Well said POBJOY.
Although I didn't join the RAF in the end after being a P2 Grade Pilot staff cadet* (nowadays a G1), I did join NATS (actually called NATCS in those days) and had an interesting career mostly at Farnborough, keeping my association with the cadets going and eventually becoming a Squadron Commander.
Had it not been for my experiences in Air Cadet gliding I would never have thought of air traffic control as a career.
* They tried to make me a 'C' Cat instructor but I hadn't got the patience!!