07/10/2026
It's CFAV's day today . As part of National Cadet Week, today is about recognising the thousands of Adult Volunteers who give their time, skills and experience to support young people across the Cadet Forces.
For me, it has also been a chance to reflect on my own journey.
Many years ago, I was a cadet at 2445 Llanbedr Squadron. I have incredibly fond memories of my time there and of the opportunities, friendships and confidence the RAF Air Cadets gave me.
I always hoped that one day my own son would follow in my footsteps, and he did.
Seeing him begin his own cadet journey reminded me just how valuable those experiences can be, and it was a big part of the reason I decided to become an Adult Volunteer myself.
For the past four years I have served as a Civilian Instructor, and I am now proud to be Training Officer at Bridgnorth Squadron, supporting cadets as they develop, progress and take advantage of the opportunities available to them.
My involvement has also grown beyond the squadron, and I now serve as Deputy Wing IT Officer (IT Training Lead) and Wing Esports Officer for West Mercia Wing.
That wider role is something I’m particularly passionate about. The RAF Air Cadets has a fantastic tradition, but it is also important that we continue to evolve and create opportunities in areas such as technology, IT, digital skills and esports alongside the more traditional cadet experience.
Volunteering certainly takes commitment. There are evenings, weekends, planning, paperwork and plenty of work behind the scenes, but the reward comes from seeing young people grow in confidence, discover new skills and achieve things they may not have thought possible.
That is what makes it worthwhile.
Today, with more than 9,500 Adult Volunteers supporting over 46,000 cadets, it is a great opportunity to say thank you to everyone who gives their time to make those experiences possible.
And if you have ever thought about volunteering with the RAF Air Cadets, I would absolutely encourage you to explore it.
You don’t need to have served in the military. You simply need enthusiasm, life experience and a willingness to help young people reach their potential.
I started as a cadet. I watched my son follow in my footsteps. Now I have the privilege of helping the next generation make the most of their own RAF Air Cadets journey.
