Our Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV) play a vital role in everything we do. We have 10,000 volunteers located across the RAF’s Air Training Corps, helping to ensure our squadrons run smoothly everywhere from Poole and Tenby, to The Orkneys and the Isle of Man, and from York all the way to Inverness.
There are lots of ways you can be part of RAF Air Cadet life. From organising activities and handling essential admin support, to taking part in wellbeing initiatives, there are lots of rewarding opportunities to develop life-changing skills, gain new qualifications and strengthen your own leadership qualities.
ACTIVITIES
As a civilian instructor your involvement can take up as much time as you can spare. Ideally this would be a minimum of one parade night a month, but there is flexibility. For volunteers who go into a unformed role, there is a minimum requirement of 12 hours a month, across parade nights and weekend activities.
Our parade nights are a mix of activities, which vary depending on the time of year. Volunteers may be running sports sessions, teaching cadets from our academic syllabus or specialist subjects such as space, radio or cyber. Other volunteers may be in the office planning the training programme, camps or recruitment activities. Many of our adventurous activities and flying take place at the weekend. Volunteers are needed to supervise cadets taking part in expeditions, training cadets in shooting or taking them to one of our Gliding Squadrons.
Your monthly involvement is likely to include a combination of the following:
- Flying
- Gliding
- Drill and ceremonial: Cadets learn drill (marching and other movements) as part of their basic training so they can take part in parades. It also develops self-discipline. This training is carried out by our Senior NCO Volunteers, supported by senior cadets. On big parades, an Officer may be leading the march past with non-uniformed volunteers needed to support with first aid and other organisational activities.
- Adventure: volunteers are needed to run our adventure training activities. Qualifications are needed, but the organisation provides opportunities to gain this at minimal cost – if not free. You could be training cadets in mountain biking or paddle sports, or supervising them on their Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition
- Camps: each year cadets travel to RAF stations for a week long camp. Volunteers support the activities run on the camp, as well as providing supervision of the cadets.
- Visits: in addition to week long camps, many squadrons organise visits to museums, air shows and other organisations to increase the cadets’ knowledge and citizenship training. Volunteers are needed to supervise the cadets, and get to enjoy the visits as well.
- Education: one of the main roles for volunteers is to provide cadets training in the subjects in our progressive training syllabus. You may already have some of these skills, or can learn them through volunteer training courses. Subjects include space studies, radio and cyber, aviation studies and leadership.
REQUIREMENTS
The key things we look for in our volunteers are commitment, organisational skills and clear communication. We pride ourselves on creating a flexible and supportive environment in which our volunteers can make a difference to the work we do, while also maintaining their outside interests and obligations, whether that’s in terms of families, jobs or hobbies.
You don’t need to have any previous military background or experience, nor do we expect you to have done any flying or gliding – volunteering is your chance to build these kinds of skills and receive training from our experienced and dedicated team. You’ll also receive an official volunteer uniform.
While volunteering is an unpaid role, it does give you the opportunity to move up through the ranks if you wish to do so – you can go on to train as an officer or senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO), by following the process of interviews at Wing HQs and Regional HQs. If you do progress to be an officer or non-commissioned officer, you may be able to claim for volunteer allowance.
All that we ask of you when you join us is that you:
- Be aged 20 years or more (minimum age for CCF RAF is 18 years. Uniformed officers serve up to age 65)
- have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years
- commit to a certain number of hours each week (around 12 hours a month)
- understand young people and their needs
- be patient, responsible and kind
To apply, please fill the below form, or any questions please email [email protected]:
https://www.raf.mod.uk/aircadets/interested-in-joining-as-a-volunteer/?squadronno=621&id=515B89F8-FCE5-4FC3-90F3CC7C996EF4A3
Pay: From £0.01 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
