Air Training Corp: A great start in life

The Air Training Corp of the Royal Air Force is a military (uniformed) cadet organisation within the United Kingdom formed by Royal Warrant signed by HM King George VI on February 5th 1941, which happens to be my birthday though not year, converting the Air Defense Cadet Corp.

I served in 2443 (Okehampton) Squadron  from 1993 till 1998 when I retired to concentrate on my A-Level exams which are required for admission into university. During this time I achieved the highest classification of Staff Cadet (now referred too as Instructor Cadet), the rank of senior non-commissioned officer, trained to fly both powered and glider aircraft of the RAF fleet, trained to shoot both the .22 rifle and the L98A1 semi-automatic assault rifle achieving both ATC marksmen and RAF marksmen status, attended national camps on active RAF bases around the United Kingdom, trained for and took part in the RAF Ten Tors, attended both Jr and Sn NCO courses, represented the Corp, Wing and Sqn at a wide range of events and last but not least served my local community with honour.

It is my personal belief that military cadet organisations such as the Air Training Corp, the Combined Cadet Forces, the Army Cadet Force and the Royal Navy Sea Cadets is the best way for teenage boys and girls to be taught discipline, citizenship, community service as well as a wealth of skills that will be useful to them in either military or civilian adult life. It is also an opportunity to make lifelong friends whom you can depend on in good times and bad.

Being a serving member of the ATC opened my eyes to all the opportunities that are available to those who want to dedicate their life's to achieving them. It also installed in me a strong belief in God, Queen, Country and Flag of the United Kingdom. I would recommend the ATC to anyone.

The ATC organisation is headed up by the Hon. Air Commodore-in-Chief HRH The Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh and on a day-to-day basis by an Air Commodore of the Royal Air Force Reserve who currently is Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty and under her some 10,000 staff, 5,000 civilian committee members and 41,000 uniformed cadets aged between 13-20.

For more information I would direct anyone to the official Air Training Corps website or your local Wing / Sqn.