Please contact us if you have any further questions.
Q. Do I have to buy my own uniform? If so, does it cost a lot? A. No, the uniform is loaned free but you have to look after it and give it back when you need to exchange an item or when you leave. You will need to provide a pair of black shoes and boots for certain activities.
Q. How often do you get to go flying? A. Flying is only available through the dedicated RAFAC units in the UK. We run a camp once a year during a school holiday to take cadets to attend flying and gliding slots due to the logistics and costs involved preventing more frequent visits. Much of this camp is provided by the RAF free of charge so the costs involved for cadets are minimal and relate to some extra activities we provide whilst in the UK that are not covered by the RAF.
Q. How much does it cost? A. It costs £10 a month to belong to the ATC in Guernsey which is great value for money (less than a TV licence!) considering what you get out of it. Other activities such as camps or expeditions usually have their own charge on top of monthly subs but this is dependent on the activity and level of subsidy received. We are committed to ensuring that money is no barrier for any of our cadets and funds are available to help cadets cover any costs they are unable to meet.
Q. How old must I be to join? A. You can join when you’re in school year 8 and usually leave when you’re 18 with the option to extend your service until you’re 20. The latest age you can be to join is 17.
Q. Can I join the Air Cadets if I don’t want to join the RAF/military? Absolutely! The RAF Air Cadets is not a recruiting organisation for the Armed Forces. While some cadets do choose to join the military, the training provided by the Air Cadets is held in high regard by civilian employers too and there is no pressure or expectation on cadets whatsoever to consider a Service career. If you do want to join the forces, the Air Cadets will set you up well for your initial training and service life and is highly regarded by the forces’ recruiters.