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Royal Canadian Air Cadets

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Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Formation1941
TypeYouth program
HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
Location
  • Canada
Membership
26,000
Official language
English, French
Websitehttp://www.cadets.ca

The Royal Canadian Air Cadets (RCAirC) is a Canadian national youth program for persons aged 12 to 18. It is administered by the Canadian Forces (CF) and funded through the Department of National Defence (DND) with additional support from the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada (ACL).[1] It was 1941 when the first air cadet squadron was raised under this partnership for the purpose of training young men for World War Two.[2][3] The purpose has since changed to include focus on citizenship, leadership, physical fitness, and aviation — stimulating an interest in the activities of the Canadian Forces. In recent years there are approximately 26,000 Air Cadets in Canada.[4] Together with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Army Cadets, it forms the "largest federally-funded youth program in the country".[5] Due to the gliding and flying scholarships offered to air cadets, one in five private pilots in Canada is an ex-air cadet and 67 percent of commercial and airline pilots began as air cadets.[6]

Overview

The aim of Royal Canadian Air Cadets is to: develop in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership; promote physical fitness; and stimulate the interest of youth in the sea, land, and air activities of the Canadian Forces. The RCAirC shares this aim with the Sea and Army Cadets; however, each focuses on its own parent element.[7] The Air Cadet motto is "To learn. To serve. To advance."[2]

Young men and women between the ages of 12 and 18 may join the RCAirC, free of charge. The organization and rank system of the former Royal Canadian Air Force is used, but cadets have no power of command over any CF member. Adult leadership is provided by officers of the Canadian Forces Cadet Instructor Cadre, supplemented by contracted Civilian Instructors, authorized adult volunteers, and on occasion, officers and non-commissioned members of other CF branches. Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC) members are specially trained to deliver the Royal Canadian Sea, Army, and Air Cadet Program, and are drawn from all walks of life; however, if a generalization may be made, former cadets, former long-service Regular and Reserve CF members, and the parents of long-time cadets are the primary sources for new CIC officers.[8]

Along with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Army Cadets, the RCAirC forms part of the Canadian Cadet Organization. Though the RCAirC, and the other cadet programs, have a close relationship with the CF, cadets are not members of the Forces, and are not expected or required to join the Canadian Forces.[9] In keeping with Commonwealth custom, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets stand last in the order of precedence, after the Royal Canadian Sea and Army Cadets.

History

The Air Cadet Organization originated in the early days of World War II when the war effort required young men to meet Canada's military obligations. In 1940, Air Minister Power directed that a nation-wide voluntary organization be formed to sponsor and develop a select group of young men who whould be trained to meet the increasing need for operational pilots in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during World War Two.[10] Prior to 1940, Air Cadet squadrons did not exist and were in fact Army Cadet Corps that were affiliated with RCAF Air Reserve squadrons. On Nov. 11, 1940, an Order-in-Council was passed to establish the Air Cadet League of Canada to work in partnership with the RCAF. The first squadrons were organized in 1941 and by 1942 there were 135 squadrons and 10,000 cadets, mostly recruited from the Army Cadets. In the next year, by 1943, there were 315 squadrons with a membership of 23,000. In 1944, the program reached its peak membership with 29,000 cadets in 374 squadrons.[10]

After the war, membership dropped to a low of 11,000 in 155 squadrons and the Air Cadet program underwent a transformation to reflect the changing needs of Canada and the cadets. The Air Cadet League introduced awards for proficiency and loyalty to the squadrons, summer courses were offered at RCAF stations, and a flying scholarship course was developed.[11] To date, more than 15,000 cadets have received their private pilot licence through this scholarship course.[11] Training shifted to be focused on the development of citizenship and an interest in aviation.[11] Interest was renewed; by 1961, 332 squadrons were in existence and in 1972, authority was given for membership of up to 28,000 cadets.[11]

With the unification of the Royal Canadian Navy,the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1968, the Canadian Forces became the Air Cadet League's military partner in the delivery of air cadet training.[12] In 1975, legislation was changed to officially allow females to participate in the Royal Canadian Sea, Army and Air Cadets.[3]

Today, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets has a membership of approximately 26,000 in 450 squadrons; and together with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Army Cadets, forms the "largest federally-funded youth program in the country".[4][5] The membership has also diversified, becoming gender balanced and attracting and retaining visible minorities.[13]

Funding and military partnership

The RCAirC, along with the Royal Canadian Sea and Army Cadets, is sponsored by the CF/DND and the civilian Air Cadet League, along with the Navy and Army Cadet Leagues.[1] Each cadet unit is supported by a local League branch, responsible to the National League.[14] The basic Air Cadet program is free, including uniforms and activities. The local civilian sponsors must raise money to provide accommodation, liability insurance, and additional training aids not provided by the CF/DND. Cadets and their parents are encouraged to participate in fund-raising activities.[7]

Local training

File:222 RCAirCS March Past.JPG
An Air Cadet squadron marches past.

Each squadron trains one night per week — a "parade night" — covering the local training program. These activities are prescribed by the national Director of Cadets and outlined in course training plans distributed to each squadron.[15] During the first four years in the cadet program, a cadet attends classes covering a range of topics including citizenship, leadership, survival training, instructional techniques, and a large number of aviation topics.[16] In the fifth and subsequent years, cadets will generally be assigned to instruct these classes to the younger cadets. This weekly training begins in September and continues until June, and is offered in about 450 air cadet squadrons located in every province and territory in Canada.

In addition to the mandatory weekly training, there are additional regularly scheduled activities that cadets can participate in at their local squadrons. These include band, range, biathlon, military drill practice, and ground school instruction in preparation for gliding and flying scholarship courses.

Throughout the year there are also several extra exercises organized by the local squadrons. Survival exercises, participation in Remembrance Day ceremonies, and familiarization flights are all common activities.

Ranks

A new person joining the Air Cadet program holds the rank of "Air Cadet" (AC). Appointment to higher ranks occurs after the cadet has met certain nationally prescribed standards and possibly additional standards prescribed by the local squadron.[17]

Responsibilities are given to cadets upon reaching corporal, the first NCO rank, generally as assistants to a more senior cadet — often as second-in-command of a flight. Sergeants are responsible for most of the day-to-day activities of the squadron. Flight Sergeants supervise the Sergeants, or use them as assistants. Ideally, each flight will be run by a Flight Sergeant, although, in reality, Sergeants often take this role. Warrant Officers handle administrative tasks in close conjunction with the officer staff of the squadron, assisting with administration, logistical, leadership, and training work, though, in smaller squadrons, these roles will often be filled by more junior cadets.

As a note, the official phrasing for those ranks not intrinsically containing "Cadet" uses the word as a preface, thus, as an example, Cadet Corporal. However, outside of Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATO), and Queen's Regulations and Orders (Cadets) (QR&O(Cdt)), custom omits "Cadet" in casual reference.[2] Thus, Corporal is the customary rendering. Generally, where there is a need to distinguish between cadets and Canadian Forces members, ranks will be written or spoken as Cadet Corporal and abbreviated as C/Cpl.

Additionally, while it is customary within the organization to refer to a cadet receiving a rank as being "promoted", the official documentation refers to such an act as an "appointment."[18]

Ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets - Junior Cadets
Air Cadet - Cadet de l’Air Leading Air Cadet - Cadet de l’Air Première Classe Cadet Corporal - Caporal
  • Rank of AC granted on joining;
  • No prerequisites for this rank, except a minimum age of 12 years;
  • Air Cadets wear no rank.
 For promotion to LAC (Cdt 1), a cadet must:
File:Leading Air Cadet.jpg
Worn on the upper arms
  • actively participate in Level 1 training for a period of 5 months.
 For promotion to C/Cpl (Cpl), a cadet must:
File:Corporal RCAC.jpg
Worn on the upper arms
  • hold the rank of LAC; and
  • successfully complete Level 1 of the LHQ training program.
Ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets - Non-Commissioned Officers
Sergeant - Sergent Flight Sergeant - Sergent de Section
For promotion to Sgt (Sgt), a cadet must:
File:Sergeant RCAirC.jpg
Worn on the upper arms
  • complete at least six months satisfactory service at the substantive rank of Cpl;
  • successfully complete Level 2 training; and
  • preferably have successfully completed a Familiarization Summer Course.
 For promotion to FSgt (SgtS), a cadet must:
File:Cadet flight sergeant.jpg
Worn on the upper arms
  • completed at least six months satisfactory service at the substantive rank of Sgt;
  • successfully complete proficiency level 3 of the LHQ training program; and
  • preferably have successfully completed an Introductory Speciality Summer Course.
Ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets - Warrant Officers
Warrant Officer Second Class - Adjudant Deuxième Classe Warrant Officer First Class - Adjudant Première Classe
For promotion to WO2 (Adj 2), a cadet must:
Worn on the lower arms
  • have held the rank of FSgt for at least 6 months;
  • maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment;
  • preferably have successfully completed an Advanced Speciality Summer Course;
  • successfully complete level 4 of the LHQ training program; and
  • there must be a vacancy on the squadron WO2 establishment.
 For appointment to WO1 (Adj 1), a cadet must:
Worn on the lower arms
  • have held the rank of WO2 for at least 6 months;
  • maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment;
  • preferably have successfully completed an Advanced Speciality Summer Course;
  • successfully complete level 5 (OJT) of the LHQ training program; and
  • there must be a vacancy on the squadron C/WO1 establishment - one per squadron.

Summer training

Over 10,000 Air Cadets take part in summer training, delivered at summer training centres across the country. The courses offered are divided into familiarization, introductory specialty, and advanced speciality courses.

Introductory courses

  • Basic Air Cadet
The Air Basic course cadets attend classes in citizenship, aviation and military drill. They also do a variety of sports and participate in citizenship tours. Their training is meant to supplement the Level One course training plan.[19]
  • Cadet Musician - Basic
  • Pipes and Drums - Basic

Introductory specialty courses

  • Introduction to Leadership
The Introduction to Leadership course prepares cadets for junior leadership roles within their home squadron.[20]
  • Introduction to Survival Training
The Introduction to Survival course introduces cadets to basic survival skills through instruction and situational training.[20]
  • Introduction to Aviation
  • Introduction to Physical and Recreational Training
The Introduction to Physical Education & Recreation promotes in cadets attributes of sportsmanship and teamwork for the purpose of developing the skills necessary for assisting in the delivery of physical fitness programs at their home squadron.[20]
  • Introduction to Aerospace
  • Cadet Musician

Advanced specialty courses

File:RCAirC Glider Wings.PNG
Air Cadet Glider Wings
  • Gliding Scholarship
In Canada, the majority of glider pilots licenses are earned by Royal Canadian Air Cadets.[21] Cadets must be 16 to hold a Glider Pilot Licence.
If a glider-licensed cadet later earns their power pilot license, they wear only the power wings. The glider qualification is represented by the octagon badge, worn on the tunic sleeve.[22]
File:RCAirC Power Wings.PNG
Air Cadet Power Wings
  • Flying Scholarship
Each year, 250 air cadets earn their Transport Canada Private Pilot Licence through the Air Cadet Flying Scholarship program. This scholarship is available to cadets aged 16 to 18. Cadets are selected for this scholarship based on their cadet performance, academic performance, a written examination, a letter of interest, and an interview.
  • Senior Leadership
Often referred to as 'Staff Cadet training college', this course teaches senior cadets how take a senior leadership role at their squadron. The course also provides them some of the prerequists to be selected as staff cadets at summer training centres along with graduates of the Survival Instructor Course and the Flying Scholarship program.
  • Survival Instructor
  • Athletic Instructor
  • Air Traffic Control
  • Airport Operations
  • Technical Training
  • Introduction to Rifle Coaching
  • Introduction to Instruction
The Introduction to Instruction provides cadets knowledge and practical experience in instructional techniques that will allow them to deliver effective instruction at their home squadron.[23]
  • Service Band
The focus of this course is to give cadet musicians opportunities for public performance in both military and civilian functions.[23]

After successfully completing a summer course, cadets are presented with a qualification badge to place on their uniform. The various badges may be viewed on the Cadets.ca website.[24]

Summer training centres (CSTCs)

Template:List to prose (section)

Flying

File:Wings both.jpg
Power wings and glider wings
The Schweizer SGS 2-33 (2-33A), used for training in the Air Cadet Gliding Program

Each year, 22,000 junior air cadets participate in familiarization gliding flights during the spring and fall. In summer, 320 senior cadets earn their Transport Canada Glider Pilot Licence through the Air Cadet Gliding Scholarship. An average of 55,000 glider flights are done every year. Gliding familiarization – better known as glider fam flights - occurs at over 50 locations across Canada. Flights take place on weekends from March to June and from September to December. In addition to flying, junior air cadets become part of the glider ground crew. Cadets learn how to position the gliders for take-off and help retrieve them after they land. The cadets also learn signal operations, and help with the set-up and take-down of the airfield. All Air Cadets are given the chance to go up in a glider. The Schweizer SGS 2-33 is the glider used in the Air Cadet Gliding Program.

Familiarization flights are a learning experience. Before getting in the glider, a member of the crew will give cadets a pre-flight briefing. They will explain how a preflight inspection is done and what all the instruments in the glider are for. During the flight, the pilot will show cadets how the controls of the aircraft work and what an aerodrome circuit is.

Honourary appointments

Since 1983, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as a member of Canada's Royal Family, is the Honourary Air Commodore of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.[25]

Symbols

Flags

The RCAC Banner is flown only on important ceremonial occasions to indicate the presence of a formed body of cadets, and, at the end of useful life, is deposited, after the manner of colours, in some suitable location. The Banner was presented in 1991 at the Senior leadership School at CFB Cold Lake.

The RCAirC Ensign is flown at the Squadron, often as part of a flag party, and is always flown from a mast or pole at RCAirC summer training centres.

The Squadron Banner is flown by specific squadrons as their unit identifier; the squadron's name and number are embroidered in place of "Squadron Banner" and "000."

In some squadrons, the Ensign and Squadron Banner are carried by a flag party with the Canadian flag (see image in the Local training section above), despite Canadian Forces custom being for one- or two-flag parties only.

Badge

The emblem (seen at the head of the page) consists of a circle surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves, superimposed with a flying eagle, the head to the sinister. The whole is ensigned by the Royal crown proper - fashioned as a St. Edward's Crown - to symbolise the Canadian Monarch as the Cadets' source of authority. All of the above rests on a scroll depicting the words "Royal Canadian Air Cadets/Cadets de l'aviation royale du Canada". It is worn as a brass badge on the wedge cap and other formal headdress, and as an embroidered patch on the all-weather jacket.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.aircadetleague.com/pdf/mou_e.pdf Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of National Defence and the Air Cadet League.
  2. ^ a b c Level one training handbook The Air Cadet level one training handbook (7.7 MB pdf)
  3. ^ a b http://www.cadets.dnd.ca/about-nous/histo_e.asp Canadian Forces web site discussing the history of the cadets in Canada.
  4. ^ a b http://www.cadets.dnd.ca/media/stat_e.asp Canadian Forces page providing statistics about the Canadian Cadet Organizations as of 2004.
  5. ^ a b http://www.cadets.ca/media/bg/bg_CCO99_e.pdf Canadian Forces backgrounder on the Canadian Cadet Organizations
  6. ^ http://www.aircadetleague.com/manitoba/story4.html Air Cadet League of Canada web page describing the aviation training in Air Cadets.
  7. ^ a b Cadet program overview An overview of the cadet program from the National Defence www.cadets.ca website.
  8. ^ http://www.cadets.ca/media/bg/bg_cic99_e.pdf Canadian Forces backgrounder on the Cadet Instructors Cadre.
  9. ^ National Defence Act The act enabling the creation of cadet organizations. See Section 46.
  10. ^ a b http://www.aircadetleague.com/manitoba/story.html Air Cadet League of Manitoba web page presenting Air Cadet history. Cite error: The named reference "Early days" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b c d http://www.aircadetleague.com/manitoba/story2.html Air Cadet League of Manitoba web page presenting the post-war Air Cadet history.
  12. ^ http://www.aircadetleague.com/manitoba/story3.html Air Cadet League of Manitoba web page presenting post-unification Air Cadet history.
  13. ^ MacLean's. 'A lot fewer white people'. August 2, 2005.
  14. ^ Partnerships. The National Defence website describing the partnership between the Canadian Forces and the civilian sponsors.
  15. ^ http://www.cadets.ca/support/trg-instr/3_e.asp The Air Cadet course training standards and plans
  16. ^ About Air Cadets. The National Defence website providing an overview of the Air Cadet program.
  17. ^ http://cadets.forces.gc.ca/_docs/qr-cadets/QR_Cdts/4.01-4.99_b.pdf QR&O(Cdts) 4.11(c) Ranks reference
  18. ^ http://www.cadets.dnd.ca/aircad/intro_e.asp Canadian Forces web site referring to "ranks and promotion" as a menu item
  19. ^ http://www.regions.cadets.ca/pac/aircad/summer/summer_introcourses_e.asp National Defence web site describing introductory summer courses.
  20. ^ a b c http://www.regions.cadets.ca/pac/aircad/summer/summer_introspecialty_e.asp National Defence web site describing introductory specialty summer courses.
  21. ^ Transport Canada licencing statistics. Licencing statistics for comparison with the number of cadet glider scholarship recipients.
  22. ^ http://www.cadets.forces.gc.ca/_docs/cato-oaic/5504D_b.pdf CATO 55-04 Annex D Appendix 7 - Air Cadet Dress Regs
  23. ^ a b http://www.regions.cadets.ca/pac/aircad/summer/summer_advancedspecialty_e.asp National Defence web site describing advanced specialty summer courses.
  24. ^ Summer Course Qualification Badges. A National Defence website displaying the collection of available qualification badges.
  25. ^ http://www.burkes-peerage.net/Sites/Peerage/SitePages/page62-6c.asp HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's titles and appointments.
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