Academic Training Programme

When a young person joins the ATC, it is not just about Ranks, Uniform and Discipline, there is also an academic syllabus which the cadets must participate in. Each award of a level brings more advantages with it. All out exams are multiple choice.

As well as academic exams, the cadet does training in Citizenship, Drill and takes part in Projects, as well as Extra-Mural Activities (which includes; Gliding, Flying, Camps, Leadership Courses, etc...)

There are 5 levels of academic classification.

Second Class

Anyone who joins cadets and enrolls, automatically becomes a 2nd Class cadet. They are at the beginning of their training. They can not attend any RAF camps.

First Class

A First Class cadet has taken over 8 topics and passed the relevant examinations. These topics include:

• The ATC
• The RAF
• The Rifle (.22 No.8)
• Radio Communication
• Initial Expedition Training
• Airmanship 1
• Map Reading
• History of Flight

Once a cadet has passed their First class they can attend RAF camps and go shooting and flying.

Leading

A Leading cadet has taken 3 topics, these are:

• Airmanship 2
• Basic Navigation
• Map Reading

Once a cadet has passed their Leading exams, they can apply for places on camps in Germany* and flights abroad
_{*(as long as they meet the age requirements)}

Senior

A Senior cadet has taken 2 topics from the following list of topics:

• Air Navigation
• Propulsion
• Aircraft Handling
• Advanced Radio and Radar
• Pilot Navigation
• Airframes
• Operational Flying
• Satellite Communications

Staff

This level is split into two.

Part One: Here you take two of the exams from the Senior list. These are the last exams you will take.

Part Two: The cadet must prepare a 10-12 minute presentation on an ATC related topic of their choice and then present it to the squadron and the squadron's Wing Staff Officer (WSO). Then they must be interviewed by the WSO and tested on their knowledge of the ATC, their squadron and their wing.