Air Cadet Use of RAF Halton
RAF Halton is committed to supporting the cadet organizations of all 3 Services, with around 3 000 cadets visiting the Station each year. RAF Halton provides this support through hosting annual camps from the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force and through hosting visits by cadet units to use Station training facilities at weekends. All cadet activities at Halton are coordinated by the Air Cadet Liaison Officer (ACLO).
Joining the Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps is a voluntary youth organisation created to foster air mindedness in youth between 13 and 20 years of age. The organisation offers a wide range of exciting activities including flying and gliding experience, shooting, adventure training, as well as leadership and personal development training. For those interested in joining the Air Training Corps units are available across the UK and a full list of units country-wide is available by clicking here. For those in the area immediately surrounding RAF Halton, the Station is home to 2409 (Halton) Squadron and full details of how to join are available on the Squadron web page. Alternatively for those living in the local area Air Training Corps units supported by RAF Halton are available for those living in the Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire or Thames Valley areas.
The RAF Halton Air Cadet Liaison Team
RAF Halton created an Air Cadet Liaison Team in the summer of 2004 in order to offer optimum support to the 27 cadet units, spanning 6 counties, which the Station parents in some way. Members of the Team are responsible for undertaking regular visits to parented units in order to offer cadets contact with serving members of the RAF, as well as to ensure that the Station is providing adequate logistical support to parented units. The Team currently has over 10 members and each member is, on average, responsible for 2 Air Training Corps units. In addition to the liaison task, members of the Air Cadet Liaison Team assist with organising and running the numerous cadet visits the Station hosts each year, as well as helping with maintenance of the Air Cadet Barrack Block.
Cadet Forces use of RAF Halton Facilities
RAF Halton has a 25-metre barrack range, indoor hangar space and barrack block accommodation for up to 68 cadets, which can be used at weekends by visiting cadet units. Other Station facilities may be available on request, through the ACLO. The Station also borders Wendover Woods, which has a Forestry Commission orienteering course open to the public. However, due to limited cadet accommodation the Station cannot accept cadet unit weekend visits during the Easter and summer camp period. These camps typically run over the 2 weeks either side of Easter and from late June to late August.
To bid for weekend use of RAF Halton’s facilities a visit request form must be completed and sent to the ACLO as far in advance of any proposed visit as possible, but at least one calendar month before the date requested. The request form must be filled in with as much detail as possible, in order to facilitate booking of Station assets. Units should also send a covering letter making clear their planned activities and programme for the visit. The ACLO will then reply, in writing, informing the requesting unit if facilities are available. Units should note that if use of the cadet barrack block is requested, a unit representative will be required to complete the handover of the block on the Friday afternoon preceding their visit. Completed visit request forms can be sent electronically to theACLO. Alternatively hard copies can be sent to the following address:
Station Commander
For attention of: ACLO
Royal Air Force Halton
AYLESBURY
Buckinghamshire
HP22 5PG
Alternatively forms can be faxed to 01296 696142, marked clearly for the attention of the ACLO. Once the ACLO has confirmed that the facilities requested are available, in order to comply with Station Health & Safety Policy, units are required to send a completed Health and Safety at Work Policy Statement to the ACLO.
Air Cadet Organisation Annual Camps
Air Cadet annual camps are allocated to air cadet organizations through Headquarters Air Cadets, at RAF Cranwell. Cadets attending Easter and summer camps undertake an exciting and varied programme during their week-long stay, consisting of Station visits, air experience flying and individual development training, more detail of which can be found by clicking here.
Work Experience
Work experience at RAF Halton is coordinated by the Station Civilian Personnel Branch in conjunction with the Buckinghamshire Business Partnership. For more detail on work experience please contact the Civilian Personnel Branch Administration Assistant 01296 656299. Those interested in work experience should note that work experience placements are limited due to the training role of RAF Halton and priority will be given to students living in the local area. Furthermore, for those wishing to visit from outside of the local area, there is no accommodation or other welfare support on Station available to work experience students.