Air Training Corps (AIRTC)/ AAFC Alumni

[Keg]

I wasn't quite sure where to peg this one but given it's relevance to Dunnunda I thought it should at least go in one of these two forums.

Many of us in Australian aviation got our start through either the Air Training Corps (ATC, AirTC, AIRTC) or in more recent times, the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC).

The AAFC (as it is now known) has recently been investigating starting an alumni of former cadets and staff.

This is the link to the blurb on the AAFC website.

This is the link to the actual alumni website.

It would be great if former cadets and staff could register their interest in the support of future generations of cadets. Even if it comes to nothing in the future, just registering will at least enable the working group to have a go.

[drop bear ten]

A bit like the old school network Keg? What happened to the egalitarian society that we once strived for where people actually got selected on the basis of effort and merit?

Your beloved Qantas and many other organisations are heading down the tube because of such recruiting behaviours. I know of one European Investment Bank who will not let a candidate past the first interview if they did not attend a private school.

And to answer your retort, no I did not get knocked back as I have never applied and yes, I did go to a private school

[Capt Claret]

Gees Drop Bear, what's not egalitarian about an alumni of former "cadets"?

I missed the bit between the lines that indicated if one wasn't an alumni one wouldn't get to work for which-ever organisation, or that those with merit or effort need not apply.

[Tankengine]

Whats wrong with organising piss-ups etc?

[Keg]

Drop bear. Have you partaken of too much red wine? I think you're getting the AIRTC/AAFC confused with some preconceived notion you have regarding airline cadetships.

The AIRTC/ AAFC is one of the most egalitarian organisations that I've ever been a part of- at least the parts that I was involved with were. Every selection that I made of cadets for various promotion courses was only ever on the basis of their skill and effort. The uniform was a great equaliser in that whilst I knew the background of individual cadets, they had no idea of their respective backgrounds and so they competed with each other solely on the basis of competence and ability. It's what enabled kids from western suburbs and regional areas to dux promotion courses.

So check your attitude on this one. Your anti Qantas/ airline cadet/ (Keg? ) bias is showing.

[Tidbinbilla]

Moved here, and stickied for a while. AAFC (and its previous iterations) was, and still is a fantastic organisation responsible for kicking off the aviation careers of many young men and women

Methinks somebody owes an apology

TID

[porch monkey]

Sorry DB 10, but you're way out of line on this one. Thanks for bringing this to my attention at least Keg. Will be looking at it, as one of the lost!

[adsyj]

Nice work Keg.

Drop Bear I hope as keg has said you are confused with Qantas cadets otherwise you are just being a bloody Nark.

I was a scout by the way.

[Keg]

Thanks for the sticky Tid.

adsyj, even if drop bear ten has misread the post, he's still wrong about Qantas cadets. I had no siblings or parent in Qantas- only 1 out of 8 on our course did. I had public school education- as did 6 out of the 8 on our course. The old school tie may have helped some people get Qantas cadetships but the overwhelming majority were just lucky to fit the profile.

Anyway, back to the thread and the AAFC alumni.

[Taildragger67]

Keg,

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll be proud to register.

Skills I picked up in the AirTC have been useful (outside aviation) ever since. If the organisation gave youngsters some exposure to positive things (including and excluding aviation) which they may not have had otherwise, then it's worth it.

Yes I went to a private school but that meant zero when we were all dressed in blue overalls on a camp or promotion course (or helping Ken Paris in the kitchen making his 'stew'... ).

[Captain Dart]

For what it's worth and it is early days yet, Air TC memorabilia and archives will be incorporated into the Benalla Aviation Museum in 2012.

Current cadets have already flown in the Winjeel and Moth Minor based there and, of course, the gliders.

All alumni will be welcome .

[frangatang]

Hear hear, nowt wrong with the ATC, apart from getting blackballed on summer camp, but the air aexperience flights in a chipmunk made up for that!

[rmcdonal]

And for all those who would like to know more about working with the AAFC Staff | Australian Air Force Cadets
The AAFC are always recruiting new staff and have SQNs scattered around all major cities and in a large number of country towns.

[Like This - Do That]

I keep bumping into former members. I promoted one of my soldiers to LCPL a couple of weeks ago, and I mentioned something about having been in the AIRTC ... sure enough, he and his brother (who has just been commissioned and going AAAvn as a pilot) were members.

I've met COs and RSMs and manner in between who were AIRTC or AAFC cadets when younger. Seems the conversion rate from AIRTC to Army is even higher than the conversion to RAAF

[Keg]

The stats are a bit old (2006 I think) but the defence cadets provide 45% of ADFA entrants. The AAFC (7000 cadets) provided the same number of ADFA army officer cadet entrants as did the army cadets (17000 cadets). One in five ADFA entrants was formerly AAFC.

That said, the organization is shortly in for a significant change that has the potential to remove the significant volunteerism ethos.

[SgtBundy]

Registered - former CDTFSGT of 26Flt Lismore.

[over_centre]

That said, the organization is shortly in for a significant change that has the potential to remove the significant volunteerism ethos.

Any hint on what's happening, Keg?

I'm a former Officer that quit the organisation due to the increasing workload expected of staff, the self-serving attitude of some of the WG executives and frustration with goal posts constantly moving (don't get me started on OA86's, the evolution of Hector/CadetOne etc ).

Sure, I have fond memories of my time there but as a popular OC once said, "when the BS to fun ratio swings the wrong way it's time to go". Sadly I know of many in my former WG about to sign their resignation Minutes, and when this includes CO's and other Officers "at the coal face" there ought to be a review of what the organisation expects (demands) from its' staff.

[Keg]

Not for public dissemination over centre. Send me a PM with some of your history and I'll pass on what I've heard.

[john_tullamarine]

responsible for kicking off the aviation careers ...

For example, four off a NSW flying scholarship course of around 10 in the mid-60s -

(a) A - last I heard a 744 captain at QF

(b) B - eventually ended up in a religious calling and joined the RAAF as a chaplain - now semi-retired after ending up as a principal chaplain

(c) C - studied aero eng on the same course as I did and initially ended up in GA corporate.

(d) me - pilot and aero eng - and I freely acknowledge having had a ball over the years in both roles

Some of the others, no doubt, went on with aviation although I have long since lost contact with them.

[Hugh Jarse]

I had a great time in the ATC in the 70's. It motivated me to follow an aviation career.

Went back as an officer in the 90's, mostly working on flying camps. Had a ball giving something back A lot of the cadets from then are now flying for the majors around the world.

IMO, a very worthy organisation