The Air Cadet Organisation
The Air Cadet Organisation, or ACO, is a nationwide youth organisation, funded by the Royal Air Force. Currently, there are over 60,000 members, making up the Air Training Corps (ATC) And Combined Cadet Force RAF Section (CCF RAF)! You can join once you are in year 8 in high school and you can stay until you reach 20 years old. We are spread over 1,000 squadrons. The Air Cadets is sponsored by the Royal Air Force, and can give you the oppurtunity to have a hands-on experience of many activities and courses to develop and challenge your skills. Some of the activities we take part include flying and gliding, shooting, adventure training and various sporting activites.
471 Squadron
471 Squadron is a rapidly growing and improving squadron, which has been established in Tarleton for many years and in located behind Tarleton Academy, just outside the main shopping area in the village. The location boasts many on-site benefits including School Fields and Woods for fieldcraft activities, a swimming pool which we use both for swimming training and basic Kayaking, along with a Sports Hall and numerous wide open spaces to practice drill. Our officer commanding, Warrant Officer Ashcroft, has been in charge of 471 Squadron for four and a half years!
Commandant Air Cadets
The Commandant Air Cadets is the person in charge of the whole of the UKs Air Cadets. Since 2011, it has been Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty. I wish you all to know how very proud I am to have been given the privilege of leading such an amazing national uniformed youth organisation. - Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty RAFR
ATC Squadron Structure
- Detached Flight
- A detachted flight is like any other squadron, but is too small (under 30 cadets) to run on its own, and is technically a component of a nearby squadron. So 1264DF is Millom Squadron, and part of 1264 (Windermere) Squadron.
- Squadron
- Like ourselves, a squadron is one group of cadets. They can vary massively in size, from 30 to over 150!
- Sector
- A sector is a group of around 5 nearby squadrons, ran by a squadron leader.
- Wing
- A large group of squadrons. Cumbria & Lancashire Wing has 33 squadrons, including 471.
- Region
- A group of wings - In our region - North - There are five wings.
Wing Training Day 2015
Overall Position 9th
Drill Competition 10th
Banner Drill Competition 4th
Flight Simulator Competition 12th