Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For cadets, the minimum age is 12 as long as you are already in school year 8. The maximum age for joining is 17 however existing cadets can stay on until their 20th birthday should they wish to do so. 

Adults interested in volunteering with us can join anytime from their 20th birthday. There is no upper age limit for Civilian Instructors but uniformed staff can serve until age 65. Click here to read more about the different roles.

We meet twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday between 7pm and 9:30pm. You can find us in the cadet centre which is located behind the old Army Reserve building on Coldyhill Lane, Scarborough. Our postcode is YO126SE. Find us on Google Maps.

The short answer is "yes". As a military-sponsored youth organisation with links to the Royal Air Force, all our cadets are issued with a uniform to wear and maintain. Certain items of uniform, such as shoes and camouflage dress, may have to be purchased privately as these are not supplied by the RAF.

Some adult members of staff where a uniform dependant on their rank and role. Find out more. 

All new starters go through a period of initial training that typically lasts around three months. During this time, you will be taught the basic principles of flight including avionics and navigation which will prepare you for your first air experience flight at an RAF station. Only once this training has been completed will you be permitted to go flying. You can expect to go flying around once a year thereafter.

Flying is a completely different sensation to being at a great height (e.g. standing on the edge of a cliff), and so most people find that even if they are scared of heights, they are not scared of flying! 

The squadron is dedicated to ensuring every cadet is able to partake in as many activities as possible. We will assess each disability on a case-by-case basis and make every effort to accommodation you. Only where your disability presents a critical safety issue is it likely to prevent you from taking part in an activity. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you wish to discuss your personal situation. 

We welcome any responsible adult over the age of 20. As part of the application process you wiill be required to complete both an RAF security vetting form and a Discloure & Barring Service (DBS) check to satisfy the organisation that you are safe to work around children. Although desirable, you don't have to have any skills or qualifications, just enthusiasm and commitment. We will teach you everything you need to know.

Only a basic level of fitness is required to enable you to take part in the activities with the cadets. We do not expect you to be an athlete nor is there any formal physical fitness requirement. 

No but you should have some understanding of the needs of teenagers. So if you are a parent with children or have had any contact with the children of friends or family, you will have some idea of what's required. Obviously, if you have any direct experience, such as teaching or sports training, you will have an advantage.

As volunteers, our adult staff do not get paid however they can claim reasonable expenses that have been incurred as a result of cadet activities, for example mileage for transporting cadets to and from flying. Uniformed staff are able to claim up to 28 days' volunteer allowance per year for certain activities that take them away from the squadron. You will, however, have the opportunity to gain new skills and qualifications, many of which are free of charge. 

No - as a youth cadet force, members of staff are not part of the wider military and therefore not subject to be called up for military service. 

The squadron recruits new cadets every 3-4 months. When the time comes, we will advertise an open evening on our Facebook page for anybody interested in coming along and seeing what we're about. If you are interested in joining our organisation as a cadet, please feel free to contact us and we will add your name to our waiting list and notify you when our next intake comes around. 

Adults wishing to volunteer with us can contact us at any time to arrange a visit to the unit and have a chat about the different roles available. We will provide you with all the necessary paperwork you require to take away and complete in your own time.