Your First Night After Registering
What to Wear
Arrive in clean, modest and professional clothing with no offensive slogans or pictures. If you have black pants and a white shirt, that's recommended, but don't go and buy anything for this.
Where to Enter
Go to the door labelled "Main Entrance" just to the right of the garage door on the Armouries. If no one immediately opens it to let you in, ring the doorbell and wait.
What Happens Next
You'll meet some of the staff, and after dropping your things in the locker room, you will then either go on a tour of the building, or be welcomed to join a "flight" for the opening parade - this will be your small group of cadets during opening and closing parades, and to meet your flight leaders.
Where to Park
Park at RBC across from the Armouries. There are entrances from both Colborne and Dalhousie Streets. Exit your vehicle and bring your cadet across the street to the Armouries. There is NO parking or dropping off in any other parking lot.
Bring ID to the Office
Ask someone to show you and your cadet to the office. Bring your cadet's health card.. If you chose to apply on paper, ensure you also bring your paperwork and one of: Birth Certificate OR Canadian Passport OR Permanent Residency Card.
When You'll Get a Uniform
Depending on availability, we'll work to get you a uniform in your first few months as an air cadet. Until then, keep wearing the civilian clothes described above.
Some Background
You have joined a program that has a membership of over 53,000 cadets, the majority of which are air cadets (approx. 26,000). In Ontario alone, there are over 8,000 air cadets, and ~130 in Brantford-Brant's squadron!​ The air cadet program started in 1941, when a group of civilian volunteers set up a country-wide voluntary organization to help stimulate an interest in flying and aviation.
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Many cadets eventually entered wartime service with the RCAF. ​Following the end of the war, the air cadet programme remained in place. Its role changed to meet the changing needs of society and its young people.
The aims of the air cadet programme are to:​
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Develop the attributes of good citizenship and leadership
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Promote physical fitness
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Stimulate the interest of youth in aviation and aeronautics
​Many (but not all) cadets choose to pursue their interest in aviation through a career in the Canadian Armed Forces/Royal Canadian Air Force. Others continue their aviation studies through post-secondary schooling to move into successful flying careers.
Our Squadron has a history of developing youth into leaders, and providing basic knowledge, skills and abilities that have led to numerous alumni with careers in aviation as pilots, as airport operations staff, and as aviation technicians, and in many other fields.
How the Program is Funded
The department of National Defence and the Air Cadet League of Canada
entered into a partnership to create and fund the cadet programme. This
partnership is very strong and is visible at all levels of this program:
National, Provincial, and Local.
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First, let’s talk National. Centered in Ottawa, these two organization heads meet regularly to discuss the programme. On the military side, the Vice-Chief of Defence Staff receives updates through the Chief, Reserves and Cadets. On the civilian side, we have the Air Cadet League receiving reports from each Provincial Division.
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Provincially, we’re broken down even more. On the military side, the country is broken into Regional Cadet Support Units. In Ontario (excluding Ottawa), we report through the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Central), located in CFB Borden. The Commanding Officer of RCSU(C) is considered the Commanding Officer for all Officers in that region (cadet unit CO’s are supervisors). On the League side, we have the Air Cadet League of Canada, Ontario Division. They are headquartered in Toronto.
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Locally, we have the unit-level command. On the military side, the Squadron Commanding Officer supervises all staff and officers, and acts as the unit manager. He/she performs these functions with the support of a local detachment (South Western Ontario Area, London). On the League side, we have the Squadron Director and Sponsoring Committee Chairperson. Working together, the CO and SSC run the unit.
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The CO is responsible for the operations of the Squadron, while the SSC owns the equipment and manages the finances – put simply. The Squadron is funded through the Department of National Defence, the Air Cadet League of Canada, and local sponsors. Fundraising, such as Tag Days, Ontario Provincial Committee 50/50 draws and other various fundraising events are huge sources of income for our program.
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All of these sources have allowed us to run a program that is largely free of cost to families. Some training activities require some supplementary costs, which we ask families to cover. This may include money for food during trips, or to cover entry fees into museums or special venues. Notice is provided in advance to ensure than enough time is afforded to families.
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The Squadron does offer a subsidy for families under significant financial restrictions. It is the responsibility of that family to make their case known to the Sponsoring Committee or the CO, so that funding can be discussed and approved. All conversations of this time will be kept strictly confidential.
Cadet Responsibilities
Air cadets benefit from the national program, and from local initiatives. To
run a program of this quality takes a great deal of resources, and the
Sponsoring Committee remains committed to keeping this program
affordable for all cadets who wish to participate. Along with this
commitment from the sponsoring committee come expectations for all
cadets. These expectations include:
Attendance at as many training nights, training activities and parades
as possible – cadets are encouraged to attend all scheduled
activities. Cadets who do not attend parade nights regularly could
fall behind in some of their training. The same applies for weekend
training.
Attendance at special parades such as Remembrance Day Parade
and Annual Ceremonial Review is strongly encouraged. If your
cadet has a legitimate reason why they cannot attend a Squadron
activity, please contact us in advance.
Taking part in fundraising activities – cadets are also strongly
encouraged to take part in fundraising activities such as Tag Days
and other fundraising events. These activities raise the necessary
funds to enhance the various training activities.
Taking care of the uniform – Each cadet will be issued a uniform
after a few weeks of attendance. It costs the Department of
National Defence approximately $400 to outfit each cadet. The
squadron has a fixed budget to purchase uniforms each year. It is
critical that the cadet takes care of their uniform, keeps it cleaned
and pressed, and returns it to the squadron when they leave the
unit or outgrow the uniform. Each cadet is given training on how
to look after the uniform. Ask your cadet to share this information
with you.
Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork – there are permission and
information forms for many different activities. This information is
sent home for you as well as your cadet. Please ensure that the
forms are properly completed and returned in a timely manner.
​Following through on commitments. If you join a team, attend the practices unless you have been excused. If you are a senior cadet instructing classes, prepare your lesson plans and hand them in on time, and get a replacement if you have a conflicting commitment..
Communication – See below!
Communications
Families, please ask your cadet what activities they are
participating in. The key to any successful organization is effective communication. 104 Squadron is no different. The communication of Orders is regularly disseminated through a few different mediums. No matter which manner you choose, we strive to ensure that information is passed on accurately, and to the most amount of people possible.
Iit is expected that the cadets will personally look for and
confirm orders for every event, including regular parade nights.
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Here is a list of how we communicate our orders and information:
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Sway
After joining, you will be given a link to our Sway page. where you'll find each week's "orders".​ -
Teams & Email
In your first weeks as an air cadet, you will be assigned a Cadet365 account to set up on your own computer, tablet or phone. This will give you access to our email and Teams messaging. -
​Chain of Command:
If a cadet has a question regarding any event, orders or information, they are encouraged to ask for information using the chain of command. This means that they ask a peer. If the peer does not know, they can ask a cadet with a higher rank, who will ensure they are given the correct information. -
Announcements:
Parents are encouraged to attend the Squadron closing parade (weekly), which normally commences around 8:30-845pm. This is when important information is conveyed verbally to the cadets and parents present.