History of the CCF (RAF)
In 1859, the idea of cadet units in schools was developed by the Secretary of State for War, Jonathan Peel - who wrote to public schools and universities, inviting them to form units of the Volunteer Corps. Several schools took up the idea, and the first Cadet Corps in a school was formed in 1860 at Rossall School. Other units formed soon after at Eton, Harrow, Ruby, Hurstpierpoint and Felsted School - although Felsted School's armed drill contingent pre-dated the 1859 letter from the War Office.
These early units were focused on Army activities, and were usually associated with Rifle Volunteer Battalions for Home Defence, with cadets wearing the uniforms of their parent volunteer battalions. By the turn of the century there were units in more than 100 schools and, in 1908, the units were re-titled the Officer Training Corps (OTC). During the World War I and II, many of the young men who served in the units went on to serve their country with distinction in the Armed Forces.
By the 1930s the beginnings of today’s CCF (RAF) appeared in the form of OTC Air Sections. In Army uniform, but with an RAF armband, they trained very much like today.
After World War II, the structure of the Armed Forces changed, including the cadet units in school, which became the Combined Cadet Force in 1948 - incorporating sections from all of the Armed Forces, the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force. Over the following decades, the focus of the group moved away from being a recruitment pathway in to the Armed Forces, the number of CCFs in state schools slowly grew - and for the first time girls were allowed to join in the 1980's.
These early units were focused on Army activities, and were usually associated with Rifle Volunteer Battalions for Home Defence, with cadets wearing the uniforms of their parent volunteer battalions. By the turn of the century there were units in more than 100 schools and, in 1908, the units were re-titled the Officer Training Corps (OTC). During the World War I and II, many of the young men who served in the units went on to serve their country with distinction in the Armed Forces.
By the 1930s the beginnings of today’s CCF (RAF) appeared in the form of OTC Air Sections. In Army uniform, but with an RAF armband, they trained very much like today.
After World War II, the structure of the Armed Forces changed, including the cadet units in school, which became the Combined Cadet Force in 1948 - incorporating sections from all of the Armed Forces, the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and Royal Air Force. Over the following decades, the focus of the group moved away from being a recruitment pathway in to the Armed Forces, the number of CCFs in state schools slowly grew - and for the first time girls were allowed to join in the 1980's.
Logo image taken from Combined Cadet Force Organisation
Information taken from Combined Cadet Force Organisation and Royal Air Force Air Cadets (combined information) - Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright 2017
© Air Cadet 101 - Harry Briggs
Information taken from Combined Cadet Force Organisation and Royal Air Force Air Cadets (combined information) - Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence © Crown Copyright 2017
© Air Cadet 101 - Harry Briggs
