To The Stars

Cadets power into a brighter future

The sound of the Royal Australian Air Force’s old and new frontline fighters rains down through the roof of the marqueecome- mess where military personnel are seated for lunch. The FA-18 Hornet flying overhead in company with the F-35 Lightning II represents a changing of the guard. However, there is also generational change taking place at the grass roots in the form of the Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC). And the Director General Cadets – Air Force, Air Commodore Gary Martin, is now the RAAF officer tasked with making it happen.

A proud heritage

Known previously as the Air Training Corps (ATC), the AAFC dates back to 1941 when it came into being and, as part of the Air Force Reserve, served as a feeder organisation for the wartime RAAF. Post-war, the ATC was scaled back and described as an ‘air youth movement’ with cadets no longer obliged to join the RAAF.