ACP 42: Staff Cadet Interview

722 (Chivenor) Squadron ATCACP 42 Staff Cadet Interview

ACP 42: Staff Cadet Interview

Lesson 1


Chapter 1

Corps Structure – Higher Organization


Corps – Higher OrganizationAims

By the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:

• State the various levels within the Corps organization, including the number at each level

• Recall the ranks at the various levels, and where their establishments are listed

• Know the names of key ATC personnel, including the Wing Commander, Wing Staff Officers, Regional Commandant and Commandant Air Cadets


Corps – Higher OrganizationSquadrons

• Base foundation of the Corps– 922 Squadrons (Feb 99)

– 79 Detached Flights (Feb 99)

• Each Squadron is self-controlled– Controlled by Sqn Staff, helped by committee

and local citizens

– Ordered within framework of the Corps


Corps – Higher OrganizationSquadron Types

• ‘Open Squadron’– Open to any eligible young person selected by

Squadron Commander

• ‘School Squadron’– Only open to pupils and former pupils

Many more ‘Open’ than ‘School’ Squadrons


Corps – Higher OrganizationSquadron Name

• Each squadron has a number and the name of the town/community it belongs to– 722 (Chivenor) Squadron

• Founder squadrons also display ‘F’ after the number– First 50 squadrons formed in the ADCC

– 41F (Taunton) Squadron


Corps – Higher OrganizationSquadron Staff Establishment

• ‘Establishment’ is the number of Staff that may be appointed to run a Squadron/DF

• ACP 20B – ACAI 101– ACAI = Air Cadet Administrative Instruction

• May not normally be exceeded• Establishment may be adjusted after 3

reporting periods at new squadron strength– 1 period = 3 months


Corps – Higher OrganizationCadet NCO Establishment

• AP 1919 – Para 408• Also related to squadron strength• ACP 20B – ACAI 224

– Wing Establishment of CWOs over the amount in AP 1919 Para 408

– Currently set at 2/3rds of the squadrons in the Wing

– E.g. Devon & Somerset Wing = 30 Squadrons = 20 Extra CWOs = 50 CWOs in Wing


Corps – Higher OrganizationClassification Establishment

• Not restricted by establishment• Numbers based purely on the amount of

cadets who have passed the exam at a particular level


Corps – Higher OrganizationCivilian Committee

• Responsible for welfare and recreational activities

• Administer Squadron funds• Raise money for the ‘Non-public’ fund

– Money not provided by the government– Use to fund activities outside the training

programme

• Usually made up of people with business sense or people of local eminence


Corps – Higher OrganizationSquadron Chaplain

• Appointed by Squadron Commander, in consultation with Civilian Committee

• Chaplains are encouraged to meet the cadets and take part within the training programme


Corps – Higher OrganizationWings

• Groups of Squadrons are arranged into Wings

• 36 Wings in the Corps• Commanded by Wing Commander

– Wing Commander RAFVR(T)


Corps – Higher OrganizationWing Professional Staff

• Responsible for Administrative Duties• Headed by Wing Administration Officer

– Squadron Leader RAFR

• Establishment– Detailed on ‘Local Unit Establishment’ form

(LUE), held at HQ Air Cadets


Corps – Higher OrganizationWing Staff

• Responsible for general standards in Wing• RAFVR(T) Officers

– Flight Lieutenant or Squadron Leader

• Establishment– AP 1919, Chapter 2

• Wing Committee• Wing Chaplain


Corps – Higher OrganizationRegions

• Groups of Wings are arranged into Regions

• 6 Regions in the Corps• Commanded by Regional Commandant

– Retired RAF Officer

– Group Captain RAFR


Corps – Higher OrganizationRegional Staff

• Small professional staff– Establishment on the HQ Air Cadets LUE

• Regional Staff– RAFVR(T) Officers, responsible for various

regional responsibilities (e.g. PRO)

• Regional Council– Headed by Regional Chairman

• Regional Chaplain


Corps – Higher OrganizationHeadquarters Air Cadets (HQAC)

• Headed by Commandant Air Cadets– Serving Air Commodore RAF

• Chief of Staff– Retired RAF Officer

– Group Captain RAFR

• Staff of Professionals


Corps – Higher OrganizationAbove HQAC

• RAFC Cranwell– Commanded by Air Officer Commanding and

Commandant

• Serving Air Vice-Marshal RAF

• HQ RAF Personnel & Training Command (HQ PTC)

• Air Force Board of the Defence Council• MOD


Corps- Higher OrganizationAir Commodore-In-Chief

• Air Training Corps Established by Royal Warrant on 5th February 1941

• King George VI was the first AC-I-C• Royal Warrant last amended in 1967

– Current wording in ACP 20A – ACTI 1

• ACTI = Air Cadet Training Instruction

• Marshal of the RAF, HRH Duke of Edinburgh is the current AC-I-C


Corps – Higher OrganizationConclusion

• Structure– Top level – integrated into RAF

– Bottom level – run by volunteers

• Establishment– Needs to be set out in a structure where there

is a permanent job to be done


Corps – Higher OrganizationReview of Aims

By the end of this chapter, the student should be able to:

• State the various levels within the Corps organization, including the number at each level

• Recall the ranks at the various levels, and where their establishments are listed

• Know the names of key ATC personnel, including the Wing Commander, Wing Staff Officers, Regional Commandant and Commandant Air Cadets


Corps – Higher OrganizationQuestions

• Name the main four levels of the Corps, and the numbers at each level:

• What is the rank of the Commandant Air Cadets?

• What rank is the Regional Commandant?

• Squadrons (922)

Wings (36)

Regions (6)

HQAC (1)

• Air Commodore RAF

• Group Captain RAFR

Documents

ACP 42: Staff Cadet Interview