1927 (Petersfield) Squadron Cadet Welcome Pack

Transcription

1 1927 (Petersfield) Squadron Cadet Welcome Pack

2 General Information This pack provides a brief insight into the Air Training Corps as well as relevant information regarding the squadron and the activities available to the cadets. Additional information is available on and History In 1938 the Air League of the British Empire founded the Air Defence Cadet Corps (ADCC) to foster interest in Military Aviation. It became so successful that the Air Ministry took a great interest and in 1941 assumed responsibility and control under the new title of the Air Training Corps (ATC). In the early days, the aim of the Corps was to act as a reservoir from which the Fleet Air Arm and RAF could draw their future air and ground crew and most of the training was given in preparation for later military service. This is no longer the case although many thousands of cadets have since joined any one of the three Services. Today the ATC is a voluntary organisation which aims to promote and encourage a practical interest in aviation and the RAF. It does this by providing training which will be useful in both the Services and in civilian life. The staffing of the Corps is on a voluntary basis although some HQ posts are permanent positions. The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training) Branch (RAFVR(T)) provides Commissioned Officers who command and manage the Squadrons, whilst the highest rank in the ATC is the Adult Warrant Officer/ Adult SNCO who maintains the dress, drill and discipline which is very important for a uniformed organisation such as the ATC. Many of the instructors are civilian, some are ex-service personnel and others are parents, friends or relatives of cadets, with quite a few being ex cadets. The terms ATC and Air Cadets are equivalent and are interchangeable. Being a Cadet Given that you are reading this welcome pack you will probably already know whats on offer as an Air Cadet. If not, just check out the web sites at the top of the page. What follows is designed to give you an overview of life at our Squadron, some logistical details and some dos and donts! Parade nights and times Tuesday and Thursday evenings 19.00hrs 21.15hrs. Cadets should arrive at 19.00hrs for Parade and Inspection at 19.15hrs. The evening s activities should be complete by 21.15hrs. However, there may be times when we have activities away from the Squadron HQ and these may finish a little later and may involve meeting at a different location. A Squadron calendar is maintained which gives details of all our activities and can be accessed from the squadron website ( Cadets should try to attend both evenings each week but we realise that sometimes this is not practical and educational commitments should always take precedence. If a cadet cannot attend for any reason it is their responsibility to contact the squadron: Phone: (answer phone available) Sqn Adjutant: adj.1927@aircadets.org

3 The first few months You will join as a Junior Cadet and will be provided with a squadron T-shirt and the loan of a set of Greens which remain the property of the Squadron. You will need to provide other items of clothing and footwear and details are provided in the Uniform section below. You will receive First class training during this period which provides a new cadet with a broad view of the ATC, RAF, initial expedition training, map reading, history of flight, airmanship 1, the rifle, radio communications and drill. On completion you will be ready to be enrolled as a cadet. This is usually carried out by the Squadron Padre and parents can normally attend. A week or so prior to enrolment you will be issued with your Blue uniform which is free of charge. After Enrolment Training, Leadership & Development There is an established academic syllabus through which a cadet will progress and will lead to the award of an appropriate classification. This is shown on the enclosed The Perfect 10 information sheet. After enrolment you will be a First Class Cadet. This reflects the academic level of training you have reached and you carry out a further programme of training. Leading Cadet training includes basic navigation, principals of flight and airmanship 2. Senior Cadet training provides an in depth knowledge in two of the following subjects: air navigation, propulsion, aircraft handling, advanced radio and radar, pilot navigation, airframes, operational flying or satellite communications. To complete Master Air Cadet training a further two of the Senior Cadet subjects are taken To progress between the classification levels the cadet completes a multiple choice exam. These are currently paper based but will be migrating to computer based on-line examinations. To progress to Instructor Cadet, the cadet has to attend a one day course to ensure they know about the ATC as a whole before being able to teach younger cadets. This will also enable the cadet to wear the much coveted, yellow lanyard. Leadership As cadets develop and gain more experience within the squadron they will have the ability to develop their leadership skills. The skills levels are based on the (RAF) rank structure and are a reflection of a cadets leadership skills, initiative, discipline, dedication and enthusiasm. The cadet rank structure is: Cadet Warrant Officer Cadet Flight Sergeant Cadet Sergeant Cadet Corporal Cadet

4 Uniform The squadron T-shirt provided on joining is owned by the cadet. Larger sizes can be purchased from the Squadron as and when required. Greens, more correctly known as CS95, is the camouflage uniform and is worn for activities such as shooting and field craft. Some items will be provided on loan from the Squadron and these must be returned (clean) when a cadet leaves the Corps. Other items, such as boots, will need to be privately sourced. The Greens uniform comprises: RAF Beret with ATC cap badge CS95 Light-Weight Jacket (Normally referred to as a DPM Shirt) CS95 Smock CS95 Trousers 2.5 inch Webbing Belt Polished black leather combat boots* The Blue uniform is issued free of charge but remains the property of the Ministry of Defence and must be returned (clean) when a cadet leaves the Corps. The Blue uniform comprises both Wedgewood Blues No1 Dress and Working Dress No2 Dress. Wedgewood Blue Uniform is worn for formal occasions, such as Remembrance Sunday parade, Battle of Britain parade and other ceremonial events. It consists of:- RAF Beret with ATC cap badge Brassard Jumper (When required) Wedgewood Blue Shirt Black Tie Trousers (Male, worn with black socks*) Skirt (Female, worn with barely black 15 denier tights*) RAF Blue Grey Belt with polished Brass Buckle Shined Leather Parade Shoes* * These items are required to be sourced by the cadet. The Working Blues dress is worn on normal parade nights, and is the same as above but with a dark blue shirt and without a tie. Maintaining Uniforms Uniform trousers and skirts are to be dry cleaned only. All other items of uniform (except belt and beret) should be washed and ironed. It is the responsibility of the cadet to: Keep shoes polished to a high standard (this is taught during basic training) Keep uniform cleaned and ironed at all times

5 Exchanges of uniform due to growth etc. will be made at convenient times and subject to availability. Exchanged uniforms must be returned cleaned and failure to do so may incur cleaning charges. Cadet Welfare There are occasions when a cadet becomes upset or concerned about some issue and this may include bullying by another cadet or a member of staff. Bullying is NOT TOLERATED within the ATC. The cadet should refer any such matters to the nominated Squadron Cadet Welfare Officer, or another member of Staff as appropriate. Parents are not normally involved in matters ATC discipline, except in extreme circumstances. Squadron Chaplain The role of chaplain within the ATC is to be a support to the cadets, the staff and the voluntary workers. According to the ATC the vision of the Squadron Chaplain is To promote appropriate pastoral care for all personnel within the Air Training Corps irrespective of religious belief or status. The regular duties of the Chaplain include leading a regular Padres Hour with the cadets and to conduct the formal Enrolment Service when new cadets are received into full membership of the organisation having successfully completed the probationary stage. During the year there will also be Church Parades with the Chaplain s Church. Our Chaplain is Rev. Gareth Jones who is Pastor at Milland Evangelical Church which is near Petersfield. Should there be any times when the cadets or their parents need to contact him then please do so. Contact details are provided in the Appendix. Squadron Activities Flying/Gliding The Air Cadet Organisation (ACO) have a number of Flying Training schools who provide the experience of flying and gliding, free of charge to cadets. Cadets must be at least 13 years and 3 months and enrolled. Winch launched gliding takes place at Upavon in Wiltshire whilst powered gliding is provided at Dalton Barracks, ex RAF Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Very occasionally we also get powered gliding experience at RAF Odiham. Air Experience Flying (AEF) in a Grob Tutor from the same age takes place at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire. All flying is staffed by volunteers, many of whom are ex Senior RAF Officers. Adventure Training Local weekend training takes place throughout the year, usually on military land, which involves camping, leadership exercises, cross country navigation, survival training, escape and evasion exercises, etc. These exercises often involve staff and cadets from other squadrons. Our Wing run courses at two Cadet Adventure Training centres at Windermere in the Lake District and Llanbedr in North Wales. Here the cadets can participate in rock climbing, canoeing, orienteering, caving and countless other activities usually over a week with staff that are qualified for the various activities. Sport Cadets are encouraged to take part in a variety of sports i.e. football, rugby, hockey, netball,

6 cross country, swimming and athletics. They compete against other cadets at Wing level and may be selected to compete at Region or even Corps level. Camps Cadets having passed their basic training have the opportunity to attend annual camp at RAF stations throughout the country during Easter or summer. Cost is usually about 50 plus spending money. At a later stage, cadets can attend overseas camps at Germany or Cyprus. Accommodation is usually in a barrack block although some RAF stations can only accommodate cadets under canvas. Camp is the high point of the year for cadets and staff. Visits are made throughout the station to the various sections, which of course depend on the Station, some are more admin than flying, and others are fast jets, helicopters or transport. There is usually flying at camp, if not from the Station itself then the local AEF. Cadets who are interested in joining the RAF may have the opportunity to work alongside serving RAF personnel through week long work experience camps. Shooting As part of the training syllabus, cadets are taught how to handle and shoot various weapons. All instructors are fully qualified and examined regularly. The emphasis is always on safety and the cadets are trained for target competition only. Whilst shooting is part of the training syllabus, it is not obligatory for cadets to actively take part in it if they or their parents do not wish them to do so. At no time will the cadet be forced to become involved in any aspects of weapons training.

7 The Civilian Committee Whilst the MoD provide and maintain our Squadron HQ including water and electricity costs and the ACO provide activities such as flying and gliding, all other costs have to be met by the Squadron. A strong, busy and vibrant Squadron requires an active and successful Civilian Committee. Role The role of the Squadron Civilian Committee is formally defined by the Air Training Corps: Giving support and help to the Squadron Commander and their staff by showing a keen interest in all the Squadron s activities particularly by occasional attendance at parade nights and other squadron activities. They should also take time to meet and talk to the cadets of their squadron. Providing or arranging support in terms of finance facilities and negotiation with local authorities or other bodies or individuals as may be required to support these additional activities. Accounting for both public and non-public funds. Assisting the Squadron Commander with the administration of unit premises and their furnishings. Considering what additional activities to recommend to the Unit Commander so that the aims of the ATC are met in full: To promote and encourage among young people a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force. To provide training which will be useful both in the Services and in civilian life. To foster the spirit of adventure and to develop the qualities of leadership and good citizenship. Assisting the Wing Commanding Officer in finding a suitable person to command the squadron when a replacement is required. Assisting the Squadron Commander in finding suitable adult staff to support all activities. This may cover quite a large field because requests for specialist activities on behalf of cadets will be dependent on finding a suitable instructor. Assisting the Squadron Commander by all means within their power to increase the effectiveness of the squadron. Establishing and maintaining good relationships between the squadron and all elements of the local community with the object of maintaining maximum support. Giving assistance to the Squadron Commander in obtaining the maximum of good press, radio and television publicity. Providing advice and practical assistance in dealing with any welfare problems that might arise among the cadets. Constitution The committee comprises of 3 Civilian Officers; the Chairman, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer, together with a number of committee members. Officers and members retire every year and are available for re-election. Committee members are predominantly parents or guardians of cadets but may also include members of the local community. The current committee members are listed in Appendix 1. Committee meetings are held every calendar month (except August) at the Squadron HQ. Sub committees are formed and meet as required.

8 Role of the Cadet s Parent / Guardian It costs just 12 per month to be a cadet. The benefits can be significant, and in just monetary terms, far exceed this modest amount. As a consequence, the Committee believe that the majority of parents and guardians (here after referred to as parents) will be more than happy to actively support the Squadron via its Civilian Committee. This support enables the Squadron to remain viable and to actively develop and finance the range of activities undertaken by the cadets. Therefore, as well as the commitment a cadet makes as part of their formal enrolment, a parent will also be expected to make a commitment to the Squadron. At a minimum, a parent and/or partner/spouse will be expected to commit to attending at least one fundraising event per calendar year. However, the committee would be very appreciative of further assistance beyond this minimum commitment. In addition, support for the cadets in terms of event sponsorship (e.g. LiDBA charity cycle ride) or assistance with specific projects is also encouraged. If a parent wishes to have a greater involvement in the work of the civilian committee by volunteering to work on a sub-committee from time to time, or by becoming a member of the full committee, then please contact any member of the committee for further information. We normally have vacancies for committee members. Cadet Subscriptions Subscriptions make an important contribution to the finances of the Squadron and help fund many of the activities, materials or infrastructure that directly or indirectly benefits the cadets. A portion of the levy is payable to our Wing HQ and this in turn helps to fund the activities organised by them and HQ Air Cadets. A joining fee of 25 is payable by probationer cadets and this covers the cost of the Squadron T-shirt, subscriptions for the first 4 weeks and Greens which they may wear until the Blue uniform is issued just prior to enrolment. Subscriptions are 12 per month and payment is requested by bank standing order. A Standing Order mandate is enclosed in this pack. This should be completed and sent to your bank / building society within 2 weeks of joining. The acknowledgement slip at the bottom of the form should be detached, completed and returned to Squadron. If the cadet is a member of a low income family or there are other circumstances where payment of the subscription presents a problem please speak to the Squadron Commander in confidence. Subscriptions are due whether or not a cadet attends and this includes absence due to sickness, holidays and educational commitments. A cadet who is in arrears with subscriptions is ineligible to undertake off-site activities such as flying, gliding and camps. If a cadet decides to leave the ATC or reaches the upper age limit, subscriptions are still due until such time as their uniform and any other property on loan is returned and their 3822 Record of Service book is endorsed by the Commanding Officer. Gift Aid The Squadron is registered with the Charity Commissioners and the Inland Revenue as a qualifying charity and this allows cadet subscriptions (or personal donations) to be classified

9 as a donation for Gift Aid purposes. This allows the squadron to reclaim tax at the rate of 28p for every 1 paid in contributions and helps as to keep subscriptions to a minimum. If you are a taxpayer please complete and return the enclosed Gift Aid mandate. Higher rate taxpayers can claim higher rate relief via their annual tax return. Fund Raising Events Fundraising is the principal activity of the Civilian Committee. An average of 7000 year is raised for the benefit of the cadets. The Civilian Committee organise a number of fund raising events during the year. Parents are encouraged to participate in these events as appropriate. The main events are: Bag Packs at Waitrose Supermarket twice a year (no parents required) Car Park marshalling Milland Rural fair (every other June), LiDBA Sponsored bike ride LiDBA (June) If you have any ideas for fundraising, including the availability of grants, and which do not require significant amounts of effort (given that we are all busy people!) then please speak to a member of staff or committee. Your suggestion(s) will be gratefully received. All the money raised goes to Squadron funds and is used to support cadet activities and all expenditure is subject to a formal approval process. Annual accounts are prepared and these are reviewed by an independent scrutinizer before being sent to our Wing HQ. Insurance Whilst a cadet is engaged on an approved ATC activity they are covered by the ATC Insurance Scheme. However, please note this does not cover the transport of your cadet in a vehicle owned or driven by a committee member, a parent or a cadet. In these situations insurance is as provided by the vehicle policyholder s insurer. Other advice and guidance can be obtained from the Commanding Officer. Adult helpers engaged in an approved ATC activity will normally benefit from the public and employer s liability cover under the terms of schedules provided by the MoD. Please contact the Commanding Officer if you require further information. The Committee, both full and seconded members, have the option of purchasing personal accident assurance via the ATC. Three levels of benefit are available are available. For a modest an annual premium cover includes 50,000 death benefit and 100,000 disability benefit. Again, please contact the Commanding Officer for further details. Note that the above do not replace insurances that individuals would normally be required to have such as motor vehicle insurance and household personal liability insurance. Canteen A canteen is operated by the Squadron on parade nights. This is available for the purchase of soft drinks and confectionery and prices are usually less than retail. The profits are retained for the benefit of the Squadron.

10 Contact Details A list is provided in the Appendix. Additionally, Squadron staff can normally be contacted at the Squadron on a parade night. Tues & Thurs, hrs. Tel: At other times please leave a message on the squadron phone. Please note the committee members will not normally be able to answer queries relating to the cadet programme and the associated logistics relating to any cadet activity. Telephone numbers for this purpose can be found on the Squadron calendar at Please note there are no facilities to receive postal mail at the Squadron. Please send mail to the Squadron Adjutant.

11 Appendix Staff and Civilian Committee Contact Details Members of Staff Officer Commanding Plt Off G McKay 85 Ellington Drive Basingstoke Hampshire RG22 4EZ Tel: Adult Senior NCOs FS Sgt D Wadsworth C Brickwood Squadron Adjutant Mrs C Hughes 42 Beechwood Rd Alton Hants GU34 1RP Tel: Squadron Padre Rev G Jones The Manse Iping Rd Milland Liphook Hants GU30 7NA Tel: Squadron Civilian Instructors Mrs C Hughes Mrs S Adam Mr J Burrows Mr M Ward

12 Civilian Committee Officers Mr Graham Oakley (Chairman) 10 Meon Close Clanfield Waterlooville PO8 0PH Tel: Mrs Alison Sealey (Honorary Secretary) 29 Birch Close Liss GU33 7HS Tel: Mr Kim Sealey (Honorary Treasurer) 29 Birch Close Liss GU33 7HS Tel: