Introduction

The history of the ATC can be dated back to around 1938, just before the outbreak of World War II.  Air Commodore (equivalent US rank would be Brigadier General) J.A. Chamier formed the Air Defense Cadet Corps (ADCC) in response to a growing national interest in aviation and air power.  The ADCC aimed to train young men (sorry girls!) for service in the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm.  With the outset of WWII, His Majesties Government (HMG) picked up quickly on the ADCC’s capabilities and put them to work in tasks such as clerical duties, filling sandbags, moving aircraft and loading miles of ammunition belts.  Cadets were used to guard Air Bases and airfields throughout the country. 

HMG began to realize what a good job the ADCC was doing in preparing people for service, and finally took control of the organization in 1940.  After a wide range of organizational changes, the ATC was granted its Royal Warrant in February 1941 and have given a new name: the Air Training Corps.  HMG began issuing aircraft and instructors to get the Cadets flying as much as possible which was the main goal of the ATC.  At the time, basic pilot training consisted of about 25 hours of solo time before being sent to an operational unit to fight the war, so any extra time was considered a bonus.  In the battle of Britain, our young men had to shoot down their young men at a rate of five to one, so the need for more experience was strong.

During the War, the ATC’s ranks swelled.  Men who were too young to serve joined the ATC to do their part for the War effort. At one point, the ATC numbered in excess of 100,000! 

As WWII drew to a close, ATC numbers began to drop, but the old values of the Corps remained:

• To promote and encourage among young people a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force.

• To provide training which will be useful in the Services and civilian life.

• To foster the spirit of adventure and develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship.

Figure 1: an ADCC Cadet in Uniform

The Composition of the Air Training Corps

Structure

The Air Training Corps is setup in a similar fashion to the RAF, the Squadron being the small smallest Unit.  A number of Squadrons make up a Wing, a number of Wings make up a region, and a number of Regions make up the Corps. 

Squadrons are classified according to the number of enrolled Cadets on that particular unit. This classification dictates the number of NCO’s and Officers that a Squadron is permitted to have.  Click here for the Squadron Classification table.

So for example, the Authors first Squadron was a D1 Squadron, with around 35 enrolled Cadets.  This meant that we were allowed to have one CWO, one Flight Sergeants, two Sergeants and three Corporals.  The unit is not permitted to have more NCO’s than the allocation, therefore competition for the NCO spots is very intense.  The average Squadron is a D1, but there are a number of A2 Squadrons, one of which is in Bath; the unit so large that they have separate parade nights (meetings) for the various flights in the Squadron!  What is even stranger, Bath is not a particularly large place, you would expect an A2 Squadron to be located in a major city like London or Birmingham, but Bath is a quiet, idyllic country down in the hills of Wiltshire.

In the eight years the Author was in the ATC he met two Group Captains and one Air Commodore.  Try to put this into perspective when relating back to the CAP, which is awash, even at a Wing level, with bird Colonels and LTC’s.  When the Author joined the CAP, he was a little freaked out by the number of high ranking officers about.

ATC Squadrons parade twice a week, for two and a half hours each time, usually Monday’s and Fridays.  This way, the Monday parade can be used for “blue” activities such as lectures for classifications, projects, shooting, and then the Friday can be left clear for “green” activities such as night exercises and such.  This is particularly useful in the summer months when the evenings are long and warm.

Squadron Adult Staff 

The Squadron Staff consists of a Commanding Officer (usually a Flight Lieutenant), a Squadron Adjutant (usually a Flying Officer) and the Squadron Warrant Officer (SWO) and then the instructors.  The CO is responsible for overseeing the administrative, training and organizational side of the Squadron along with the Adj., the SWO is responsible for Squadron discipline, drill and a whole host of other activities. 

The ATC wisely began a program of Civilian Instructors since its formation in the 1940’s.  These are people who have a wide variety of experience but are not suited to life in Uniform.  By keeping these people in CI positions (therefore out of uniform), standards of dress and customs and courtesies can be more easily upheld.  The CI’s are required to wear shirts and ties whilst on Squadron duty.  CI’s do an invaluable job in teaching and instructing the Cadets and act as a slightly more approachable body rather than the uniformed staff.  Cadets may be intimidated by the Uniformed Staff members, not because they are any fiercer but because they are in uniform, so they can go to the CI’s as another point of contact with the adult staff. 

RAFVR(T) are Commissioned Officers and therefore collect pay for Squadron weekend/summer activities from the RAF.  This is great as they do give up a vast amount of time to work with the Cadets, especially during summer activities.  For example, a Flt. Lt. gets around sixty pounds a day, so if they go on annual camp (encampment) for two weeks, they will make about eight hundred pounds.  This helps make up for the pay that they loose by giving up their Civilian jobs for a week or two.  Adult Warrant Officers (AWO’s) are also paid for their time. 

The Adult Staff of the ATC are some of the most dedicated people in youth organizations in the United Kingdom; they give up massive amounts of time and money to do a sometimes thankless and demanding task.  They are, on the whole, excellent leaders and examples for the young men and women they command. 

The Cadet Side 

A young man or woman can join the ATC at the age of 13 and three months.  This age is quite high when compared to the ACF (Army Cadet Force) and the SCC (Sea Cadet Corps) and is strictly because of insurance.  A lot of the activities that Cadets of the ATC take part in are classified as “high risk” activities.  This is not to say that they are dangerous, not at all, safety is paramount in the ATC and the organizations safety record is excellent, but activities like flying, gliding and shooting are classed as “high risk” because of their very nature.  Therefore, the joining age is higher.  It is assumed that a 13 year old will be more mature than an 11 year old. 

Cadets of the ATC are never, and should never be, considered children.  They are young men and women of a higher maturity level than their piers; they commit themselves to an organization which makes them stand out from the masses. 

It is appropriate for this article that we go through the life cycle of a Cadet as it will add considerable perspective.  The example used will be Cdt. Bloggs, who is a male, no offense to the females out there, but it is easier for the author to use a male since he is one! 

Cadet Joe Bloggs Joins the ATC 

In the coming issues of CadetStuff.org, Our Hero, Joe Bloggs, who is based on no person, living or dead (especially not the author, we swear!), will embark on a career in the ATC full of hijinks and hilarity. Don't miss it! 

Figure 2: The AOC Air Commodore Kennedy BA RAF chatting to Cadets