Air Cadets- Adult Helper
Air Cadets- Adult Helper
All, son is able to join the local ATC late this year and I thought I might like to join with him and assist as a helper. Does anyone know the level of commitment? Full time job doesn't allow me to commit to a more than a couple of evenings and weekend sessions a month.I did email the Cadets website a while back, but alas never got a reply. Many thanks!
You can join as a Civilian Instructor, which has no minimum monthly commitment, unlike uniformed staff. Talk to the Squadron Commander in the first instance to see what they need and what you can offer. Alternatively, you could join the Squadron's Civilian Committee, which has an overarching responsibility for fund raising and welfare of cadets and staff. You'll need to have a DBS clearance (previously CRB) if you want to become an instructor, which the Squadron will arrange if/once you've agreed to be a staff member. I was an instructor for 29 years and it was an absolute privilege to have been so.
rolling20,
You will be welcomed, particularly if you have skills related to the RAF or things like DofE, adventurous training or HSW type quals.
The problem you will probably find is that you get sucked in deeper and deeper.
The air cadets is arguably the finest youth organisation in the country but it relies on a vibrant volunteer adult population. You can be a CI, adult NCO or commissioned officer in the RAFVR(T), depending on what you want and if you can cut the mustard.
I joined as a cadet in 1958 and five years later went into the RAF for 31 years and am now back with the air cadets. In February, I was given an extension of uniformed service for twelve months which takes me to Feb 2016 - I shall be 72 then!!
Old Duffer
You will be welcomed, particularly if you have skills related to the RAF or things like DofE, adventurous training or HSW type quals.
The problem you will probably find is that you get sucked in deeper and deeper.
The air cadets is arguably the finest youth organisation in the country but it relies on a vibrant volunteer adult population. You can be a CI, adult NCO or commissioned officer in the RAFVR(T), depending on what you want and if you can cut the mustard.
I joined as a cadet in 1958 and five years later went into the RAF for 31 years and am now back with the air cadets. In February, I was given an extension of uniformed service for twelve months which takes me to Feb 2016 - I shall be 72 then!!
Old Duffer
I helped out at our local squadron for about five years as the chairman/secretary of the fund raising committee (referred to by Auster Fan). I had no instructional responsibilities but still tried to get involved as much as possible, including driving the minibus from time to time. Best thing I was able to do for them was to use my tanker connections to organise a couple of trips to Brize where about a dozen cadets were able to fly on a trip on a VC10 of 101 Squadron and see refuelling at close hand.
I'd just go down to the squadron on one of their nights and make yourself known to the CO - I'm sure he/she will be delighted.
I'd just go down to the squadron on one of their nights and make yourself known to the CO - I'm sure he/she will be delighted.
Auster, Old and Tanker,thank you very much for your replies. I shall make myself known to the CO. I think my biggest fear, is as Old Duffer says...getting sucked in deeper. 😃 and I hope I am not still doing it at 72, that is some achievement sir!
Rolling
I'd be careful, I became a CI and thoroughly enjoyed my one evening a week teaching RAF and aviation history, theory of flight, and map reading. However the CO pushed me for an increased commitment which I was unwilling to commit to. I wanted to take the youngsters out on navex's but to do this the CO insisted I attend a Wing induction programme which covered a number of weekends. I opted not to do this and consequently became little more than a classroom assistant overseeing practical exercises set by others.
It's a noble thing to give a little back but it's difficult to give solely on your own terms.
I'd be careful, I became a CI and thoroughly enjoyed my one evening a week teaching RAF and aviation history, theory of flight, and map reading. However the CO pushed me for an increased commitment which I was unwilling to commit to. I wanted to take the youngsters out on navex's but to do this the CO insisted I attend a Wing induction programme which covered a number of weekends. I opted not to do this and consequently became little more than a classroom assistant overseeing practical exercises set by others.
It's a noble thing to give a little back but it's difficult to give solely on your own terms.
Best thing is to go along and see what you think. Not many years ago while still in I visited the local ATC Sqn with a view to volunteering to assist. To say the reception I got was lukewarm would be an understatement, especially from the adult NCOs. Never progressed it further.
Rolling Twenty,
It is a great and rewarding experience! However, as stated by others, you can get "sucked" deeper than you might wish! I am still a CI with my local Squadron at 77 years of age and enjoy it immensely. Many years in Royal Air Force (and other Air Forces) before this and I am now thinking of giving up. It is not because of the Cadets, who (if I remember correctly, are just as keen as I was in 1952!) but because, quite rightly, you do have to give a great deal more time than you might realise and cope with (in my eyes) a great deal more officialdom! That said, it is probably the best youth organisation in the UK!!
It is a great and rewarding experience! However, as stated by others, you can get "sucked" deeper than you might wish! I am still a CI with my local Squadron at 77 years of age and enjoy it immensely. Many years in Royal Air Force (and other Air Forces) before this and I am now thinking of giving up. It is not because of the Cadets, who (if I remember correctly, are just as keen as I was in 1952!) but because, quite rightly, you do have to give a great deal more time than you might realise and cope with (in my eyes) a great deal more officialdom! That said, it is probably the best youth organisation in the UK!!
When I looked into it (being an instructor on the motor-gliders), the demands was EVERY OTHER weekend, both days. No flexibility, end of. I didn't take it further.
Originally Posted by chevvron
Max age for joining is 55. It's at your Wg Cdrs discretion as to whether you can stay on after 55 in uniform.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ulster
Age: 64
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Now up to 65 as from this month.
I have been an adult WO now for 13 yrs and a CI for a couple of years before that, enjoyed all of it but sadly I may be stepping down due to health problems, kidney failure , and with the transplant list here being around three years I do not have energy to continue at present.
I fully intend that if I step down I will return as a CI following the transplant ,it is a fantastic organization and I will miss it .
To the OP go for it and take full advantage of all it offers ,you will make some great friends and it gives the cadets some great opportunities, this month one of my cadets has been promoted to CWO, recieved a Commandants Certificate of good service and made Pipe Major of the ACO Pipe band and is just doing his A Levels.
I have been an adult WO now for 13 yrs and a CI for a couple of years before that, enjoyed all of it but sadly I may be stepping down due to health problems, kidney failure , and with the transplant list here being around three years I do not have energy to continue at present.
I fully intend that if I step down I will return as a CI following the transplant ,it is a fantastic organization and I will miss it .
To the OP go for it and take full advantage of all it offers ,you will make some great friends and it gives the cadets some great opportunities, this month one of my cadets has been promoted to CWO, recieved a Commandants Certificate of good service and made Pipe Major of the ACO Pipe band and is just doing his A Levels.
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This is what makes it all worthwhile, a letter given to me yesterday by a cadet who has been selected for Welbeck.
Dear Sir
I don't do goodbyes in person but there are a few things I would like to say before I go.
Chiefly I want to say Thank You, I don't know where I would be without cadets and I truely believe I could not have had a better CO.
I think I speak for all the cadets that have been in your care when I say I am so grateful for all you have done for us.
I would never have known about Welbeck if it weren't for you and thus would have been as lost as most people my age.
I couldn't have overcome my mothers death without cadets and you were a large part of that for me, Three years ago I couldn't have seen myself here but now I couldnt be happier.
On top of Welbeck you have gave me so many opportunities and seen promise in me that I never noticed. You trusted me with responsibility and rank and that means so much to me , I can't thank you enough .
Cdt Sgt ________
Yesterday morning I was fully intending to step down but now I will find some way to fight through my health problems to stay on
Dear Sir
I don't do goodbyes in person but there are a few things I would like to say before I go.
Chiefly I want to say Thank You, I don't know where I would be without cadets and I truely believe I could not have had a better CO.
I think I speak for all the cadets that have been in your care when I say I am so grateful for all you have done for us.
I would never have known about Welbeck if it weren't for you and thus would have been as lost as most people my age.
I couldn't have overcome my mothers death without cadets and you were a large part of that for me, Three years ago I couldn't have seen myself here but now I couldnt be happier.
On top of Welbeck you have gave me so many opportunities and seen promise in me that I never noticed. You trusted me with responsibility and rank and that means so much to me , I can't thank you enough .
Cdt Sgt ________
Yesterday morning I was fully intending to step down but now I will find some way to fight through my health problems to stay on
Gentleman Aviator
RUCAWO
I do hope a young thing like you can find a way to stay - maybe reducing committment as a CI?
You can still give Old-Duffer 15 or 16 years - and me quite a few (not that many though
)
Teeters
I do hope a young thing like you can find a way to stay - maybe reducing committment as a CI?
You can still give Old-Duffer 15 or 16 years - and me quite a few (not that many though
)Teeters
Not many years ago while still in I visited the local ATC Sqn with a view to volunteering to assist
But noone should be put off by this - unsurprisingly, I reckon that ATC units benefit from the involvement of those who are or have been in the RAF. The only way to find out is to try it...at each unit where I have been a Service Instructor (or more, recently, Service Helper - are we being dumbed down?!), I have started by turning up on a parade night and introducing myself to the staff. Don't be put off by the lack of e-mail response...I have found that many of the e-mail addressses/website addresses in the public domain are either out of date or simply not checked regularly.
As to the level of commitment, I have found that ATC units are usually fairly flexible and would rather have a decent staff member some of the time than rule them out by insisting on exact commitments. Good luck and enjoy!
I'd semi-second what ToD says. I do a lot of 'Outdoors Ed' type stuff with a lot of different organisations, the Air Cadets being one of them. Before I'll commit to working with any of them I always make sure I go along, have a chat with whoever is working for the unit that I'll be working with and make damn sure I can work with them! If you're giving up your free time, you have to want to do it, and with the best will in the world, if you can't stand the folk that are there already, you're not going to enjoy the experience and as a result you'll short-change the kids.
The solution to not getting along with them is to try another unit, as there's almost always a few locally, unless you're really out in the sticks!
The solution to not getting along with them is to try another unit, as there's almost always a few locally, unless you're really out in the sticks!
The main answer you're getting is that the ATC is a really worthwhile organisation to be a part of, be it in uniform or as a civilian. I joined as a cadet in 1965, and have been part of it for most of the following whatever number of years.
The units are all slightly different as they reflect to leadership they have. Most areas may have a couple within easy travel of where you live. If you get a less-than-enthusiastic welcome at one, shop around.
The best part of it (and any youth organisation) will be the kids you get to work with. Taking them flying for the first time is an enlightening experience. Your moire or less push a pussycat into the aircraft, then watch a tiger leap out when they come back! Several of the former cadets I helped train went on to have great careers in the Air Force or civil aviation, some didn't, some came back as instructors! Whatever, to know that you might have had a small part in helping them see their latent potential is a wonderful experience.
I'm getting close to 40 years as an instructor. Whilst there were trials and tears, the majority was great. Try it and see how you get on.
Good luck!
The units are all slightly different as they reflect to leadership they have. Most areas may have a couple within easy travel of where you live. If you get a less-than-enthusiastic welcome at one, shop around.
The best part of it (and any youth organisation) will be the kids you get to work with. Taking them flying for the first time is an enlightening experience. Your moire or less push a pussycat into the aircraft, then watch a tiger leap out when they come back! Several of the former cadets I helped train went on to have great careers in the Air Force or civil aviation, some didn't, some came back as instructors! Whatever, to know that you might have had a small part in helping them see their latent potential is a wonderful experience.
I'm getting close to 40 years as an instructor. Whilst there were trials and tears, the majority was great. Try it and see how you get on.
Good luck!