There are many more ground-based training opportunities available RAF Air Cadets including:

• Aviation Training
• Leadership & Teamwork
• RAF Outreach
• Radio & Cyber
• Training Weekends
• Work Experience

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The RAF Air Cadets has a varied programme of aviation-related training covering:

• Flying techniques such as airmanship and aircraft handling
• Navigation both on the ground and in the air
• Aviation engineering, including airframe, piston engine, and jet engine construction
• Communication techniques such as radion communication, RADAR and satellites

Completion of these subjects enables cadets to progress through the classification, starting from Junior Cadet all the way up to Master Cadet.

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All cadets receive First Aid training, starting with the St John's Ambulance Essential First Aid training within the first few months of attending. This teaches the principles of CPR and basic casualty management.

Further courses are available to increase First Aid skills, up to First Aid at Work level, and even the opportunity to train as a First Aid instructor.

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One very important part of a cadet's training is learning about leadership and teamwork, so that they can both lead a group through a task, and can work with others under direction to complete a task. This is particularly important towards a cadet's continuous personal development and potential future promotion.

The principles and qualities of leadership are taught to explain what makes a good leader and the techniques that can be used. These are then put into practice through Personal Leadership Tasks (or 'PLTs') where a designated leader is given a task to complete and must then formulate and execute a plan with their team to achieve the task objective.

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In addition to the theoretical training carried out for Aviation training, projects are also carried out to supplement the training and develop practical skills. Projects can be based on aircraft construction, STEM activities such as constructing and using radios or building electric go-karts.

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The training we provide attracts cadets who have an interest in possibly joining the Royal Air Force or one of the other Armed Services.

The RAF Careers Outreach Teams support cadets with an interest in joining up with visits to Squadrons, giving presentations on available opportunities, interview preparation, and personal or team tasks designed to develop the skills desired in the military.

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An important part of cadet training is the use of radio equipment, as it is used in various areas of cadet training such as on field craft exercise and of course when flying in aircraft. Cadets are taught about radio call signs, the pro words that should be used when communicating, the phoenetic alphabet and various other techniques required to use radio communications effectively.

With the ever-growing amount of internet-based communication methods and potential risks they pose, it is becoming more important to ensure cadets are Cyber aware and alert to the potential security risks that digital communication can pose. The RAF Air Cadets have a progressive syllabus of training to provide Cyber awareness.

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In addition to training on parade evenings, some courses are run over a weekend. Every year, Devon & Somerset Wing host several training weekends where multiple courses are run in parallel.

These training weekends enable cadets to learn skills and gain qualifications that they may otherwise not be able to get at Squadron level due to lack of qualified instructors, training equipment or the amount of training time required. The courses are usually residential, so attendees live on site for the duration of the course.

Courses available include:

• Induction Weekend for new cadets to get an introduction to the activities available
• Promotion courses for cadets who have been promoted to learn their new roles and responsibilities
• Leadership Courses, developing leadership and teamwork skills
• First aid courses, with different levels of first aid skills up to and including instructor training
• Skills courses, teaching cadets how to use radios, rifles or other specialist equipment

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Another way in which the Air Cadets provides career advice is through section visits. Section visits involve visiting a particular unit, or section, on a military establishment to see what the job involves, the equipment used and to find out the requirements for applying for the job.

The majority of section visits are arranged while on camps at RAF Stations, where a number of sections can be visited during the week. It is possible to arrange visits to sections at other times, although this is less common.

Typical section visits include:

• Air Traffic Control
• Flying Squadrons
• Engineering
• Police Flight/Dog Handlers
• Fire Section
• RAF Regiment
• Safety Equipment Section