If you are between the ages of 13 and 19 and find yourself with way too much free time on your hands, and a lack of being able to commit to anything, you can trust both situations to be remedied by joining the ATC.

The ATC (Air Training Corps - or Air cadets as we are often called) are a voluntary organisation, with links to the RAF. This means that we get lots of help from the RAF, but there is absolutely no commitment to joining the RAF whatsoever. So what can you do in the ATC? Is a question I have been asked lots. Well, in my comparatively short membership so far (around 2 years), I have already managed to attain things that I would have only dreamed of before.

I have been flying in a bulldog (small 2-seater plane) 3 times, and I have had the opportunity to undertake some breathtaking aerobatics. Last time I even landed the plane - an acheivement for any 15 year-old boy. I have also had 3 glider flights, and I have just applied for my gliding scholarship (which will allow me to go gliding every weekend to get my license) All of this for only £4 a month subscription fees. But if you're not into flying, then there are lots of other things to do. There is a large social aspect to ATC - amongst both your own squadron, and others within the country. There are a lot of sporting events, as well as range shooting. We do a lot of camps and expeditions of varying sizes. In the summer holidays, our squadron went on an expedition to Swazilan (a small country in South Africa) To provide fresh, running water to a poor rural community. We stayed there for a month, and had to each raise £1000 to go. I was one of the lucky 15 that went, and it was the experience of a lifetime.
I fully recommend the ATC to everyone, but it is a uniformed group, and requires a lot of commitment and discipline - especially when doing such activities as drill or lessons.