Discussion
Anyone here involved in or have kids in the air cadets with experience good or bad to share?
One of my kids has shown an interest and just joined so were supporting him as much as possible, seems a big commitment though with two evenings a week and paperwork and uniforms etc.
It’s an interesting situation seeing my wife dealing with air cadets admin which seems a bit poor tbh. Presumably the organisation varies a bit from squadron to squadron?
I always remember thinking there was perhaps more opportunities for gliding etc in these organisations, have they been affected by budget cuts?
One of my kids has shown an interest and just joined so were supporting him as much as possible, seems a big commitment though with two evenings a week and paperwork and uniforms etc.
It’s an interesting situation seeing my wife dealing with air cadets admin which seems a bit poor tbh. Presumably the organisation varies a bit from squadron to squadron?
I always remember thinking there was perhaps more opportunities for gliding etc in these organisations, have they been affected by budget cuts?
My lad was in the ATC, then did 13 years in the RAF. Was good, went to camps, learnt to shoot, went flying. Plus they did drill and indoor activities. I know it's a while ago, but suspect it's much the same although the staff involved are what makes it.
Also it taught him to iron - buggered if I was going to do it for him.
Also it taught him to iron - buggered if I was going to do it for him.
I was in it until about 14 years ago. It was good in many ways, my local unit was a small one with some pretty poor staff but others nearby were much better and running round the woods in army bases at night covered in camo cream was always a laugh as was flying planes. It certainly teaches some discipline, ironing skills, leadership etc though the whole military ethos isn't for everyone, saluting someone I think is a moron isn't something I would do today.
When I was in you didn't have to pay for uniforms, just subs which really weren't much.
When I was in you didn't have to pay for uniforms, just subs which really weren't much.
Daughter did it for a few years and it really did bring her out of her shell. She absolutely loved it and did quite a few camps including one where she flew a plane.
The leaders wont expect a child to jump in fully kitted and most will be happy for them to have a couple of weeks to give it a try. Find your local squadron and have a chat. It's a great organisation.
The leaders wont expect a child to jump in fully kitted and most will be happy for them to have a couple of weeks to give it a try. Find your local squadron and have a chat. It's a great organisation.
My Son was in the Air Cadets...probably the best thing he ever did. He flew and did a loop over our house one day which was pretty amazing, went shooting, met new people, went on trips, helped out at RIAT, flew in several helicopters including a Chinook, learnt proper discipline, gave him confidence...in other words = made him a real Man.
Summary: Absolutely brilliant - do not hesitate. Also get involved if you can, they're always grateful for civilian helpers.
A different league to Army Cadets I might add!
Summary: Absolutely brilliant - do not hesitate. Also get involved if you can, they're always grateful for civilian helpers.
A different league to Army Cadets I might add!
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
My Son was in the Air Cadets...probably the best thing he ever did. He flew and did a loop over our house one day which was pretty amazing, went shooting, met new people, went on trips, helped out at RIAT, flew in several helicopters including a Chinook, learnt proper discipline, gave him confidence...in other words = made him a real Man.
Summary: Absolutely brilliant - do not hesitate. Also get involved if you can, they're always grateful for civilian helpers.
A different league to Army Cadets I might add!
Which is interesting as my son is in his school's CCF in the army and views Air Cadets (not the CCF) as utter wimps. The CCF ones aparently are geeky nerds with no effing idea. Which is apparently teenager speak for even worse. Perhaps his experience is a one off.Summary: Absolutely brilliant - do not hesitate. Also get involved if you can, they're always grateful for civilian helpers.
A different league to Army Cadets I might add!
Tyre Smoke said:
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
My Son was in the Air Cadets...probably the best thing he ever did. He flew and did a loop over our house one day which was pretty amazing, went shooting, met new people, went on trips, helped out at RIAT, flew in several helicopters including a Chinook, learnt proper discipline, gave him confidence...in other words = made him a real Man.
Summary: Absolutely brilliant - do not hesitate. Also get involved if you can, they're always grateful for civilian helpers.
A different league to Army Cadets I might add!
Which is interesting as my son is in his school's CCF in the army and views Air Cadets (not the CCF) as utter wimps. The CCF ones aparently are geeky nerds with no effing idea. Which is apparently teenager speak for even worse. Perhaps his experience is a one off.Summary: Absolutely brilliant - do not hesitate. Also get involved if you can, they're always grateful for civilian helpers.
A different league to Army Cadets I might add!
Air Cadets have a higher level of discipline (at least this was our experience) plus not only do they 'play' with real guns like Army Cadets, they also learn to fly planes and other cool stuff.
I guess it ultimately depends what the kid wants to do. Try both and Sea Cadets as well.
I can sort of see that it's banter, but also there is some truth in it. Round here anyway.
The local Air Cadets entered the Ten Tors Challenge and royally failed. They certainly aren't as hard core as the CCF Army, who take great joy in lying in ditches and ambushing stuff, etc. Yes they get to fly and stuff, but it's not all about that.
I guess my lad is biased, as he wants to join the Royal Marines. He's already talking about a bursary for Sixth form and university. Which is fine by me if it helps with the school fees!
A mate of mine at school was in the ATC. He loved it. Made it all the way to Warrant Officer.
Horses for courses, it seems that most that try it, love it. So anything that makes the kids learn discipline, respect and to stand on their own two feet is fine by me.
The local Air Cadets entered the Ten Tors Challenge and royally failed. They certainly aren't as hard core as the CCF Army, who take great joy in lying in ditches and ambushing stuff, etc. Yes they get to fly and stuff, but it's not all about that.
I guess my lad is biased, as he wants to join the Royal Marines. He's already talking about a bursary for Sixth form and university. Which is fine by me if it helps with the school fees!
A mate of mine at school was in the ATC. He loved it. Made it all the way to Warrant Officer.
Horses for courses, it seems that most that try it, love it. So anything that makes the kids learn discipline, respect and to stand on their own two feet is fine by me.
Tyre Smoke said:
I can sort of see that it's banter, but also there is some truth in it. Round here anyway.
The local Air Cadets entered the Ten Tors Challenge and royally failed. They certainly aren't as hard core as the CCF Army, who take great joy in lying in ditches and ambushing stuff, etc. Yes they get to fly and stuff, but it's not all about that.
I guess my lad is biased, as he wants to join the Royal Marines. He's already talking about a bursary for Sixth form and university. Which is fine by me if it helps with the school fees!
A mate of mine at school was in the ATC. He loved it. Made it all the way to Warrant Officer.
Horses for courses, it seems that most that try it, love it. So anything that makes the kids learn discipline, respect and to stand on their own two feet is fine by me.
So Air if you prefer flying aircraft to lying in ditches, Army if it's the other way about.The local Air Cadets entered the Ten Tors Challenge and royally failed. They certainly aren't as hard core as the CCF Army, who take great joy in lying in ditches and ambushing stuff, etc. Yes they get to fly and stuff, but it's not all about that.
I guess my lad is biased, as he wants to join the Royal Marines. He's already talking about a bursary for Sixth form and university. Which is fine by me if it helps with the school fees!
A mate of mine at school was in the ATC. He loved it. Made it all the way to Warrant Officer.
Horses for courses, it seems that most that try it, love it. So anything that makes the kids learn discipline, respect and to stand on their own two feet is fine by me.
In my ATC days we regarded things like the occasional assault course, night exercise, chasing ducks through sewage farms and all the shouting and saluting nonsense as something to put up with in order to do fun things like fly in military aircraft.
Did it in the early 90s. Flew chipmunks out of Manston during the first Gulf War. Can honestly say no Iraqi Migs got through to London...
Loved it. Managed 20 hours in the log book and something like 45 mins Gliding. Useless at shooting and never liked night exercises. Loved aircraft recognigion. Learnt a few things about girls back then, too
Loved it. Managed 20 hours in the log book and something like 45 mins Gliding. Useless at shooting and never liked night exercises. Loved aircraft recognigion. Learnt a few things about girls back then, too
Tyre Smoke said:
I can sort of see that it's banter, but also there is some truth in it. Round here anyway.
The local Air Cadets entered the Ten Tors Challenge and royally failed. They certainly aren't as hard core as the CCF Army, who take great joy in lying in ditches and ambushing stuff, etc. Yes they get to fly and stuff, but it's not all about that.
I guess my lad is biased, as he wants to join the Royal Marines. He's already talking about a bursary for Sixth form and university. Which is fine by me if it helps with the school fees!
A mate of mine at school was in the ATC. He loved it. Made it all the way to Warrant Officer.
Horses for courses, it seems that most that try it, love it. So anything that makes the kids learn discipline, respect and to stand on their own two feet is fine by me.
I was in the ccf at school and it was utter rubbish, nothing like the forces and taught us nothing, Just kids dressed as soldiers ordering each other around. All I did was press-ups and wore itchy shirts and a few camps where idiots in charge threw thunderflash down drainage tunnels after us and likely have me permanent hearing damage.The local Air Cadets entered the Ten Tors Challenge and royally failed. They certainly aren't as hard core as the CCF Army, who take great joy in lying in ditches and ambushing stuff, etc. Yes they get to fly and stuff, but it's not all about that.
I guess my lad is biased, as he wants to join the Royal Marines. He's already talking about a bursary for Sixth form and university. Which is fine by me if it helps with the school fees!
A mate of mine at school was in the ATC. He loved it. Made it all the way to Warrant Officer.
Horses for courses, it seems that most that try it, love it. So anything that makes the kids learn discipline, respect and to stand on their own two feet is fine by me.
My son wants to join the air cadets because he wants to fly in the RAF. The ccf would be a complete waste of time for him.
TurboHatchback said:
In my day and area the army cadets were a bit more laddish, no girls and not much intellectual content whereas the air cadets were more for the thinking individual and had a good male/female balance. No idea if this is still the case or if it varies unit to unit.
I think it is still the case.TurboHatchback said:
In my day and area the army cadets were a bit more laddish, no girls and not much intellectual content whereas the air cadets were more for the thinking individual and had a good male/female balance. No idea if this is still the case or if it varies unit to unit.
Pretty much still the same. Although there are girls in the Army cadets, they're more manly than a lot of the guys 
And the female instructors even more so! 
Both will make you a better person, increase your exposure of the world and new experiences. Which one is best entirely depends what you want to do in future, and what experience you want.
CCF (schools) is Army, Navy, RAF sections but generally run in combination so expeditions, kit etc is shared
Air Cadets (Sea Cadets, ACF) are run outside of schools and entirely separate.
The quality of the ‘experience’ really depends on the ability of the admin staff to get access to resources. I suspect flying is harder to come by nowadays compared to how it was in the old days, but camps and night exercises are lots of fun.
Well worth pursuing though - little cost and only two evenings a week. If he doesn’t get on with it just hand back the uniform and leave.
Air Cadets (Sea Cadets, ACF) are run outside of schools and entirely separate.
The quality of the ‘experience’ really depends on the ability of the admin staff to get access to resources. I suspect flying is harder to come by nowadays compared to how it was in the old days, but camps and night exercises are lots of fun.
Well worth pursuing though - little cost and only two evenings a week. If he doesn’t get on with it just hand back the uniform and leave.
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