Editor's note: Despite the fact that this story sounds awfully familiar, the author assures us that this is based on no real person. We were even almost ready to believe him until we noticed an entire section of the article subtitled "Joe Bloggs is dashing, handsome and brilliant - and has a posh accent to boot." Needless to say, our suspicions were aroused. However, we did decide to let the article go forward with a few modifications. So, please enjoy the action as the entirely fictitious "Joe Bloggs", made-up person (wink-wink, nudge-nudge) joins the ATC and begins his madcap adventures...

Bloggs joins the ATC

Joe Bloggs goes down to his local ATC Squadron (a D1) at the minimum age of 13 years and three months. He may be there for a whole host of reasons, ranging from a desire to fly, a desire to lead or simply because he is curious about what goes on. He may have become disenchanted with another organization and may be seeking more of a challenge in life. He is a more motivated individual than the average teenager, otherwise, why else would he be there? He attends his first Squadron parade night and meets the key the members of the Unit including the CO (Commanding Officer), SWO (Squadron Warrant Officer) and most importantly, the Cadets. An NCO or senior Cadet will be assigned to him to show him around the Squadron and what the Cadets actually do. The potential Cadet goes home with a couple of forms for his parents to sign. When and if he returns the following parade, he will hand in the forms, pay his subs (dues) and start his life as a Cadet. He will not become a full member of the Squadron until he has been enrolled by the CO and signed his 3822, for this he must recite the Cadet promise (below) in front of the Squadron. Once this is done, he will officially become 2nd Class Cadet Bloggs, a member of the ATC.

The Cadet Promise:

"I, Joe Bloggs Hereby solemnly promise on my honour to serve my unit loyally and to be faithful to my obligations as a member of the Air Training Corps. I Further promise to be a good citizen and do my duty to God and the Queen, my Country and my Flag."

After enrolment, Cdt. Bloggs will be issued with the appropriate uniform from the Squadron Stores. Stores are controlled by the SWO but an NCO usually runs them. Bloggs will be issued with a dark blue shirt (working blue), a pair of trousers, a wedge wood (light blue) shirt, tie, belt, brassard (a device that attaches to the upper right arm – more later), beret, beret badge and jumper. The Uniform used by the ATC is exactly the same as that of the RAF. There is usually no waiting time to get issued uniforms, unless they have to be specially made. Therefore, the new Cadet should be kitted out as quickly as possible. Bloggs will also be issued with DPM’s (Disruptive Pattern Material – UK equivalent of BDU’s) for use on Adventure training and other activities.

Bloggs will be instructed very early on how to wear his uniform properly, and he will begin to pick up secrets from other Cadets on how to keep your trousers pressed, your shoes highly polished and your beret molded (a technical task indeed!). Bloggs will be thrown right in at the deep end; he will be put into the Squadron for drill and will experience the NCOs in action for the first time. This can be a fairly intimidating experience, NCOs are not permitted to scream at cadets, but they can be loud and abrupt. Cadet Bloggs will be taught the basics in drill and not expected to get it right straight away. However, if he gets something wrong a large number of times, he will be told what he is doing wrong rapidly. Drill is a very important part of any Cadets life, it teaches the Cadets to work together as a team and function as one. Drill usually takes place once a parade night or so. Cadet Bloggs will be put into the classroom environment for the first time early on either with the group of new Cadets he joined with or people of a similar limited training level. The classroom periods are called lectures rather than lessons, not because they are just lectured at, its just a qwirk in the ATC language. Cadet Bloggs continues to attend parade nights twice a week, getting his name on the lists for as many activities as possible. Over time he will participate in initiative exercises, night exercises, project building. As he passes his First Class exam, he gets a nice new badge to put on his brassard, like in Figure 8. When Joe Bloggs is enrolled, he becomes 2nd Class Cadet Bloggs. Cadets take exams and participate in projects to gain things called Classifications. Classifications are the Cadets measure of training. There are five classifications, although 2nd Class does not really count as you don’t have to do anything to get it, a 2nd Class Cadet is also known as a ”Probationer”. Classification is totally separate from rank, a Cadets classification is a measure of their academic abilities in RAF based subjects, ranks are awarded for outstanding leadership, dress etc. Bloggs will start his training for his First Class Exam almost straight away. Cdt. Bloggs will not be able to participate in a number of activities until he has passed his First Class classification; it is a prerequisite of most activities that a Cadet has to be a minimum of First Class to participate. Bloggs will be taught things like the history of the ATC/RAF, Basic First Aid, airmanship and shooting range safety and weapons training on the Lee Enfield No.8 rifle.

Now that he is a First Class Cadet, he can start doing all the fun stuff that the ATC has to offer like flying, gliding, shooting, climbing, abseiling (rappelling). Cdt. Bloggs goes on his first shooting activity, at a local Territorial Army (similar to the Army Reserve, not the Guard as the TA is a “federal” organization) .22 indoor shooting range. He is already familiar with the Lee Enfield No.8 .22 rifle, which is the standard issue Squadron weapon. He will fire his first couple of practices. As he continues to shoot over the months that follow, gets better and then achieves his ATC marksmanship badge. To do this he must shoot five rounds into an area the same size as a two pence coin (about an inch) from 20 metres. Now he gets another badge for his brassard, again shown in Figure 8. The brassard is worn on the upper right arm and shows the Cadets Squadron number, in the case of Bloggs, his Squadron 1871 Squadron, his or her classification and other awards such as marksmanship badges. This is a similar system to the CAP CP ribbons, although it doesn't give as much information of the Cadets career thus far. Cdt. Bloggs goes on his first AEF (Air Experience Flight) in a Grob Tutor and gets his first opportunity to fly the aircraft himself. Next he decides he wants to go gliding, so he goes to an AEG (Air Experience Gliding) Squadron and flies in a Grob Viking. As time goes by, he gets yet more chances to fly and glide, starting at the basics of flight moving onto more advanced concepts such as aerobatics.

A year or so has now passed since Mr. Bloggs joined the Squadron, he is starting to get to grips with the Command System, he knows who to obey without question and who are the good and bad NCO’s. His drill has improved, his uniform is starting to really pick up and he is now ready for his first annual camp. He applies for the camp at an active RAF station, for the sake of argument, we are going to use a Hercules transport aircraft base; RAF Lyneham in the hills of Wiltshire. He is issued with more clothing before the camp and given a kit (equipment) list of all the things he needs to bring with him. He pays his thirty pounds which covers all his accommodation and food for the week and gets on the bus with his fellow Squadron mates.