Potential Cadet

Information
Summer 2023
 What is the Air Cadets?
• Are you up for fun, adventure, incredible experiences and making new friends? Are you
looking for something to give you the edge in life? Then welcome to the RAF Air Cadets.
Better known as the 'Air Cadets', we’re a UK-wide cadet force with more than 40,000
members aged between 12 and 20 years.

• Our aims are to:

• Promote and encourage a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force among
young people
• Provide training which will be useful in the Services and civilian life
• Encourage the spirit of adventure and develop qualities of leadership and good
citizenship
 What do we offer our Cadets?
• As a cadet you'll have the opportunity to do things that others only dream about. Want real
flight experience? No problem. How about heading out on adventurous training and camps,
sometimes overseas? Normal for cadets. Competitive sports, drill, shooting, music, abseiling,
engineering projects? Our list of activities is long, varied and open to all cadets. Yes it's a
challenge, but that's what life's all about.

• We are not a recruiting organisation for the RAF but if you're thinking about a Service career,
cadet membership will put you ahead of the competition. Many cadets go on to great success
in the RAF (and the other Services). Around 25% of officers and 20% of all aircrew (including
pilots, navigators and engineers) in the RAF now are ex-cadets.
Flying and
Gliding
 What Flying and Gliding?
• Aircraft – Vikint T1 Glider and Grob Tutor (powered 2
seater)

• Gliding Progressive Training Syllabus – Blue, Bronze,

Silver and Gold requiring different skill levels, ground
training and hours of flight at each stage
• Flying Progressive Training Syllabus - Blue, Bronze, Silver
and Gold requiring different skill levels, ground training
and hours of flight at each stage

• Other Opportunities;
• Air Cadet Pilot Scheme
• Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Scheme
• Flying Scholarships (Royal Aero Club, Air League
Educational Trust, RAF Charitable Trust, Geoffrey De
Havilland Foundation, Babcock Defence Services,
RAF Association, Guild of Air Pilots and Air
Navigators)
Adventurous Training
 What Adventurous Training?
• 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.

• Climbing
• Camps
• IACE (International
Air Cadet Exchange)
Shooting
 What Shooting?
• We’ll teach you to handle a variety of weapons safely. Basic firing is always done lying on your
stomach (the prone position) at static targets. Progress through the syllabus and you'll
experience different types of weapons, firing positions and could even take part in shooting
competitions if you really prove your skills

• Competitions
• In the wild…..
Fieldcraft exercises vary widely and each places emphasis on different aspects of how to survive
and conduct yourself in the field.
DofE Award
 What DofE?
• There are 4 levels, YES 4, when you do DofE with the Air Cadets
• Blue, Bronze, Silver and Gold
• We offer an entry level blue award available to only air cadets as a way on engaging our cadets with the award scheme
and offering a simple introduction to the structure of the award scheme so you try it out.
• 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
Training and Education
 What Training and Education?
• Our progressive training syllabus offers 4 skill levels to every activity we offer, so you can try
everything at the lower levels and choose the areas you really enjoy to progress through the
harder levels and become an instructor/subject matter expert in those areas.
• 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.
Sports
 What Sports?
• Feeling competitive? As an air cadet you can take part in 5 main sports at different levels -
athletics, cross country, football, netball and swimming. Whatever you do it'll help improve
your physical fitness levels and your team skills. If you're good enough at your favourite sport
we'll notice, and can help you take it to the next level.

• Squadrons also offer they’re own sports programme, at 287 we enjoy circuit training with Sgt
Young, who is a qualified gym instructor.
Parade and Drill
 What Parade and Drill?
• When a group of twenty cadets walk on to a parade square they are all individuals, but as soon
as a session of drill begins the cadets become a team, following the orders given by one
person. Instead of twenty individual feet hitting the ground, there is only one sound. This is the
result of practice and teamwork.

• Drill is also used when you are moving around in large groups in a smart, orderly fashion.
Whatever the reason for a drill it's an impressive sight and shows civilians and members of the
Forces just how well disciplined you are.

• As a cadet you'll participate in various forms of drill, such as:

• Foot Drill
• Basic Drill (both quick & slow time)
• Banner Drill
• Band Drill
Music
 What Music?

• Getting involved in music is a great way of socialising and

of promoting the RAFAC wherever you play to the public.
If you show real talent you could take your playing to the
next level in wing or regional bands or even the National
Marching Band which is being formed over the next year.
Ultimately, you could join the National Concert Band -
where our best players perform at public events often at
some very prestigious locations such as Buckingham
Palace!

• Every year Music Camps are arranged at all levels of the

organisation.
 287 (Stenhouse)
• Squadron
We are located on Stevenson Drive in the west of
the city, EH11 3BQ
• We meet on a 4 weekly cyclic programme, weeks 1
– 3 we meet twice a week on Monday and
Thursday evenings between 7pm and 9.30pm. On
week 4 we meet for 4 hours during the day on a
Saturday or Sunday. These dates are released in
advance for planning.
• We currently have 39 cadets and 7 staff members
 287 (Stenhouse)
Squadron
• We have several social media outlets where you
can keep up to date with our activities
• Facebook – 287 Stenhouse Squadron Air Training
Corps
• Instagram – 287sqn

• Add and follow and watch what we’re up to

 What’s the next step?
• Come and see the activities the Air cadets have to offer and
speak to current cadets and staff. Arrange a visit via return
email to this introduction.
• Look at joining us on our open day on Saturday 12th August.
• Cadets will then join on our next scheduled intake on Monday
4th September 2023.
• You should complete the microsoft form, which will be
provided via email.
• We charge a £25 joining fee for which you receive an Air Cadet
Handbook and a squadron polo-shirt.
• Subscriptions are currently £10 per month and setup will be
advised closer to the intake date, you only start to pay one
month after your intake date.
• Reply to the email and arrange a date to come and see us!

• If you have any questions please email

287@rafac.mod.gov.uk