What we do

This is what it's all about - activities that offer challenge, excitement and adventure and the knowledge you pick up along the way through structured lectures and first-hand experience.

Don't worry about being thrown in at the deep end. You will join 1381 Squadron on a trial basis, when you will get to know the other cadets and start basic training. You may well already have friends who are cadets at the Squadron, but if not you soon will have! You then get gradually introduced to activities as you progress, so you can make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.

Get out and get active

Cadet life is about learning through practical experience, and nowhere is this more so than in the great outdoors! Here's a taster of what's in store for you as a cadet with 1381 Squadron:

• Camping - Work on your survival skills and learn your strengths in a team.
• Easter/summer camps - Very soon after you join you can take part in these popular week-long camps held at RAF stations around the UK. There is no minimum age limit; you just need to have successfully passed the first stage of your training. Many cadets attend their first camp while they are still 13.
• Overseas camps - Spend 10 days in Cyprus with fantastic weather, swimming, sailing, and maybe even see the Red Arrows practice their displays (they train there). Head to Germany where as well as the usual section visits and activities you'll visit a city or cemetery from the First and Second World Wars. Cadets from 1381 Squadron are regularly selected for these overseas camps, and have been to RAF Akrotiri, Joint HQ Rheindahlen, and the massive US Air Force Ramstein Air Base in the last couple of years. You may even get to fly in helicopters - another exciting possibility for cadets.
• Adventurous training - A huge part of cadet training. As well as the camping expeditions we organise ourselves locally the Air Cadets have two national centres, at Windermere in the Lake District and Llanbedr in coastal Wales, both with stunning scenery. Rock climbing, abseiling, high-level hill walking, mountain-biking, canoeing, high rope work and sailing are all par for the course.

Get airborne

Flying is central to our purpose and your cadet experience. You'll have loads of opportunities to take to the skies:

• Gliding - Soar to success! There are fantastic opportunities to glide while you are a cadet, with the ultimate goal being a solo flight. Training is in three stages: a Gliding Induction Course (GIC), Gliding Scholarship (GS) and Advanced Gliding Training (AGT). 1381 Squadron does most of its glider training with 612 Volunteer Gliding Squadron in Abingdon. Do you know you can fly an aeroplane solo (that is with only you on board) at age 16 - when you are still too young to apply for a provisional car driving licence! In the past two years four of our cadets have gained their solo wings at 612 VGS.
• Air Experience Flights - Feel the thrill of powered flight, with a fully qualified pilot to guide you through taking control of the aircraft yourself. Not only will you have the opportunity to learn about the flying controls but you will experience aerobatics and low level flying too! 1381 Squadron does its Air Experience Flying with 6 AEF at RAF Benson
• Air Cadet Pilot Scheme - The pinnacle of flying as a cadet, where you learn to fly a light aircraft solo! Complete this successfully and you'll be awarded your cadet pilot wings. And if you do exceptionally well you could be recommended for further training which will help towards your Private Pilot's Licence! In 2011 a 1381 Squadron cadet successfully completed the ACPS at Tayside Aviation to receive his pilot's wings.
• Air Cadet Pilot Navigation Training Scheme - A great opportunity to use your navigation skills, this two-week course where you fly for up to eight hours is open to selected cadets. Success will lead to you gaining your 'wings'.

Think you can lead?

You may have more talent for it than you think. Leadership qualities are in all of us and the physically demanding 7-day summer cadet leadership course will help bring them out. Make it through and you'll be a more confident and responsible cadet having learnt the full benefits of working in and leading a team - just like several current 1381 Squadron senior cadets have done!

Then, for an extra challenge, you could find yourself at the Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park in Surrey. All cadet forces throughout the UK (including Army, Marine, and Sea cadets) and some from overseas attend courses there. Really flex your skills and you could come out with a trophy for your achievements.

Training syllabus

A key part of the cadet experience is your progress through the training syllabus. Set out in stages for you to work through, it enables you to open up more possibilities for activities, specialist technical training and rank promotion. All cadets take part in lectures and hands-on projects. You also get outdoors and 'actually do it' as much as possible.

We expect a lot from you - it's a serious commitment to be a cadet with 1381 Squadron - but once you've experienced it yourself we know you wouldn't have it any other way. Just ask any of our senior cadets - they will tell you!