Find your tribe
Ready for your next challenge?
You won’t find the incredible combination of adventure, opportunity and fun that Air Cadets offers anywhere else. Cadets and adult volunteers all gain the same second-to-none experience where you can make lasting friendships and build upon your confidence, skills and achievements. This section will give you all the facts about getting started in an exciting new direction.
Join as a Cadet
To the join the Air Cadets as a cadet and enjoy the exciting range of activities that young people near you are experiencing you need to be aged between 12 (and in Year 8 at school) and 17 years old.
FIND A SQUADRONIf you would like to locate your nearest squadron you can contact Durham Northumberland headquarters on 0303 369 4952 or use our Squadrons page by clicking here. If you live outside this area visit the main RAF Air Cadets website here.
Whichever squadron you choose to join you are guaranteed a friendly welcome; drop them a message via their email address or social media feeds, and arrange to visit or join an open evening.
All cadets are required to follow a Cadet Code of Conduct which outlines what is and is not considered to be acceptable behaviour in the RAF Air Cadets.
After a short induction period you will be formally enrolled and issued with your uniform.
Join as staff
Volunteering with the Air Cadets is a great way to spend your free time and make friends along the way! It’s also a great opportunity to give something back to your local community.There are a number of ways in which you can help out. Open the panels on the right to find out more:
Civilian Instructor
If you can spend time at least one night each week with your chosen squadron, we can offer lots of opportunities for you to help our cadets and gain your own skills and experiences too. Most opportunities are open to Civilian Instructors, without the time commitment required of uniformed volunteers. You will be able to take on roles helping with the administration and management of a unit as well as training cadets in a variety of subjects. Whatever your interest, there will be a role for you.
Chaplain
Our cadets represent diverse backgrounds and we welcome everyone who wants to be involved. Our chaplain volunteers can come from any religion. They are required to attend a minimum of one meeting a month and help to run activities. There are other ways you could get involved too, including supporting events and occasions with religious meaning, help induct new cadets and offer emotional support, pastoral care and moral guidance to our young people.
Senior NCO or Commissioned Officer
For volunteers with the right prior experience or civilian instructors who want to progress, there are opportunities to move into a uniformed role. SNCOs are the middle management of the organisation, making sure the activities run effectively. For those interested in drill and ceremonial, it is the SNCO volunteers who lead on this training. Commissioned Officers are the command and management function on most units, fulfilling roles such as commanding officer, adjutant or training officer.
Civilian Committee Member
Civilian Committees help to run the Air Training Corps (ATC) from squadron level through to representation at National Level. Each squadron has a committee that is made up of parents and friends. Its role is to assist the squadron’s Commanding Officer, raise funds and ensure the squadron maintains direction. Committees meet to their own timetable, usually once-a-month, under the direction of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. Most squadron Civilian Committees will be very pleased to accept offers of extra help - even if you can't commit to regular or long term assistance.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We’ve compiled a list of the most popular questions here. If you want to know something that is not listed, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
How old do I need to be to join?
Cadets can join from age 13, or age 12 if they are currently in year 8 at school. For some activities such as flying, cadets must be over 13 years of age. Some activities have specific age requirements.
How much does it cost?
Each cadet pays a small subscription which goes towards funding the many activities they enjoy. Most squadrons charge around £10-20 per month to cover running costs, transport and other expenses.National and international camps and expeditions may be an extra cost. We want the organisation to be available to everyone and staff are happy to discuss cost-related issues with parents at any time.The squadron must provide the rest of the funding, mainly through the fundraising efforts of the Civilian Committee.
Do I need to provide my own uniform?
We provide most of the kit but you are responsible for their uniform, which is valued at around £200 and is issued on loan. It should only be used for air cadet activities and must be returned at the end of their time with us.Footwear is not included, so shoes or boots will need to be provided at your own cost.
How often am I expected to attend?
Typically cadets will attend the squadron twice a week for around 2 and a half hours a night. Outside of these evenings, there are activities to do at weekends and in the school holidays. The amount of time a cadet wants to commit to is up to them.
Information for parents
Safeguarding
The RAF Air Cadet organisation does not tolerate abuse and bullying, and we have clear policies and practices to defend against it. We seek to create a culture that encourages adults and cadets to speak up, confront and disclose any concerns, and we take tremendous pride in the trust young people place in us to support them.
Unlike many youth organisations, our disclosure checks are repeated every 5 years. Our safeguarding policies are also reviewed regularly and independently audited, and are always available to cadets, parents, guardians and adult volunteers. We recognise that safeguarding young people from abuse is our absolute priority alongside ensuring that the cadet experience we create is safe. Activities are planned and supervised by qualified personnel, and staff:cadet ratios appropriate to the activity and location are rigorously enforced.
As an organisations, we are determined to do all we can to ensure that young people are listened to and protected during their time with us in order to keep every child safe from harm.
Cost
There is a nominal cost for a membership of the RAF Air Cadets in the form of subscriptions, which support a variety of activities. The amount and methods of payment vary with squadrons.
Uniform is issued to cadets free of charge on the condition that it is maintained to the expected standards and that a pair of appropriate “parade” shoes are bought; the commander of the local squadron will be able to provide further information on suitable sources for these. Cadets are encouraged to maintain their own uniforms.
Ready to take the next step?
If you have a question, we’d love to hear from you. Please use the form to send us a message.