Royal Canadian Air Cadets

Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Cadets de l'aviation royale du Canada
Royal Canadian Air Cadets badge
Active	April 1941–present
Country	Canada
Type	Youth organization
Size	456 squadrons (23,000+ cadets)
Part of	Canadian Cadet Organizations
Headquarters	Ottawa, Canada
Patron	His Excellency The Right Honourable David Johnston
Motto(s)	To Learn – To Serve – To Advance
March	Quick: "RCAF March Past"
Commanders
Air Commodore-in-Chief	HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Colonel Commandant	George Canyon
Aircraft flown
Trainer	Schweizer SGS 2-33A, Cessna L-19, Cessna 182, Bellanca Scout

Royal Canadian Air Cadets (French: Cadets de l'aviation royale du Canada) is a Canadian national youth program for persons aged 12 to 18. Under the authority of the National Defence Act the program is administered by the Canadian Forces (CF) and funded through the Department of National Defence (DND). Additional support is provided by the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada (ACL). Together with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Army Cadets, it forms the "largest federally funded youth program in the country". Cadets are not members of the military and are not obliged to join the Canadian Forces.

The first squadrons were established in 1941 to train young men for duties during World War II. The purpose has since changed to focus on citizenship, leadership, physical fitness, general aviation and stimulating an interest in the activities of the Canadian Forces.

The majority of cadet training takes place at the local squadron during the regular school year with a percentage of cadets selected for summer training courses at various cadet summer training centres located across Canada. Central to the air cadet program are the gliding and flying scholarships offered to air cadets who qualify. One in five private pilots in Canada is an ex-air cadet and 67% of commercial and airline pilots began as air cadets. There are 456 squadrons located across the country with an approximate enrolment of 23,000 Air Cadets.

The aim of the Cadet Program is to develop in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership; promote physical fitness; and stimulate the interest of youth in the sea, land, and air activities of the Canadian Forces; however, each focuses on its own parent element. The Air Cadet motto is "To learn. To serve. To advance.", and was created by Robert Myles Colwell in 1966 when he was a cadet with 625 Squadron in Perth-Andover, NB.

Persons aged 12 to 18 may join the Air Cadet Program. The organization and rank system of the pre-unification Royal Canadian Air Force is used with one additional rank - Flight Corporal - equating to an Army Cadet Master Corporal or a Sea Cadet Master Seaman. Cadets are not members of the Canadian Forces and cadets have no power of command over any CF member. Adult leadership is provided by members of the Canadian Forces Reserve Subcomponent Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service composed mostly of officers of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC) Branch, supplemented, if necessary, by contracted Civilian Instructors, authorized adult volunteers, and, on occasion, officers and non-commissioned members of other CF branches. The CIC Branch is specifically trained to deliver the Royal Canadian Sea, Army, and Air Cadet training program, and like all reservists come from all walks of life and all parts of the community. Some are former cadets, many have former regular or reserve force service.