ABOUT US
ROYAL AIR FORCE AIR CADETS
The Air Training Corps was officially established by Royal Warrant on 5th February 1941, during the Second World War. Early Air Cadet training was designed to prepare young men for entry into the Royal Air Force, focusing on academic and physical development. To this day, the three founding aims of the Air Training Corps remain the same:

Promote and encourage among young people a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force
Provide training which will be useful both in the Armed Forces and civilian life
Foster the spirit of adventure and develop the qualities of leadership and good citizenship

Today, the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (the joint name for the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force (RAF)) is a UK-wide cadet force with more than 40,000 members aged between 12 and 20 years old. Sponsored by the Royal Air Force, we give you hands-on experience of activities and courses that will challenge and develop your skills to help you succeed in whatever you want to do.

While the RAFAC is sponsored and many of our activities supported by the RAF, there is no obligation whatsoever to go on to serve in the military, and a majority of our cadets find rewarding careers in civilian employment. Many of our activities are similar to civilian organisations such as Scouts, but we provide extra activities such as flying, gliding and shooting as well as greater potential for our cadets to develop leadership qualities.
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Become An Air Cadet Today
1196 (BREDBURY, ROMILEY & MARPLE) SQUADRON
1196 (Bredbury, Romiley & Marple) Squadron Air Training Corps was formed by Royal Warrant on 10th March 1941, just a month after the Air Training Corps itself was founded. For over 80 years, 1196 has been providing training, education and unique experiences to young people in and around the Bredbury, Romiley and Marple area.

The Squadron is proud of its strong military heritage, having ex-cadets currently serving in all three branches of the military, both as non-commissioned personnel and commissioned officers, including pilots and aircrew within the Royal Air Force.

Our amazing volunteer staff are the backbone of 1196 and hail from all walks of life, bringing their unique skills from previous cadet service or from the workplace to make cadet experiences as good as it gets. Most of our staff members were cadets and had a fantastic time so decided to give something back and help the next generation of Air Cadets.