which would prevent your son/daughter taking part in an event, an informal confidential meeting can be arranged with a senior member of staff as a limited amount of funds can be made available to meet such needs.