In 2017 a new progressive training syllabus was introduced to give the cadets a more comprehensive and structured training experience. This runs alongside our classification syllabus and covers a lot of the activities not necessarily available at a squadron level.

There is also comprehensive training in lots of other subjects, included but not limited to:

The ATC provides training on two communication methods: Radio and Cyber. Once a cadet has completed their blue communications badge, which covers an introduction to the use of radios and networks and an introduction to cyber comms, they can then move onto the two specialities. For both specialities, there are bronze, silver and gold badges.

Radio comms, will start as radio operators, moving onto radio communicators and following an ATC residantial couse, they can be awarded the gold specialist badge.

Cyber communications start with a foundation course, moving onto the silver specialist and finally onto the gold advanced specialist badge which involves a residential course at either No1 Radio school at RAF Cosford, or an industry partner.

Leadership is an extremely important part of what we do, it helps the cadets develop their skills and gain new ones, heping them to become NCOs or to assist in their lives outside of the corps.

There are 4 levels of training available to cadets:

• Blue is an introduction to leadership and teaches the cadets how to lead and brief a team in simple tasks.
• Bronze and silver are the basic and intermediate courses respectively, and introduce more information and skills, enabling them to lead and manage teams to a higher standard.
• Gold is a higher level of training that produces a higher level of competency and aims to produce leadership instructors. This can be achieved by completing an Air Cadet Leadership Course, completing an Advanced leadership course or completing Junior Leaders.

The ATC prides itself on having fantastic marching bands at all levels within the corps. There are 4 categories you can get badges from: Drums, Pipes, Trumpet (Brass) and Lyre (Strings). There are then 4 levels in each category:

• Blue for achieving grade 3, or being assessed by a competent person (ie Music teacher) to say they can play at a grade 3 standard.
• Bronze for representing the wing (for us Hampshire and Isle of Wight)
• Silver for representing the region (South West)
• Gold for being part of the national marching band