Air Force cadets offer life skills and comradery

THERE’S more to the Australian Air Force Cadets than a pathway to the military.

Helping young people create new connections and learn life skills, the 425 City of Ballarat Squadron is looking to recruit new cadets between the ages of 13 and 18 for 2020.

Supported by the Royal Australian Air Force, instructors teach the squadron through the lens of aviation, focusing on self-reliance, confidence, communication and more.

Cadet Executive Officer, Flight Sergeant Peyton Dodds said cadets develop valuable qualities and become strategic problem solvers.

“There’s leadership, working in a team and improvising. You can be thrown in situations where you don’t know what’s going to happen, and you just have to think about it and improvise.

“It definitely gets you out of your comfort zone, so the staff members will always push you to do your best because they know what you’re capable of,” she said. “I was never a strong leader when I was younger, but cadets has really brought that out for me.”

Seventeen-year-old, Dominic Van Der Linden has personally grown, able to apply his learning with the cadets to other parts of life.

“I’m a member of the CFA, so it’s helped me with leadership, understanding teamwork, and also practical skills like reading maps.”

The AAFC offers experiences with fieldcraft, adventure training, firearms safety training, drills and ceremonies. Cadets learn service knowledge, aeromodelling, navigation and gliding.

Joining the squadron has opened doors for Dominic.

“You can apply for flight scholarships, meet a lot of people across the state, there’s a lot of good comradery and you make a lot of friends,” he said. “It’s been really good fun. You get to do stuff you wouldn’t normally get to do, like flights on military aircraft.

The AAFC runs through his blood, and it doesn’t discriminate.

“It’s been in my family for a while, it’s a tradition now. My father was in, my older siblings and myself,” he said. “Everyone can join in and get something out of it. It’s not limited to male or female, so there’s equal opportunities for everyone.”

The group acted as Catafalque Party for a recent Air Force Association service.

Former cadet, Cooper Wilcox is a Civilian Instructor, Training Officer Operations. He said the squadron participates in around three ceremonial activities like this annually.

“Although small in number, they are very important to us and to the community.

“It’s another opportunity to showcase the Squadron to the community, albeit being a bit less representative of the full experience cadets get in the organisation,” Mr Wilcox said.

The 425 City of Ballarat Squadron parades weekly on Wednesday nights at the Ranger Barracks in Alfredton.

From 6.30pm to 10pm, cadets take three different classes on various subjects and mingle with teens they have lots in common with.

For more information about joining the squadron, head to aafc.org.au/how-to-join/cadets.