AIR CADET TRAINING

Royal Canadian Air Cadets participate in a nationally-directed curriculum which aims to develop in cadets the attributes of good citizenship, leadership, physical fitness and an interest in the Royal Canadian Air Force and aviation. Training is delivered at the Squadron-level, and complemented through summer training courses which are offered at Cadet Training Centres throughout the country.

There are two components of the Air Cadet Squadron training program:

Mandatory training: weekly training nights on Wednesdays, and a number of weekend exercises.

Optional training: extracurricular teams such as band, ground school, drill team, marksmanship, sports and effective speaking.

The Air Cadet mandatory training program, formally known as the proficiency level program, is carried out at the Squadron, which allows cadets to learn the appropriate knowledge and practice the skills necessary to achieve the cadet program participant outcomes. The proficiency level program is based on 30 training sessions (on Wednesday evenings) and a combination weekend activities. The program is divided into five proficiency levels (levels 1 through 5).

Each training level provides cadets with training in: citizenship, community service, leadership, physical fitness, marksmanship, cadet knowledge, drill and ceremonial, radio communication, aviation, aerospace, aerodrome operations, aircraft maintenance and survival.

Cadets in levels 3 and 4 receive training in instructional techniques, preparing them to take on the position of instructor at the Squadron. Senior cadets are the principle instructors for the lessons taught in the cadet program. The Squadron adult staff coach and mentor the instructors in order to develop them to a suitable level.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROMOTION

All cadets should be aware of the Mandatory Performance Objectives (PO) for their level. These PO are checked off as "Complete", "Completed without Difficulty", or "Incomplete". If you show up every training night, many of these PO are obtained through classroom instructions. The PO with 'X' are participation based (via sign-ups; events; fun activities, etc.).

The badge for Level 5.

If you miss a class, you are accountable to catch up on missed material from your peers, or from chain-of-command - your Flight Commanders/2ICs. There are several opportunities throughout the training year that you can meet these PO.

**Recruits are exempt from this until they receive their promotion

To view the Merit-Based Cadet Promotion Policy - CATO 13-02, Please click here.

Squadron mandatory training

PROGRAM LEVEL ONE   
PODescriptionAssessment TypeNotesCadet's Results
100Positive Social Relations for Youth (PSRY)Participation  
103LeadershipParticipation  
106Air Rifle MarksmanshipPerformance Check (PC)  
107General Cadet Knowledge (GCK)Participation  
108Drill and CeremonialParticipation  
121Canadian Aviation, Aerospace, Aerodrome Operations and Aircraft ManufacturingParticipation  
129Radio CommunicationsParticipation  
130AviationParticipation  
140AerospaceParticipation  
160Aerodrome OperationsParticipation  
190 Aircrew SurvivalParticipationParticipate minimum one (1) Field Training Exercise 
X01CitizenshipParticipation  
X02Community ServiceParticipation  
X04Personal Fitness and Healthy LivingParticipation  
X05Physical ActivitiesParticipationMin. 4.5 hrs of sports through the Cadet Program 
X20Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) FamiliarizationParticipation 
PROGRAMLEVEL TWO   
PODescriptionAssessment TypeNotesCadet's Results
203LeadershipParticipation  
206Air Rifle MarksmanshipParticipationNeed to attend at least one Range session 
207General Cadet Knowledge (GCK)Participation  
208Drill and CeremonialParticipation  
230Aviation HistoryParticipation  
231Principles of FlightParticipation  
232PropulsionParticipation  
240AerospaceParticipation  
260Aerodrome OperationsParticipation  
270Aircraft Manufacture and MaintenanceParticipation  
290Aircrew SurvivalParticipationNeed to attend at least one Field Training Exercise (FTX) 
X01CitizenshipParticipation  
X02Community ServiceParticipation  
X04Personal Fitness and Healthy LivingParticipation  
X05Physical ActivitiesParticipationMin. 4.5 hrs of sports through the Cadet Program 
X20Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) FamiliarizationParticipation 
PROGRAMLEVEL THREE   
PODescriptionAssessment TypeNotesCadet's Results
303LeadershipPerf Check (PC)Leadership Tasking Required 
306MarksmanshipParticipationMinimum 1 Range Session 
307General Cadet Knowledge (GCK)Participation  
308Drill and CeremonialPERF CHECKCommand Flight at Opening Parade 
309Instructional TechniquesPERF CHECKInstructional Techniques Mutual (15min lesson) 
331Principles of FlightPERF CHECKPrinciples of Flight test 
336PropulsionParticipation  
337MeteorologyParticipation  
340AerospaceParticipation  
370Aircraft Manufacture/MaintenanceParticipation  
390Aircrew SurvivalPERF CHECKRequired: Orienteering (Map and Compass) 
X01Citizenship ActivitiesParticipation  
X02Community ServiceParticipation  
X04Personal Fitness and Healthy LivingPERF CHECK  
X05Physical ActivitiesParticipationMin. 4.5 hrs of sports through the Cadet Program 
X20Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) FamiliarizationParticipation 
PROGRAMLEVEL FOUR   
PODescriptionAssessment TypeNotesCadet's Results
400Positive Social Relations for Youth (PSRY)Participation  
403LeadershipPerf Check (PC)Leadership task & appointment 
406MarksmanshipParticipationAttend minimum 1 range day 
407General Cadet Knowledge (GCK)Participation  
408Drill and CeremonialPerf Check (PC)Command a parade position 
409Instructional TechniquesPerf Check (PC)Instruct One 30min class; Instruct One Drill Instructional 
431Principles of FlightPerf Check (PC)Aviation examination 
432Engine SystemsPerf Check (PC)Aviation examination 
436PropulsionPerf Check (PC)Aviation examination 
437MeteorologyPerf Check (PC)Aviation examination 
440AerospaceParticipation  
490Aircrew SurvivalPerf Check (PC)Aircrew Survival (Map&Compass, GPS, etc.) 
X01Citizenship ActivitiesParticipation  
X02Community ServiceParticipation  
X04Cadet FitnessPerf Check (PC)Tracking weekly exercise 
X05Physical ActivitiesParticipationMin. 4.5 hrs of sports through the Cadet Program 
X20Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) FamiliarizationParticipation  
PROGRAMLEVEL FIVE   
PODescriptionAssessment TypeNotesCadet's Results
502Community ServicePerf Check (PC)  
503LeadershipPerf Check (PC)  
504Personal Fitness and Healthy LivingPerf Check (PC)  
507General Cadet Knowledge (GCK)Perf Check (PC)  
509Instructional TechniquesPerf Check (PC)  
513Personal Development (Workshops)Perf Check (PC)Attend Workshop 
514Personal Development (Individual Learning)Perf Check (PC)On-the-job-training (OJT) with Appropriate Officer to Squadron position

 

To Learn - To Serve - To Advance