Question 1

How old must my son or daughter be to join the ATC?

Accepted Answer

Cadets must be 12 and in S1 (Scotland).

See the 'Being a Cadet' page on the Air Cadet website for full details.

Our age restrictions are due insurance reasons and so sadly the Corps is unable to vary these entrance age requirements.

Cadets cannot join after their 17th birthday and typically cadets join aged 13-15.

Question 2

Is there a maximum age for ATC cadets?

Accepted Answer

Cadets usually leave on or before their 18th birthday although in some circumstances cadets may continue until their 20th birthday. At age 20 many apply to become a Civilian or even uniformed instructor, thereby remaining with the Corps.

Adult members of the ATC, be they Civilian or uniformed, can start on their 20th birthday, consequently, things need not come to an end once the maximum cadet age of 20 is reached.

Question 3

Does the ATC accept both boys and girls?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Air Training Corps is open to both boys and girls. The skills learned is our organisation are equally as beneficial to both.

To make the point about equal opportunities, one of our female cadets recently completed her Gliding Scholarship after many hours of training and are continuing their training to become an gliding instructor and fly powered aircraft.

Question 4

How much does joining the ATC cost?

Accepted Answer

Our squadron is run by a civilian management committee, made up of parents of cadets.

The subscriptions are set by the committee and will be based on the costs of running the Squadron. Consequently there is no fixed universal fee - different Squadron's may have slightly differing costs.

Our squadron's fees are currently set at £15 (per month) with the option of block advancement payment where you pay for part or all of that year.

If you would like more information regarding this, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Question 5

Do I have to pay for the ATC uniform?

Accepted Answer

No. Cadets receive three uniforms which are provided free-of-charge and which are to be returnable and in good condition.

However, note that we may be unable to provide the shoes required with the uniform and may require an extra payment to be made using a trusted service.

Typically cadets do not receive uniform until they are due to be formally enrolled in the ATC, which can vary from 1-2 months from when joining.

Question 6

How many ATC uniforms are there?

Accepted Answer

Each cadet will receive their uniforms before their enrolment (which parents can usually watch). Each cadet will receive two types of uniform:

Number 2 (light and dark blues) - RAF-style uniform for most evening parades
Number 3 - army-style 'combat greens' used for field activities

Question 7

How much do the Squadron activities cost?

Accepted Answer

Most activities are free - or at least included in the Squadron subscriptions. So shooting, gliding, flying, sports and other activities are usually all provided free.

There may be exceptions. For instance, a wing lead camp with various site visits and activites may cost around £60.

Precise costs for activities will therefore depend upon the activity, but you should expect the cost for most activities to be included in the regular subscription amounts.

Question 8

On which nights does the Squadron meet?

Accepted Answer

We meet weekly, on Monday and Thursday evening from 7pm - 9:30pm.

This may vary depending on the type of activity that is taking place on a particular evening, if this does happen you will be contacted prior to the evening.

Join Us

So, are you ready to take the first step towards all the opportunities and benefits that the air cadets can offer you?

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Our Next Intake is

2nd July 2026

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