Royal Air Force Air Cadets | |
---|---|
Active | Since 5 February 1941[1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Air Force |
Type | Volunteer Military Youth Organisation |
Headquarters | RAF Cranwell |
Patron | The Princess of Wales |
Website | www |
Commanders | |
Commandant Air Cadets | Air Cdre Tony 'Special K' Keeling[2] |
RAFAC WO | WO Donna Hall RAFAC |
Honorary Ambassadors |
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The Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) is the combined volunteer-military youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force, which is formed by both the Air Training Corps and RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force.[3] The organisation is headed by a former serving RAF officer, Commandant Air Cadets. The current commandant is Air Commodore Tony Keeling.[4]
Prior to 1 October 2017, the RAFAC was called the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO).[5] As of 1 April 2023, the ACO had a strength of 42,190 cadets and 10,070 cadet force adult volunteers.[6] Cadets are aged between 12 and 17 on entry to the organisation, and can remain until they are 18, or with special permission, until they are 20.[7]