Last weekend marked a monumental milestone as we celebrated 85 years of the Air Training Corps. From a personal commendation from HRH The Princess of Wales to poignant services across the UK, the anniversary was a powerful reminder of the spirit and standards upheld by our cadets and dedicated Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) and staff.
As our Royal Honorary Air Commandant, HRH The Princess of Wales praised the organisation for its "proud heritage and enduring commitment" to young people, applauding the confidence and leadership skills cadets develop through their service.
The Air Training Corps was officially formed on the 5 February 1941, bringing what was the Air Defence Cadet Corps run by the Air League under the control of the Royal Air Force. The ATC is the community based part of what is now the RAF Air Cadets, together with the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) in schools.
The 85th anniversary was marked by several large-scale events and wider sector and squadron parades that demonstrated the pride, community connections, sheer scale and discipline of the organisation today:
- Coventry Cathedral: Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing held a special service celebrated the city's deep ties to aviation history, and were joined by Commandant RAFAC, Regional Commandant Wales & West, and the National Chaplain. The event highlighted the diversity of the cadet experience, from Duke of Edinburgh’s Award achievements to recent successes in national shooting competitions.
- Greater Manchester Wing: Hundreds of cadets accompanied by a marching band took part in a large-scale parade through the city drawing cheers from the public and joined by our Senior Volunteer and Regional Commandant North.
- London: A service of thanksgiving was held at St. Clement Danes, the Central Church of the Royal Air Force. Cadets from across London and the South-East Region stood alongside veterans and permanent staff as unit standards were paraded through the historic sanctuary.
- Edinburgh Castle: South-East Scotland Wing paraded along the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral where they were joined by Air Officer Scotland and Regional Commandant Scotland and NI.
- Swansea: A full civic parade, led by a marching band formed by members of RAFAC, wound its way to Swansea Minster to commemorate the formal establishment of the Air Training Corps (ATC) in 1941.
This 85-year history is not merely a look back; it is the very bedrock that enables the career-enhancing opportunities available to cadets today. The evolution from the Air Defence Cadet Corps to the modern ATC, part of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, has created an offering that gives young people a distinct edge in employment.
RAFAC Senior Volunteer Gp Capt Ben Wakefield said:
"Seeing the entire RAF Air Cadets community come together to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of the Air Training Corps in my first year as Senior Volunteer has been a real delight. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the range of content on Instagram and Facebook that you have shared with me, covering dining in nights, formal parades and church services to name a few.
No doubt many other events will continue throughout the year and I look forward to hearing all about those too.
Thank you to all across the organisation that planned and supported events to give our cadets an opportunity to come together and mark this milestone."
While the roots of the modern RAF Air Cadets lie in the Air Defence Cadet Corps of 1938, today’s RAF Air Cadets is a highly diverse and inclusive forward-looking organisation aimed at delivering career enhancing opportunities for cadets from all walks of life. We are currently undergoing a training transformation aimed at modernising out progressive training syllabus (PTS) to ensures cadets are prepared for the future with core learning in air, space, and cyber. This includes significant investment in immersive technology, such as virtual reality headsets and high-fidelity flight simulators, ensuring our training remains relevant to modern industry.
The anniversary also served to highlight the immense contribution cadets make to society. Through the volunteering section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, air cadets contribute over £400,000 in social value to their communities annually.
As we look beyond our 85th year, the mission remains to provide a coherent, inspirational, and accessible experience that empowers every cadet to reach their full potential.