Being an RAF Air Cadet is a rewarding and fulfilling experience! You can join for however long you want. We are an important community link to both our parent service and the wider UK armed forces so we wear our uniform with pride. We aren’t a recruiting organisation for the RAF so all the skills you learn and experiences you gain will benefit whatever career path you choose in later life.
To start your journey as an Air Cadet you must be 13 years old, or 12 years old if you’re already in S1 for those in Scotland. The latest you can join 470 squadron is 16 years old and this is so you can make the most of your time before you hit your 18th birthday. All cadets leave when they are 20 years old and some choose to stay involved as an adult volunteer.
Many of 470’s staff have been cadets themselves at the Squadron and have continued as adult volunteers for decades!
We offer a wide range of fun and challenging activities, suitable for those with no experience and anyone who has already had a go. Subjects range from military skills such as shooting, fieldcraft, drill and discipline to flying, aeronautical engineering and radio commuincations. All our staff across the organisation are fully qualified in various subjects so there is a huge choice in activities available not just at a local Squadron level but with our other partners nationally.
All RAF Air Cadets benefit from training and gain qualifications that will be useful for all career choices, both in and out of the RAF. We will help you develop your leadership skills, build your confidence and set you up for the modern world as a young adult.
Over the last 10 years 470 (Falkirk) Squadron has developed a core focus around S.T.E.M (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) which you will be familar with from school. We invest heavily in the latest technology such as VR, 3D printing,eSports, Flight Simulators and Cyber Security as the Royal Air Force is encouraging study in these subjects due to the evolving battlespaces of the future.
Winner of Best Large Squadron in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Winner of Best Squadron in South East Scotland Wing
Winner of Best Squadron in South East Scotland Wing
Winner of Best Squadron in South East Scotland Wing
We are considered to be the oldest active unit in the area having been in continous operation since 1941. We have always been located in Falkirk town centre so we cover the “Middle” of the Falkirk district which consists of Larbert and Stenhousemuir to the North, Camelon to the West, Polmont to the East and the Braes area to the South. Our primary cachement area for cadets covers the following High Schools:
Larbert High / Falkirk High / Graeme High / St Mungos / Braes High
The wider Falkirk district also has some fantastic Air Cadet Squadrons we work very closely with so no matter where you live you will have one near you!
First of all you need to make contact with your local Squadron.
The easiest way to do this is to give us a call on a parade night, drop us an e-mail or contact us via our social media pages.
470 operates staggered intakes for cadet recruitment rather than allowing cadets to join all year round. This has a number of training advantages and allows the new recruits to fully integrate into their new training flight. We work to a 3 month class rotation so please contact us and we will notify you of the next intake date and secure you a place.
We will invite you and your parents to visit the next squadron “Open Night”.
This is our chance to demonstrate what the RAF Air Cadets offers allowing potential recruits and their families to come down and see what we do. You will get the chance to speak with the Commanding Officer and other members of staff and ask any questions you may have. Our cadets will be busy delivering activities which you can get involved with. This is also a great time to engage with the cadets and get their perspective of being an Air Cadet.
On your first night you meet with your other new recruits and staff formally and get a tour of the headquarters.
We will give you an overview of what you can expect from the basic training program which you will complete over the next 3 months.
The cadet forces aren’t for everyone so we give you the first 4 weeks to let you find your feet. If you decide to leave that is not a problem – you are not signing up to military!
After a 3 month period you will have completed all the necessary training to awarded “First Class Cadet” status. This is your first major accomplishment in your cadet career and opens the door to allowing you to attend Annual Camps at RAF bases in the UK and start Air Experience Flying.
At the Presentation evening you will be presented with your badges and issued with your uniform ready to embark on the next stage of your training.
Falkirk Cadet Centre
Bellsmeadow Park
Just off Bellsmeadow Road
Falkirk
Stirlingshire
FK1 1SD