Royal Air Force Air Cadets
ActiveSince 5 February 1941[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
TypeVolunteer Military Youth Organisation
HeadquartersRAF Cranwell
PatronThe Princess of Wales
Websitewww.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/
Commanders
Commandant Air CadetsAir Cdre Tony Keeling[2]
RAFAC WOWO Donna Hall RAFAC
Honorary Ambassadors
RAF Air Cadets marching in a parade

The Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) is a volunteer-military youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force that manages 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 Tony Keeling.[4]

Prior to 1 October 2017, the RAFAC was called the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO).[5] As of 1 April 2014, the ACO had a strength of 53,360 cadets and cadet force adult volunteers.[6] 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.[7]

The RAFAC is made up of:

  • Headquarters Air Cadets 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[8]
  • Around 200 RAF contingents of the Combined Cadet Force[8]

See also

References

  1. "RAFAC timeline: 1941". RAFAC.
  2. Myers, K. "New Commandant for Royal Air Force Air Cadets is announced". RAF Air Cadets.
  3. "Who we are". RAF Air Cadets. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  4. Myers, K. (5 June 2020). "NEW COMMANDANT FOR RAF AIR CADETS IS ANNOUNCED". RAF Air Cadets. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. "HM The Queen Approves New Commission For Cadet Force Volunteers". Air Cadet. Bourne: Warners Midlands plc. Winter 2017. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  6. gov.uk MoD – reserves and cadet strengths, table 8a and 8b, page 17-18. April 2014.
  7. "Join as a cadet". RAF Air Cadets. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  8. 1 2 "ATC & CCF (RAF)". RAF Air Cadets. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
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