Each Squadron is commanded by a commissioned RAF volunteer reserve (training) officer - RAF VR(T). A Squadron would typically have a mixture of adult staff including civilian instructors, adult NCO's and other officers.

You can find out more about the Air Cadets by following this link www.aircadets.org to our main Headquarters web site at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. However if you want to find out what happens here in the South West then take a look at the action on this site www.aircadet.info

If you are interested in taking our challenge we would be very pleased to hear from you. You can Register your interest with us or call for an informal chat. There is no commitment at this stage. We will provide you with an opportunity to visit a number of working Squadrons and to chat to the local Commanding Officer. Later you can decide if you would like to get involved. The Air Cadet Organisation has over 920 Squadrons, 43,000 cadets and over 10,000 adult volunteers so you would be getting involved with a sizable professional organisation.

You may have been a cadet or a member of another uniformed youth organisation. We are particularly interested in professionals who are looking for another dimension to their busy lives. The Air Cadet Organisation is an excellent place to grow management and organisational skills and if you manage a team in your professional life then there are a significant number of development opportunities.

The Air Cadets Organisation is an excellent community to grow new friends and contacts. You will meet a range of other adults that have a diverse range of civilian employment roles, everything from vicars to airline pilots, doctors, nurses, police officers to company directors, IT consultants and yacht designers. Have a look at our real life case studies here (meet some of our people). This is a real opportunity to work with the positive side of today's youth.

There is no commitment to active military service we even pay your expenses! More about your commitment can be found here.

We currently have a limited number of vacancies so if you are interested then why not register  or give us a call.

Register your interest

You can use this form to register your interest. There is no commitment at this stage. One of our Wing Headquarters staff will contact you for an informal discussion. When you click on the link below a map of the south west UK will open. All you have to do is click on where you live and a form will open for you to complete. We are using the map to help us identify your local units.

Register

Or call our Region Headquarters on 01380 739990

If you would like to find out more then you can download our guide here

Civilian Instructor Guide (169kb)

"I enjoy helping out and spend from 3 to 6 hours a month as a committee member.   Initially I saw this as fair exchange for the fun that my son had in the Corps.   He has moved on to become an Air Cadet gliding instructor now.   I get a lot of satisfaction observing new generations join and mature as cadets.   I am more involved than ever and see myself continuing for as long as I can be of service.”

Squadron Treasurer, Dorset

"I became a civilian helper when my first child joined.  Later I applied for a commission and became a squadron officer.   Why?   Because I enjoyed it so much!  All three of my children progressed through Air Cadets and all have achieved so much as a result.   In the Air Training Corps I have had the pleasure of seeing hundreds of young people develop into successful young adults.   I continue to help by coordinating individual and team sports between six Wings, so facilitating competition by cadets at national level.   Why?   Because I enjoy it so much!

Physical Education Officer, South West Region 

Find details of your local Squadron