The Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC), known as the Air Training Corps (AIRTC) until 2001, is a federally supported youth development program and organisation of the Royal Australian Air Force. Along with the Australian Army Cadets (AAC) and the Australian Navy Cadets (ANC), it is part of the Australian Defence Force Cadets.
History Founding of the Air Training Corps The Air Training Corps (ATC), predecessor to the Australian Air Force Cadets, was formed by the Australian War Cabinet in February 1941 as a cadet corps part of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) reserves. The main aims of the force were to train young men from ages 16 to 18 to join the RAAF in the midst of World War II, and for young men to increase their "air knowledge" and interest in the RAAF. The personnel strength of the ATC peaked at 12000 cadets in training in 1943.
Post-War period and brief disbandment After the end of World War II, the ATC was scaled down from the lack of demand of RAAF pilots by demobilisation, and its aims were changed for a peacetime role, for training cadets to eventually join the peacetime RAAF.
In August 1975, the then Minister for Defence, Bill Morrison, announced that the three branches of cadet corps, Australian Cadet Corps, Sea Cadet Corps, and Air Training Corps would be disbanded from January 1976, based on the recommendations of the Millar Report of 1975. However, in May 1976, the new Federal Government Minister for Administrative Services announced the re-formation of the Australian cadets movement, and the ATC acronym was renamed AIRTC.
Post-disbandment to the modern Australian Air Force Cadets In May 1982, the Minister for Defence announced the inclusion of girls in the AIRTC.
In January 2000, based on recommendations from the Topley Review, a national Directorate of Defence Force Cadets was formed to administer cadet units. The following year, the separate state cadet organisations, with little consistencies in training, standards, or organisations, and were not managed under the Australian Defence Force, were administered under a national administration. The name of Air Training Corps was also then changed to Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC).
In 2005, the AAFC was re-organised into functional wings, supported by the RAAF. These wings and their boundaries remained mainly defined by political state lines, redirected for better service delivery and focus. Philosophy The broad aim of the Australian Air Force Cadets is to better equip young people for community life by fostering initiative, leadership, discipline, and loyalty through a training program designed to stimulate an interest in the Royal Australian Air Force. The training program is structured to reflect the following objectives: To give Cadets a foundation of Air Force knowledge and discipline; To develop the qualities of leadership, initiative, and self-reliance; To develop good character and good citizenship in the widest sense; To develop an interest in the Royal Australian Air Force and aviation generally; To instil a knowledge of the history of aviation; and To encourage Cadets to continue an active interest in aviation into their adult life.
Uniform The AAFC uniform is near-identical to its parent organisation, using the RAAF General Purpose Uniform (GPU) and Service Dress (SD). Before the issuing of GPU uniform, the Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU) was used. The differences between AAFC and RAAF uniform are badges, shoulder biscuits, pocket tags, and rank slides, the former's being embroidered with a blue/white band with the acronym AAFC.
The Service Dress Air Force Blue (SD) uniform is the uniform worn on most ceremonial occasions. Cadet Under Officers and Cadet Warrant Officers may wear the RAAF Peaked Cap. The headdress worn by cadets consists of the Hat Fur Felt - Khaki (HFF-K) and a AAFC- or squadron-branded baseball cap, that is only to be used with the GPU. Officers and Instructors of Cadets may wear the above headdress or RAAF garrison caps.
From early 2021, the AAFC superseded the DPCU uniform and replaced it with the General Purpose Uniform (GPU), the current issued uniform of the RAAF. AAFC Personnel are issued their respective squadron patch, which typically contain a blue background with various symbols to represent the location that they are at and known for, with the exception of certain squadrons and flights.
Training Cadet home training A cadet traditionally progresses through several phases of training throughout their cadet career. Standard training is on the fundamentals and development of military drill, aerospace, and skills on the field, whilst extension trainings, a prerequisite for progressing in rank, develop on leadership skills and concepts, as well as the aforementioned subjects in a leadership context.
Cadet external training Cadet external training usually constitutes training on a Royal Australian Air Force establishment or a remote location for fieldcraft camps, usually done in conjunction with other units. These activities include General Service Trainings (GST) for cadets to learn about Defence and happenings on a RAAF airbase, Cadet Flying Trainings (CST) to train cadets in piloting various aircraft, and Fieldcraft camps to extend on core field skills training.
Foot drill in the Australian Air Force Cadets AAFC training constitutes much training on foot drill (mentioned as "Drill and Ceremonial"), ranging from basic "static" drill movements in initial phases to advanced banner, Rifle and sword drill with later stages.
AAFC squadrons often form guards and banner parties at Anzac/Remembrance Day/Victory in the Pacific Day/Vietnam Veterans Day services and other cadets will march on these parades. Promotion course graduation parades are very significant events, often requiring days of training. These parades will often be reviewed by a senior RAAF officer and consist of several squadrons/flights as well as colour parties. Ceremonial parades may include firearms, with Lee Enfields, L1A1 rifles, or innocuous versions of the F88 Austeyr (abbreviated as the F88I), and swords for executives. Colour party members are often temporarily issued ceremonial equipment such as White cotton gloves, Banner Girdle (for Banner/Colour Bearer) or Sash (Banner/Colour Warrant Officer) and white belts.
Ranks The ranks of the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) are closely based on the ranks of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). As such, a system of differentiation was required to distinguish members of the AAFC from those of the RAAF. This means that cadet ranks wear rank slides which are AFB (Air Force Blue) with an embroidered light blue ribbon, 1cm wide at the base of the rank slide with 'AAFC' in AFB embroidery. Adult staff members of the AAFC wear rank slides with an embroidered white bar that contains the letters AAFC in place of the light blue bar. When DPCU uniforms became standard issue, cadets and cadet staff would wear surplus Australian RAAF and Australian Army Rank slides. These would be replaced in 2014 with the "AAFC" styled DPCU rank slide. Adult ranks are also followed by the letters AAFC (in brackets) when written, to distinguish them from actual members of the RAAF. Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer ranks are prefixed with the letter C, to identify them as cadets and not adult staff or members of the RAAF.
Recruit (RCT) is not an official rank, but commonly refers to new cadets who have been enrolled but have not yet finished "Recruit Stage" Training.
+ Instructor Ranks of the AAFC (Instructor of Cadets – IOC)Volume 2, Part 1, Chapter 1 of the AAFC Manual of ManagementInsignia Rank Warrant Officer (AAFC) Flight Sergeant (AAFC) Sergeant (AAFC) Corporal (AAFC) Leading AircraftmanLeading Aircraftwoman (AAFC) AircraftmanAircraftwoman (AAFC) Abbreviation WOFF(AAFC) FSGT(AAFC) SGT(AAFC) CPL(AAFC) LAC/W(AAFC) AC/W(AAFC)
+ Officer Ranks of the AAFC (Officer of Cadets – OOC) Insignia Rank Group Captain (AAFC) Wing Commander (AAFC) Squadron Leader (AAFC) Flight Lieutenant (AAFC) Flying Officer (AAFC) Pilot Officer (AAFC) Abbreviation GPCAPT(AAFC) WGCDR(AAFC) SQNLDR(AAFC) FLTLT(AAFC) FLGOFF(AAFC) PLTOFF(AAFC)
Rank Establishments The AAFC has specific rank establishments and quotas depending on the strength of a squadron. This is to ensure a balance between leadership roles and subordinates members (especially to prevent a top-heavy squadron developing). As an exaggerated example, it would not be beneficial for a squadron of 40 cadets to have 39 CUOs and 1 CDT, nor would it be beneficial for it to have 20 CWOFFs, 10 CFSGTs and 10 CSGTs. Rather, that squadron ought to have 2 CUOs, 2 CWOFFs, 1 CFSGT, 3 CSGTs, 5 CCPLs and around 30 LCDTs/CDTs. The general standard is 1–4 NCOs and CUOs, This is not an explicit rule of the AAFC, but is rather a recommendation made to units. Squadrons may not exceed the establishment for CUO and CWOFF positions. CUO positions do not cascade down to CWOFF positions if there are vacancies in CUO numbers. Squadrons may use vacancies in CFSGT and CSGT positions to cascade down to lower ranks to permit COs the option to fill vacancies in SNCO ranks with JNCOs. Vacancies in rank cannot cascade upwards at any time. This means that vacant CCPL positions remain that way at all times, and, for example, a squadron with an establishment for 75 cadets that have only 3 CSGTs could not assign those positions to CUO/CWOFF/CFSGT rank but could assign them to allow for more CCPLs.
Awards/Badges/Medals +AwardImageStaffCadetYears serviceNotesAustralian Cadet Forces Service MedalAll ranksN/A15 Years Continuous serviceBar is awarded each five years after awardGST Completion CertificateN/AAll ranksN/AAwarded after GST course completionJNCO Completion CertificateN/ALCDT/CCPLN/AAwarded after JNCO course completion (Since 2024, JNCO Courses have ended, and is now unavailable to be awarded.)SNCO Completion CertificateN/ACCPL/CSGTN/AAwarded after SNCO course completion (Since 2024, SNCO Courses have ended, and is now unavailable to be awarded.)CWOFF Completion CertificateN/ACSGT/CFSGT/CWOFFN/AAwarded after CWOFF course completion (Since 2025, CWOFF Courses have ended, and is now unavailable to be awarded.)Marksmanship Badge "Crossed Rifles"All ranksAll ranks above Cadet1 Year serviceAwarded to Cadets who achieve an average score of 85% or higher at a Wing or National shooting competition. This comes in the form of two crossed EnfieldsCUO Completion CertificateN/ACSGT/CFSGT/CWOFF/CUON/AAwarded after CUO course completion (Since 2025, CUO Courses have ended, and is now unavailable to be awarded.)Firearms Proficiency Badge "Single Rifle"All ranksAll ranks N/AAwarded to Cadets who have been passed the firearms training elective (FTE) having fired at least 45 roundsSilver Steyr BadgeAll ranksAll ranks above CadetN/AAwarded to Cadets who have completed the ADF F88 courseGolden Steyr BadgeAll ranksAll ranks above CadetN/AAwarded to Cadets who qualify as marksman on the ADF F88Band BadgeAll ranksAll ranksN/AAwarded to Cadets who have worked on at least 75% of official band paradesAdventure Training BadgeAll ranksAll ranksN/AAwarded to cadets who have completed the Adventure Training Award