Royal Canadian Air Cadet Training

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The Royal Canadian Air Cadets (RCAirC) is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces (CF) and the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada (ACL). Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence (DND) with the civilian partner providing support in the local community. This article deals with the winter and summer training programs in detail; for more information on other aspects of the program, please see the main Royal Canadian Air Cadets article.

Contents

[edit] Local training

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. 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.[1] 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.

[edit] 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.[2]

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 [3]. 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."

This chart displays the rank structure of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

Ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets - Junior Cadets
Air Cadet - Recruit Leading Air Cadet - Cadet de l'Air 1ière classe Corporal - Caporal
  • No prerequisites for this rank, except a minimum age of 12 years;
  • No rank badges worn.
 For promotion to Leading Air Cadet (LAC) a cadet must:
Worn on the upper arms
Worn on the upper arms
  • Actively participate in the squadron mandatory training for a period of five months
 For promotion to Corporal (Cpl) a cadet must:
  • hold the rank of LAC;
  • have successfully completed Proficiency Level 1
  • maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment
Ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets - Junior Non-Commissioned Officers
Flight Corporal - Caporal de Section Sergeant - Sergent Flight Sergeant - Sergent de Section
For promotion to Flight Corporal (FCpl), a cadet must:
Worn on the upper arms
Worn on the upper arms
  • complete at least six months satisfactory service at the substantive rank of Cpl;
  • successfully complete proficiency level 2 of the LHQ training programme; and
  • preferably have successfully completed a Familiarization Summer Course;
 For promotion to Sgt (Sgt), a cadet must:
Worn on the upper arms
Worn on the upper arms
  • have successfully completed proficiency level 3
  • have completed at least six months satisfactory service at the rank of Flight Corporal
  • preferably have successfully completed a Summer Familiarization Course
 For promotion to Flight Sergeant (FSgt), a cadet must:
  • have successfully completed proficiency level 3
  • have completed at least six months satisfactory service at the rank of Sergeant
  • preferably have successfully completed a Summer Introductory Specialty Course
Ranks of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets - Senior Non-Commissioned Officers
Warrant Officer 2nd Class - Adjudant 2ième classe Warrant Officer 1st Class - Adjudant 1ière classe
For promotion to Warrant Officer Second Class (WO2), a cadet must:
Worn on the lower sleeve
Worn on the lower sleeve
  • have successfully completed proficiency level 4
  • have completed at least six months satisfactory service at the rank of Flight Sergeant
  • preferably have successfully completed a Summer Advanced Specialty Course
 For promotion to Warrant Officer 1st Class (WO1), a cadet must:
Worn on the lower sleeve
Worn on the lower sleeve
  • have successfully completed proficiency level 5
  • have completed at least six months satisfactory service at the rank of Warrant Officer 2nd Class
  • preferably have successfully completed a Summer Advanced Specialty Course

[edit] 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
A 2 week course
Familiarization Courses
Cadet Musician - Basic Pipes and Drums - Basic
A 3 week course A 3 week course
Introductory Specialty Courses
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
Advanced Specialty Courses
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
  • In Canada, the majority of glider pilots licenses are earned by Royal Canadian Air Cadets [4]. 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. [5]
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) at Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario
  • Oshkosh Trip
  • Pipes and Drums 1 to 5 course
  • Staff Cadet Employment

[edit] Summer training centres (CSTCs)

[edit] Flying

The Schweizer SGS 2-33 (2-33A), used for training in the Air Cadet Gliding Program
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.

[edit] Honorary appointments

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

[edit] Symbols

[edit] 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, or as an embroidered patch on the all-weather jacket.

[edit] See also

v • d • e
Canadian Cadet Organization
Navy League · Army Cadet League · Air Cadet League

[edit] References

  1. ^ About Air Cadets. The National Defence website providing an overview of the Air Cadet program.
  2. ^ http://cadets.forces.gc.ca/_docs/qr-cadets/QR_Cdts/4.01-4.99_b.pdf QR&O(Cdts) 4.11(c) Ranks reference
  3. ^ Level one training handbook The Air Cadet level one training handbook (7.7 MB pdf)
  4. ^ Transport Canada licencing statistics. Licencing statistics for comparison with the number of cadet glider scholarship recipients.
  5. ^ http://www.cadets.forces.gc.ca/_docs/cato-oaic/5504D_b.pdf CATO 55-04 ANNEX D APPENDIX 7 - Air Cadet Dress Regs

[edit] External links