Joining the Air Cadets opens up lots of opportunities, including the chance to fly! It’s our aim to get you airborne as often as possible, as a passenger in a light aircraft, a glider or even on-board RAF aircraft such as our Typhoon fast-jet or a Chinook helicopter. Get your head in the clouds There are plenty of opportunities for cadets to get in the air. Air Experience Flights could even see you take to the skies in a Grob Tutor light aircraft.  Stand out from the crowd and you could be put forward for an overseas flight on a Hercules, VC10 or Tri-star. If you’re really lucky you could even join a pilot in one of our fast-jet aircraft or experience the unbeatable exhilaration of a Red Arrows flight! Read More

Whatever level you are as a cadet, you'll have the opportunity to try your hand at military skills and drills. That means rifle shooting and field craft. At close range Marksmanship goes a long way back in the history of Air Cadets and is one of our most popular activities. Think you can concentrate on distant targets and fire with consistent accuracy? It's not easy. It requires focus, agility and a very steady hand. We’ll teach you to handle a variety of weapons safely. Firing is always done lying on your stomach (the prone position) at static targets. Progress through the course and you'll experience different types of weapons and could even take part in shooting competitions if you really prove your skills. Ranges come in different shapes and sizes but all are in controlled conditions with full training on any weapon that you handle - safety is our top priority. To start with you'll be firing at targets that are fairly close - around 25m away. As you advance through weapons and your skill builds, you will fire at targets 100m or more away. The great outdoors Everyone gets excited about fieldcraft. But what is it? Put simply, it's the skills you need to survive and navigate yourself around outdoors, in unfamiliar places. It means sorting food, shelter, protection from the weather and getting from A to B as quickly and effectively as you can. this is where Air Cadet training gets closer to what RAF personnel do in their training. The principle is the same - think on your feet, adapt to your situation and work to your team's strengths. Read More

Adventurous Training is an essential part of the Air Cadet's training syllabus and the place where team effort really matters - you'll build new friendships, and learn to rely on the other people you're with to get the job done. It also lets you show off your leadership qualities. Something for everyone Remember, whatever your personal tastes, nothing is compulsory. There is a wide range of adventurous activities to get stuck into, so if climbing isn't for you perhaps canoeing is. 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. Read More

You may of heard of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), but don't know what it is or whether it's for you. Well, it's for everyone who likes a challenge. Their mission is simple - 'to inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development, and recognise their achievements'. To put it another way, they help you succeed. With the same sense of adventure that drew you to the Air Cadets in the first place, the DofE takes you through 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. Taking it to the next level If you're 14 or over, then you can begin - just ask the instructors in your squadron and they'll help you get started. For more information now on everything DofE, follow any of the links on this page to visit their official website. There are three levels which, when successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold DofE Award. And it's never too late to get in on the action - depending on your age you may be able to jump straight in at Silver or Gold level! There are four sections at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold: 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 Go for Gold! It's not a walk in the park. You'll get your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through persistence and commitment - but as an Air Cadet you'll already know all about that. Over time you'll develop personally and welcome each new challenge. At the end of it all you'll have the world’s leading achievement award for young people under your belt, recognised by employers and universities alike. But there's one person who'll truly appreciate that achievement the most - you. For more information visit http://www.dofe.org/ (opens in a window). Read More

Aside from all the great experiences and new skills you'll gain as an air cadet, you can also take away real qualifications that will set you apart from the crowd when you head to university or begin your chosen career.  For starters there's the Duke of Edinburgh Award that employers everywhere recognise as a great achievement. You can take on the challenge as part of your adventurous training, working your way up through the levels all the way to Gold - something to be really proud of. But did you know there's also: Leadership training, where you can really prove your worth as leader - a skill that will build your confidence and your ability to deal with different kinds of people. If you can handle it you could get to the Junior Leaders course - it's gruelling but what you get out of it will be invaluable to you for the rest of your life.  . BTECs are always popular and a widely recognised qualification - more than 4,000 cadets have registered for the First Diploma in Public Services and over 6,000 have signed up for the First Diploma in Aviation Studies. There's also the increasingly popular First Diploma in Performing Arts (Music) for budding musicians. First Aid is another essential skill you can pick up - train in this important area and you may be awarded a certificate from St Johns Ambulance. If those skills were called upon you could make all the difference in a life or death situation.  City & Guilds - cadets can also benefit from certain vocational qualifications in management, as can our volunteers. Read More