Structure
HQ Air Cadets, RAFC Cranwell, Lincolnshire
  • Overall managerial responsibility for both the ATC and CCF(RAF)
  • Staffed by over 70 permanent RAF and MOD personnel
ATC
CCF(RAF)
  • Over 33,000 cadets belonging to around 1000 squadrons
  • Open to all young people aged between 13 and 20.
  • Squadrons located in cities, towns and villages throughout the UK with another six units in Germany, Cyprus, Gibraltar and Jersey.
  • 10,000 adult volunteer staff who are often former cadets, ex-regular Service personnel or parents of cadets
  • Managed by a mixture of permanent and volunteer staff at 6 Regional and 36 Wing Headquarters.
  • All staff are stringently vetted before they are allowed to work unsupervised with cadets.
  • CCF (RAF) sections established at 189 state and independent schools across the UK.
  • CCF sections established in schools as far back as 1884.
  • Membership of almost 10,000 cadets.
  • 500 CCF(RAF) volunteer staff, all members of teaching staff within each school.
  • Supported by area teams of regular RAF personnel.
  • All staff are stringently vetted before they are allowed to work unsupervised with cadets.
Volunteer Staff

The 1,200 ATC and CCF(RAF) units spread across the UK and abroad are all staffed by adult volunteers. For both the ATC and CCF(RAF) training is free and volunteers have the opportunity to become civilian instructors, adult warrant officers or commissioned officers in the Training Branch of the RAF Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR(T)). No specific skills are needed to become a volunteer with the Air Cadets but the ability to communicate well with young people is vital.