Its History

The Air Training Corps (ATC) was formed by Royal Warrant in 1941 and sprang from the Air Defence Cadet Corps, founded in 1938 by the Air League.

On 5th February 1941 the Air Training Corps (ATC) was officially established, with King George VI agreeing to be the Air Commodore-in-Chief, and issuing a Royal Warrant setting out the Corps' aims. The number of young men responding to the new ATC was spectacular. Within the first month the size of the old ADCC had virtually doubled to more than 400 squadrons and after 12 months it was about 8 times as big.

The motto "VENTURE ADVENTURE", devised by Air Commodore Chamier, was incorporated into a new badge and given approval by the King.

Today

Today the aims of the Air Training Corps have not changed we still aim:

"To promote and encourage a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force, to provide training which will be

 useful both in the Services and in civil life, to foster the spirit of adventure and to develop the qualities of

leadership and good citizenship."

Although the Air Training Corps was initially formed to meet the needs of a nation at war, the Corps continues to thrive as it enters the 21st Century. Today, there are now independent Air Cadet Organizations in many other countries throughout the World.

The Air Cadets are a disciplined and uniformed organisation, controlled directly by the Royal Air Force and staffed by Officers, commissioned in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and by Adult Warrant Officers and Civilian Instructors of the A.T.C.

All activities are controlled and supervised by adult personnel, of considerable experience, and within stringent RAF Regulations, particularly with regard to adventurous training.

Membership is open to both males and females, between 13 and 18 years of age. The upper age limit is 20, for senior N.C.O. cadets.