About the Air Training Corps (ATC)

The Air Training Corps (ATC) has 33,000 cadets aged from 13 to 20 years old making the ATC (Air Cadets) one of the country's largest youth organizations. The ATC as a part of the Air Cadets Organisation (ACO) makes up the world's largest youth air training organization.

Although the Air Training Corps (ATC) is supported by the Royal Air Force (RAF) it is not a recruiting organization for the RAF. That said, many ex-ATC cadets do go on to have careers in the Royal Air Force or other Services although most carry on to non-military civilian careers.

Although most Air Training Corps (ATC) cadets do not go on to careers in the RAF the opposite is not the case; there is a high proportion of ex-ATC cadets in the RAF. Currently approximately 50% of all aircrew (pilots, navigators and NCO aircrew) and 40% of Officers are ex-ATC cadets.

The message is therefore clear. If you join the ATC you are not destined nor even necessarily considering a career in the RAF. However, if you hope to join the RAF, then joining the Air Training Corps (ATC) is a step towards an RAF career.

The Aims of the Air Training Corps are:

• To promote and encourage among young people a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force
• To provide training which will be useful in the Services and civilian life
• To foster the spirit of adventure
• To develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship

The Air Training Corps (ATC) provides cadets with the opportunity to fly, participate in community work and adventure training, gain BTEC qualifications and the ATC is the largest operator of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

The Air Training Corps (ATC) Motto is:

'Venture - Adventure'

The 1070 Diss ATC maintain a Squadron Finder which lists all Air Training Corps Squadrons and also provides you a direct link to each Squadron's website wherever we know of a site existing.

Alternatively you can search for Squadrons via the ACO's interactive map-based Squadron finder . This only provides postal address details and does not provide phone, Email, location map and other contact direct cotact details as provided by our own Squadron Finder.

The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a voluntary youth organization part-sponsored by the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The Cadets are supported by a volunteer Staff of nearly 10,000 officers and instructors plus 5,000 Civilian Committee Members.

Air Training Corps (ATC) officers, instructors and management committee members all volunteer their time for the benefit of the cadets.

Each Squadron has to raise its own funds to support the cadet activities and while the RAF provide facilities, uniforms and some equipment free, each ATC Squadron also has to fund its own activities and even make a contribution towards ATC Wing funds.

Fund raising is a constant task and the Squadron is always in need of funds to subsidise cadet activities.

A brief history of the Air Training Corps (ATC) and how it came to be in its current form can be found on the MoD website under the Directorate of Reserve Forces and Cadets .

More information about the structure & organisation of the Air Training Corps and Air Cadets see our Air Cadet structure page.

The 1070 (Diss) ATC is a member of the Air Cadet Organization (ACO) and specifically the Norfolk & Suffolk Wing Air Training Corps.

To find out where the 1070 (Diss) Air Cadets fits within the larger Air Cadets organisation refer to our Air Cadet structure information.

Interested in becoming an Air Cadet and want to find an Air Training Corps (ATC) Squadron near you? Then the ATC Squadron Finder can help you!

Thinking of a career in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and wondering what the RAF offers? Check out the RAF Careers website