Royal Canadian Air Cadet Training

The Royal Canadian Air Cadets (RCAirC) is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces (CF) and the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada (ACL). Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence (DND) with the civilian partner providing support in the local community. This article deals with the winter and summer training programs in detail; for more information on other aspects of the program, please see the main Royal Canadian Air Cadets article.

Local training

Each squadron trains one night per week — a "parade night" — covering the local training program. These activities are prescribed by the national Director of Cadets and outlined in course training plans distributed to each squadron. During the first four years in the cadet program, a cadets attends classes covering a range of topics including citizenship, leadership, instructional techniques, and a large number of aviation topics. [http://www.cadets.ca/about-nous/air_e.asp About Air Cadets.] The National Defence website providing an overview of the Air Cadet program.] In the fifth and subsequent years, cadets will generally be assigned to instruct these classes to the younger cadets. This weekly training begins in September and continues until June, and is offered in about 450 air cadet squadrons located in every province and territory in Canada.

Ranks

A new person joining the Air Cadet program holds the rank of "Air Cadet" (AC). Appointment to higher ranks occurs after the cadet has met certain nationally prescribed standards and possibly additional standards prescribed by the local squadron. [http://cadets.forces.gc.ca/_docs/qr-cadets/QR_Cdts/4.01-4.99_b.pdf QR&O(Cdts) 4.11(c) Ranks reference]

Responsibilities are given to cadets upon reaching corporal, the first NCO rank, generally as assistants to a more senior cadet - often as second-in-command of a flight. Sergeants are responsible for most of the day-to-day activities of the squadron. Flight Sergeants supervise the Sergeants, or use them as assistants. Ideally, each flight will be run by a Flight Sergeant, although, in reality, Sergeants often take this role. Warrant Officers handle administrative tasks in close conjunction with the officer staff of the squadron, assisting with administration, logistical, leadership, and training work, though, in smaller squadrons, these roles will often be filled by more junior cadets.

As a note, the official phrasing for those ranks not intrinsically containing "Cadet" uses the word as a preface, thus, as an example, Cadet Corporal. However, outside of Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATO), and Queen's Regulations and Orders (Cadets) (QR&O(Cdt)), custom omits "Cadet" in casual reference [http://www.cadets.ca/_docs/air/hdbk1_e.pdf Level one training handbook] The Air Cadet level one training handbook (7.7 MB pdf)] . Thus, Corporal is the customary rendering. Generally, where there is a need to distinguish between cadets and Canadian Forces members, ranks will be written or spoken as Cadet Corporal and abbreviated as C/Cpl.

Additionally, while it is customary within the organization to refer to a cadet receiving a rank as being "promoted," the official documentation refers to such an act as an "appointment."

This chart displays the rank structure of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

ummer training

Over 10,000 Air Cadets take part in summer training, delivered at summer training centres across the country. The courses offered are divided into familiarization, introductory specialty, and advanced speciality courses.

valign="top" |A 3 week course
valign="top" |A 3 week course

*Advanced Aviation Technology - Aircraft Maintenance Course (course commencing summer 2008) at Canadore College, North Bay, Ontario
*Advanced Aviation Technology - Airport Operations Course (course commencing summer 2007) at Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario

*Oshkosh Trip
*Pipes and Drums 1 to 5 course
*Staff Cadet Employment

ummer training centres (CSTCs)

*Albert Head ACSTC, British Columbia: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/pac/alberthead/ Albert Head Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*CSTC Bagotville, Quebec: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/est/ciec/ciecab/intro_e.asp Bagotville Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*CSTC Blackdown, Ontario: [http://www.central.cadets.ca/blackdown/index_e.html Blackdown Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*CSTC Cold Lake, Alberta: [http://www.cadets.ca/aircad/summer-ete/intro_e.asp?CSTC=26&submit1=Find+Summer+Camp Cold Lake Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*CSTC Connaught, Ontario: [http://www.central.cadets.ca/connaught/index_e.html Connaight Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*CSTC Greenwood, Nova Scotia: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/atl/gacstc/intro_e.asp Greenwood Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*SCSTC HMCS Acadia, Nova Scotia: [http://www.cadets.net/Atl/acadia/intro_e.asp HMCS Acadia Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*SCSTC HMCS Ontario, Ontario: [http://www.central.cadets.ca/hmcs/index_e.html HMCS Ontario Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*SCSTC HMCS Quadra, British Columbia: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/pac/quadra/intro_e.asp HMCS Quadra Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*SCSTC HMCS Québec, Québec: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/est/ciec/ncsm/intro_f.asp] NCSM Québec Cadet Summer Training Centre Website (Available only in French)
*Penhold ACSTC, Alberta: [http://www.cadets.ca/aircad/summer-ete/intro_e.asp?CSTC=27&submit1=Find+Summer+Camp Penhold Air Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*CSTC Trenton, Ontario: [http://www.central.cadets.ca/trenton/index_e.html Trenton Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*CSTC Valcartier, Quebec: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/est/ciec/ciecav/intro_f.asp Valcartier Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*CSTC Whitehorse, Yukon: [http://www.cadets.ca/aircad/summer-ete/intro_e.asp?CSTC=10&submit1=Find+Summer+Camp Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre Website] ;
*Eastern Region Cadet Music School, Quebec: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/est/ciec/emcre/intro_e.asp Eastern Region Cadet Music School Website] ;
*Regional Gliding School (Atlantic), Nova Scotia: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/atl/rgs/intro_e.asp Regional Gliding School (Atlantic) Website] ;
*Regional Gliding School (Central), Ontario: [http://www.central.cadets.ca/rgsc/index_e.html Regional Gliding School (Central) Website] ;
*Regional Gliding School (Eastern), Quebec: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/est/ciec/evvre/intro_e.asp Regional Gliding School (Eastern) Website] ;
*Regional Gliding School (Pacific), British Columbia: [http://www.regions.cadets.forces.gc.ca/pac/rgs/ Regional Gliding School (Pacific) Website] ;
*Regional Gliding School (Prairie), Manitoba: [http://www.cadets.net/pra/intro_e.asp Regional Gliding School (Prairie) Website] ;
*International Air Cadet Exchange: [http://www.cadets.ca/aircad/summer-ete/intro_e.asp?CSTC=99&submit1=Find+Summer+Camp International Air Cadet Exchange Website] ;
*CSTC Penhold, Alberta

Flying

Each year, 22,000 junior air cadets participate in familiarization gliding flights during the spring and fall. In summer, 320 senior cadets earn their Transport Canada Glider Pilot Licence through the Air Cadet Gliding Scholarship. An average of 55,000 glider flights are done every year. Gliding familiarization – better known as "glider fam flights" - occurs at over 50 locations across Canada. Flights take place on weekends from March to June and from September to December. In addition to flying, junior air cadets become part of the glider ground crew. Cadets learn how to position the gliders for take-off and help retrieve them after they land. The cadets also learn signal operations, and help with the set-up and take-down of the airfield. All Air Cadets are given the chance to go up in a glider. The Schweizer SGS 2-33 is the glider used in the Air Cadet Gliding Program.

Familiarization flights are a learning experience. Before getting in the glider, a member of the crew will give cadets a pre-flight briefing. They will explain how a preflight inspection is done and what all the instruments in the glider are for. During the flight, the pilot will show cadets how the controls of the aircraft work and what an aerodrome circuit is.

Honorary appointments

Since 1983, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as a member of Canada's Royal Family, is the Honorary Air Commodore of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.

ymbols

Badge

The emblem (seen at the head of the page) consists of a circle surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves, superimposed with a flying eagle, the head to the sinister. The whole is ensigned by the Royal crown proper - fashioned as a St. Edward's Crown - to symbolise the Canadian Monarch as the Cadets' source of authority. All of the above rests on a scroll depicting the words "Royal Canadian Air Cadets/Cadets de l'aviation royale du Canada". It is worn as a brass badge on the wedge cap and other formal headdress, or as an embroidered patch on the all-weather jacket.

ee also

*Royal Canadian Air Cadets
*List of Air Cadet Squadrons in Canada
*Department of National Defence (Canada)
*List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
*Albert Head
*Cadets Canada

References

External links

* [http://www.cadets.ca/ Canadian Cadet Organization]
* [http://www.aircadetleague.com/ Air Cadet League of Canada]