So you’ve had a look around our website, checked out what we do and think you want to join the RAF Air Cadets at Hawarden?

Great choice!

This page covers some more detail surrounding eligibility requirements, our intake system of recruiting as well as how to actually go about joining us. Please do take a look and for further information, check out our frequently asked questions: between the two pages we should cover most of your questions, but there should be ample opportunity during the process for you to get your answers to any others!

Eligibility

Young people can join us provided they are in school Year 8 or above as well as being aged over 12 and under 17.

Intakes

We usually run intakes of new cadets twice per year starting in September / October and February / March. These new intakes of cadets train together for their first months, undertaking their First Class Training and covering:

  • history, structure and organisation of the Air Training Corps and the Royal Air Force

  • aviation: history, basic principles and rules of the air

  • skills in first aid, radio and cyber communications

  • marching drill and uniform care

How to Join

Step 1 - Register Interest

To register your interest in joining us as a cadet, please complete this short online form.

Step 2 - Come to an Information Evening

We generally hold an Information Evening in the weeks prior to our new intakes starting in September and February. This gives prospective new cadets and their parents to gain a better understanding of our activities and the opportunity to seek answers to any questions. Details of the Informations Evenings are emailed out to all of those who have registered interest in joining.

We are usually able to organise individual visits to the Squadron for anyone unable to attend an Information Evening.

Step 3 - Wait for your invitation

Following the Information Evening, we will contact all who attended or previously registered interest by email with details of next steps.

Due to limited numbers available for each intake, if we are oversubscribed some individuals may be deferred. Where this happens, we are usually able to guarantee a place on the next intake.

Step 4 - Induction

The first evening for new cadets is the induction: both new cadets and a parent / carer will be required to attend. The new cadets will be introduced to each other, key staff and cadet NCOs before being measured for uniform and undertaking a number of mandatory briefings. Parents / carers will also receive a short briefing including the opportunity for any further questions, then completing final paperwork before leaving the cadets to the remainder of the evening.

The following two evenings will see the new cadets attend the Squadron without parents, and covering the induction topics of:

  • Health, safety and environmental protection (HSEP), including fire procedures

  • Squadron introduction, including key personnel, nightly routines and layout

  • Discipline, the Cadet Code of Conduct and keeping safe in the RAF Air Cadets

  • Cadet Portal, the MyRAFAC app and Squadron Discord server

Step 5 - Recruit Training

Following the first three nights of induction, the new cadets will begin their training with lessons on drill and History of the ATC.

Any other questions? Please check out our frequently asked questions!