There is corporal applications coming up soon and I need to get first class cadet first.
The First Class Cadet syllabus contains quite a few individual stages.
First you complete:
Junior Cadet Induction
The Air Training Corps
Security
Drill Part 1
The Royal Air Force
History of Flight
Drill Part 2 (the First Class Drill Test)
At this point you are now a Second Class Cadet and will be issued your First Class notebook. In the notebook you’ll complete the following sections:
Flying Operations
Initial Expedition Training
Map Reading
Basic Radio Communications
After completing all that, getting your notebook signed off by staff and recorded, you are now a First Class Cadet.
Most squadrons will try and do this in the first 6 months, some may take up to a year to complete all of it (especially where units don’t do intakes and instead take recruits in dribs and drabs).
It’s quite unusual though for a cadet to be promoted Corporal within this timeframe, or for a Corporal to hold First Class. Most Corporals typically hold Leading Cadet, with First Class being the exception.
This isn’t to criticise your ambition or to deter you, but it’s possible that the role will go to more experienced cadets on your squadron this time round. There is nothing wrong with applying though, and it may be a useful experience for you anyway even if you don’t expect to be promoted just yet.
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