FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

• What nights do you parade? The squadron is open every Monday and Thursday from 6.45pm till 9.30pm. (Except Christmas, Easter week and Bank holidays).
• Can anyone join? The squadron is open to young people from all parts of society and cultures. Starting age is from 12 years to 20 years.
• Can I bring a friend? It makes for good competition and motivation. As long as they are 12 years or older.
• How many cadets are there in the squadron? We are lucky to have our own facilities. We parade approximately 120 cadets depending upon the time of year.
• What will happen on my first night? You will be welcomed by a member of staff who will show you around the squadron and what activities are available. They will talk you through what you can achieve in the cadet organisation. (BTEC qualifications, Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold, Flying and gliding scholarships etc) and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
• How much does it cost? The joining fee is £5.00p (One off payment). A uniform deposit of £15 (refundable if all uniform is returned on leaving the squadron).Then only £3.00p a week. This is payable on Monday nights. We recommend that you try to pay ahead and keep on top of it.
• How much does the uniform cost? The blue uniform is issued by the squadron FREE of charge. However you will need to invest in black parade shoes, socks or tights and combat clothing as listed under the Uniforms section above.
• Do I get the uniform on the first night? As you can appreciate uniforms are expensive and need to be looked after. New junior cadets are supplied with green coveralls. It gives you a chance to sample what we have to offer and for us to establish if you will stay with us long enough to issue you a uniform. It indicates to other members of the squadron that you are a new starter. It will also help prevent your clothes from getting dirty during the evening events (depending on the activity that night) Please bring sensible footwear. Old trainers, boots or shoes are fine.
• Do you go away on camps? We go away for weekends or for a week once a year, which is usually to Europe.
• Are the staff qualified? The training staff have to attend training courses to become qualified instructors in their chosen field. Whether it is adventure training, drill, first aid, archery or target shooting. They also have to attend courses concerning child welfare issues, drug awareness courses and all are ‘DBS’ checked.
• Are the staff employed by the RAF? All the staff are volunteers and come from all walks of life. They give up their free time not only on parade nights but also at weekends. Parent and Guardian support is vital and greatly appreciated whether it’s picking them up on time or helping the civilian committee during fund raising events. As a parent, you can join the civilian committee if you wish.
• What is the Civilian Committee? The committee is made up of volunteers that give up their time to meet once a month to discuss squadron activities. All members of the committee also get involved in many other activities such as running a canteen, administration, training cadets and much more. We are always looking for new volunteers as the Air Cadets is a charity and much of what a cadet does has to be paid for by the squadron.
• Do you recruit for the RAF? We are a youth organisation which is sponsored by the RAF. We try to give the cadets a varied and challenging time whilst they are with us. A small percentage do go into the forces, but not necessarily the RAF. However, the majority go onto higher education or apprenticeships.
• How else will a young person benefit being in the Air Cadets? Apart from becoming more confident and self-reliant, the biggest benefits will be when they start thinking about future careers. Employers and higher education establishments are always looking at additional activities that people have achieved during their spare time. The fact that they attend a well-structured organisation such as the Air Training Corps whilst gaining additional qualifications will put them head and shoulders above other groups. They will also make some of their best friends for life. Whichever direction they decide to take, we aim to give them the best start in making them into well rounded young adults. It truly is a life changing experience.
• What is your position on bullying?  Here at 126 (City of Derby) ATC we have rarely experienced bullying of any sort and, as an organisation dedicated to the development of our young people we do not accept bullying, harassment or intimidation of any sort.  We encourage cadets to report any incident and will actively investigate where reported or suspected.