Royal Canadian Air Cadets
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets (RCAC) is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in the local community. There are about 450 air cadet squadrons located in every province and territory in Canada.
Along with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Army Cadets, the RCAC forms part of the Canadian Cadet Organization. Though the RCAC, and the other cadet programs, have a close relationship with the CF, cadets are not members of the Forces, and are not expected to join the Canadian Forces[1]. In keeping with Commonwealth custom, Royal Canadian Air Cadets stands last in the order of precedence, after Royal Canadian Sea and Army Cadets.
Young men and women between the ages of 12 and 18 may join the RCAC, free of charge. The organization and rank system of the former Royal Canadian Air Force is used, but cadets can only attain Non-Commissioned Officer status. Adult leadership is provided by officers of the Canadian Forces Cadet Instructor Cadre, supplemented, if necessary, 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.
The aim of Royal Canadian Air Cadets is to: develop in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership; promote physical fitness; and to stimulate the interest of youth in the sea, land and air activities of the Canadian Forces. [2] [3] The Air Cadet motto is "To learn. To serve. To advance." [4]
Since 1983, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as a member of the Canadian Royal Family, has been Honorary Air Commodore of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
Ranks and training
Local training
Each squadron dedicates one night per week to local training activities. These activities are prescribed by the national Director of Cadets and outlined in course training plans distributed to each squadron. During the first four years in the cadet program, a cadets attends classes covering a range of topics including citizenship, leadership, instructional techniques, and a large number of aviation topics.[5] 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.
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
In accordance with QR and O Cadets Section 4.11, 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.
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, 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. 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."
| Air Cadet - Cadet de l’Air Deuxième Classe | Leading Air Cadet - Cadet de l’Air Première Classe | Cadet Corporal - Caporal |
|---|---|---|
|
For promotion to LAC (Cdt 1), a cadet must:
|
For promotion to C/Cpl (Cpl), a cadet must:
|
| Flight Corporal - Caporal de Section [citation needed] | Sergeant - Sergent | Flight Sergeant - Sergent de Section |
|---|---|---|
|
For promotion to Sgt (Sgt), a cadet must:
|
For promotion to FSgt (SgtS), a cadet must:
|
| Warrant Officer Second Class - Adjudant Deuxième Classe | Warrant Officer First Class - Adjudant Première Classe |
|---|---|
For promotion to WO2 (Adj 2), a cadet must: 
|
For appointment to WO1 (Adj 1), a cadet must: 
|
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.
| Basic Air Cadet |
|---|
| A 2 week course |
| Cadet Musician - Basic | Pipes and Drums - Basic |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Leadership | Introduction to Survival Training | Introduction to Aviation |
|---|---|---|
| A 3 week course |
A 2 week course |
A 3 week course |
| Introduction to Physical Education and Recreational Training | Introduction to Aerospace | Cadet Musician |
|---|---|---|
| A 3 week course |
A 3 week course |
A 6 week course |
| Senior Leadership Course | Flying Scholarship Course | Gliding Scholarship Course |
|---|---|---|
| A 6 week course |
A 7 week course
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 17 and 18. Cadets are selected for this scholarhip based on their cadet performance, academic performance, a written examination, a letter of interest, and an interview. |
A 6 week course
|
| Survival Instructor Course | Athletic Instructor Course | Air Traffic Control Course |
|---|---|---|
| A 6 week course |
A 6 week course |
A 6 week course |
| Technical Training Course | Introduction to Rifle Coaching | Introduction to Instruction Course |
|---|---|---|
| A 6 week course |
A 3 week course |
A 3 week course |
| Service Band | International Air Cadet Exchange (IACE) |
|---|---|
| A 6 week course |
A 3 week course |
- Advanced Aviation Technology - Airport Operations Course (courses commencing summer 2007) [citation needed]
- Oshkosh Trip
- Pipes and Drums 1 to 5 course
- Staff Cadet Employment
Summer training centres (CSTCs)
- [[Albert Head] ACSTC], British Columbia: Albert Head Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- CSTC Bagotville, Quebec: Bagotville Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- CSTC Blackdown, Ontario: Blackdown Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- CSTC Cold Lake, Alberta: Cold Lake Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- CSTC Connaught, Ontario: Connaight Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- CSTC Greenwood, Nova Scotia: Greenwood Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- SCSTC HMCS Acadia, Nova Scotia: HMCS Acadia Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- SCSTC HMCS Ontario, Ontario: HMCS Ontario Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- SCSTC HMCS Quadra, British Columbia: HMCS Quadra Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- SCSTC HMCS Québec, Québec: [1] NCSM Québec Cadet Summer Training Centre Website (Available only in French)
- Penhold ACSTC, Alberta: Penhold Air Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- CSTC Trenton, Ontario: Trenton Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- CSTC Valcartier, Quebec: Valcartier Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- CSTC Whitehorse, Yukon: Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre Website;
- Eastern Region Cadet Music School, Quebec: Eastern Region Cadet Music School Website;
- Regional Gliding School (Atlantic), Nova Scotia: Regional Gliding School (Atlantic) Website;
- Regional Gliding School (Central), Ontario: Regional Gliding School (Central) Website;
- Regional Gliding School (Eastern), Quebec: Regional Gliding School (Eastern) Website;
- Regional Gliding School (Pacific), British Columbia: Regional Gliding School (Pacific) Website;
- Regional Gliding School (Prairie), Manitoba: Regional Gliding School (Prairie) Website;
- International Air Cadet Exchange: International Air Cadet Exchange Website;
- CSTC Penhold, Alberta: Basic, Introduction to Aviation, Gliding Scholorship, Flying Scholorship, Basic Band, Senior Leaders Course, Introduction to Leadership, Introduction to Instruction, and Physical Education and Recreational Training: No website;
Gliding and Flying familiarization flights
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.
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.
Funding and military partnership
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets, along with Royal Canadian Sea and Army Cadets, is sponsored by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence. The Civilian Army Cadet, Air Cadet and Navy Leagues of Canada fund local requirements to provide accommodation, utilities, liability insurance, training aids and local transportation not provided the by the CF. Each Cadet Program is supported by a civilian sponsoring group that is responsible to the National League.[8]
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.[2]
Further, the program promotes the nationalism of Canada by bringing together various Canadians of different languages, religions, regions and ethnicities. [citation needed]
Flags of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets
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 RCAC Ensign is flown at the Squadron, often as part of a flag party, and is always flown from a mast or pole at RCAC 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.
References
- ^ National Defence Act The act enabling the creation of cadet organizations. See Section 46.
- ^ a b Cadet program overview An overview of the cadet program from the National Defence www.cadets.ca website.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
statswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Level one training handbook The Air Cadet level one training handbook (7.7 MB pdf)
- ^ About Air Cadets. The National Defence website providing an overview of the Air Cadet program.
- ^ Transport Canada licencing statistics. Licencing statistics for comparison with the number of cadet glider scholarship recipients.
- ^ http://www.cadets.forces.gc.ca/_docs/cato-oaic/5504D_b.pdf CATO 55-04 ANNEX D APPENDIX 7 - Air Cadet Dress Regs
- ^ The partnerships. The National Defence website describing the partnership between the Canadian Forces and the civilian sponsors.
See also
- List of Air Cadet Squadrons in Canada
- Department of National Defence (Canada)
- List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
- Albert Head
External links
- Canadian Cadet Organization
- Air Cadet League of Canada
- Cadet World
- Air Cadet League of Canada BC Provincial Committee
- Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific)