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its also one of the only chances in the atc where you will get to go on exercise and fire blank ammo. There are two courses, one half way through march and one at the end and they last for 5 days.

I've been in the ATC for 2 and a half years and am a seargent and i've got to admit that whilst at my SQN on tuesdays and thursdays, it is really boring. However, theres some great courses around (leadership, gliding scholorship etc) but it all boils down to how good your staff are. Were quite lucky because our new Adult Warrant Officer is actually the most qualified perso in the whole ATC as he is ex Parachute Regiment and Royal Int Corp. Problem isi'm leaving in 3 weeks, so I don't get the benefit

Adam

Before I moved to Carlisle I was with an ATC unit in Scotland (2329 Castle Douglas) they were a good bunch, the staff were commited although most were a bit mad (our AWO was an ex-sapper with no teeth). I left just as a load of really cool things were happening including the unit being upgraded from a detached flight to a full squadron. Moved down to here to a Squadron where the staff spent the night in the office drinking tea leaving myself and the other NCO's to teach classes and what not. Left after two months. It really is down to the luck of the draw what happens.

Hmm interesting viewpoints on this thread. Mind you I think some of you are unaware of the restrictions placed on youth organisations these days. Someone mentioned Health & Safety earlier and that is a very big issue, which although many of us would prefer to ignore, the fact is that we can't and therefore restrictions are placed on some activities. As for PC, just wait until you get into the workplace.

Also I would have thought that the NCO's amongst you would actually prefer to teach classes of your fellow cadets. They will benefit from your experience and you will benefit from teaching them. Being a leader isn't just about wearing cam cream and DPM.

Don't forget that not all of your fellow cadets want to join the RAF either. Some of them may be there because a schoolfriend is or because of the sport, or the flying or whatever. The idea isn't to use the ATC as some sort of boot camp.

Finally we all know that things slow down over winter. With Spring on its way you'll have more chance to get out and get busy.

Have fun!

Rob B

yeah.. they banned contact in field craft... BAH

anyway.. my squadron is a bit disorganised and we never really actually do anything.. i've been in bout 1 and a half years and i still havnt fired a rifle..

been gliding though.. thats fun..

NCOs in my squadron are fairly poor.. apart from the cadet warrant officers.. they're bloody good.. but the rest.. just generally use their privilages to screw around in the NCOs mess all evening, and occasionally come out to shout at us.. lol

Have a look at http://www.aircadetcentral.com/forums, it's full of people who like to moan about the corps...

Interesting point, did you know there is a Royal Marine Cadets, attached to Sea Cadet units usually however they're few and far between, and interestingly enough, they're the most elite fighting force, the cadets are the most elite cadets from the looks of things. They wear the full 'Blues' ceremonial outfit of the true Marines when on ceremony & at other times wear DPM, they regularily go on exercise using blank ammo. You must pass certain physical tests to pass out unlike the ATC where it is a simple drill exam and test on corps history, rifle etc. I got started at 2418 squadron ATC, but as I was 16 when I joined found that I was the oldest proby there & also that there was a bit too much immaturity for me there so sadly I never passed out and got into uniform. I think if I'd been allowed to wear uniform from the outset I would still be in the ATC as it would have given a sense of pride & belonging. Sadest time there was when it was offered to go shooting at an RAF base on there ranges and on the same weekend palces for gliding at the local airfield, they could fill neither whilst I was itching to go, but couldn't as I was a probationer, they actually questioned people why they weren't going they were that desperate to fill the spaces, could not believe it! Sadly my nearest marine cadet unit was in Sheffield, so had to give it a miss, they do seem a very special bunch though, close ties to RM, regular training at CTCRM. Must be some memorabl experiences down there with all the the RM training staff!

LOL cheeks! it will probably piss me off signing up there, because i'll have more excuses to b*tch and moan about the ATC.. but classic all the same..

when i went to browndown camp (site for dads army tv shows couple of years back) i found myself mixed amoug a lot of marine cadets, as it is also the base for bravo x-ray company marine cadets.

bloody hell, the marine cadets did everything i wanted to be doing on the camp, shooting, learning how to dismantle and put together a rifle, marching around with SA-80s and LSWs, running around firing blanks at each other.

while us air cadets did the odd drill, sailing, stupid initiative courses, and biking, basically everything CIVILIANS would do on a camp..

and we went to visit a control tower with RAF who actually did a lot less than their civilian equivelants working with in the same building doing the same job (but with civilian aircraft not military, RAF obviously deals with the military aircraft).

We were on Browndown a few weeks ago with out D/F now a squadron hee hee

Were converting 2 use the BFA and L85s so fieldcraft is about to get a lot more fun. Anyway Marine cadets is something i wish we had around our area. We have a sea cadet thingy but quite frankly they suck as does our army cadet detachment. Theres a better one nearby but its too far too walk. Our Squadron does lots of Fieldcraft anyway and i love the stuff, i joined to fly and i now enjoy greens more than blues

I was in the ATC quite a few years ago. I went on a lot of weekend army camps like St Martin's Plain and Crowbrough. Natrually there was more pongo cadets at those places. But by and large they seemed ok. I think Air cadets could stay in the corps until they were 20. I left when I was 22 being a CWO. So we were bit older than the average ACF cadets so we were probably bigger and fitter. Came across the Marine cadets a few times. I must admit I was quite impressed. They seemed to work to a high standard on the assault course and the rifle ranges. Not sure what the age limits were for the Marine cadets but they seemed big fit lads. Came across them on a rememberance parade once as well and they looked right smart in the proper Marine dress uniforms. In the ATC we were not allowed to wear RAF badges or insigna. Yet Air Cadets in the CCF and cadets for the other services could wear the right badges right pissed us off.

hey space cadet you went to browndown? are you in hants iow? im an NCO at 457d/f what bout you?

I'm At 305 sqdrn - Ashford as a cpl (after 8 months) and we have a range, but are lacking in the ammo and weapons department - does anyone know how much the cadet stuff costs, cos I'm thinking about starting an 'arm the teenagers' programme at our sqdn in a slushfund type thing with sponsored events and the like. Cheers!

I have been in the ATC since the beginning of september and am a 1st class at 969(ST Helens) sqn, i have just taken my airmanship 2 exam. Every thursday we tend to go shooting on the 25m range, because we share a barracks with the TA, but there is no respect for any of the CPL's is it the same in any other squadrons???

in one word - no. there is plenty of respect for the nco's at most of the sqdrns I've seen, unless of course, the nco is a complete knobjockey (I can think of several that fit this description)

Nah, the NCO is good because he has jus got his SGT but still aint gerrin respected by cadets