Royal Canadian Air Cadets
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Overview
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a national youth organization of close to 24,500 young men and women from 12 through 18 years of age. There are 448 air cadet squadrons located in every province and territory in Canada. The Royal Canadian Air Cadets form one of the three parts of Cadets Canada, which also includes Royal Canadian Army Cadets and Royal Canadian Sea Cadets.This organization is made possible through a partnership between the Air Cadet League of Canada and the Canadian Forces. This is noted in Section 49 of the National Defence Act.
Origins and history
When the Air Cadet League of Canada was chartered on April 9, 1941, the original mandate of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets was to supply a pre-trained pool of airmen to aid Canada's efforts in World War II. The Air Cadet system now serves to teach citizenship and leadership to Canadian youth. It is a co-educational organization, supervised and facilitated at the local and regional level by specially trained members of the Canadian Forces that belong to the Cadet Instructors Cadre, as well as civilian instructors. Air cadets are not members of the Canadian Forces, and are under no obligation to join or serve.
Present aims and activity
The aims of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets are as follows:
- To develop, in youth, the attributes of good citizenship and leadership;
- To promote physical fitness; and
- To stimulate an interest in the air element of the Canadian Forces.
Everyday cadet activity consists primarily of "parade nights", which are held during the regular school year (September through June). During the summer, many cadets attend summer camps, where they train in a variety of subjects, but especially those relating to technology and/or avaition. In senior years, Air Cadets have the opportunity to earn glider or powered aircraft licences. Some summer training locations are at former Royal Canadian Air Force bases such as Gimli, Manitoba or Penhold, Alberta. Other summer training takes place at active military bases such as CFB Borden and CFB Trenton.
Ranking structure
When one joins the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, you are a Recruit. After a few months have elapsed (depends on the squadron), you will be sworn in and become an AC (Air Cadet). This is jsut one of the many ranks acheivable through the Air Cadet programme. The list, from lowest to highest, is as follows:
- Recruit
- Air Cadet (AC)
- Leading Air Cadet (LAC)
- Corporal (CPL)
- Sergeant (SGT)
- Flight Sergeant (F/SGT)
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class (WO2)
- Warrant Officer 1st Class (WO1)
Funding and military partnership
Although the program does not actively recruit members for military service, the reason it and the national cadet programme receive over CDN$160 million per year in funding from the Department of National Defence is most definitely a recruiting program. Although the vast majority of cadets do not go on to join the Armed Forces, a significant percentage join both the regular forces and the reserves, making the $160 million a worthwhile investment for a country where military service is not often seen as a viable career.
External links
- Cadets Canada Website (http://www.cadets.ca/)
- Air Cadet League of Canada Official Web site (http://www.aircadetleague.com/)