The greatest part of being in the AAFC is that you may start at the very bottom but you can get to the very top.
The AAFC has a proven record as being a wonderful launching pad for many a career.
Recently appointed Chief of Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, AC, and the Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Brown AO, were both former cadets with the Air Training Corps during their youth. So too were former Prime Minister John Howard and former Governor General, Sir William Deane.
Air Vice Marshal Hugh Bartholomeusz OAM also a former air force cadet, in July ’14 he took on the role as Chairman of the AAFC National Council and is currently Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force Reserves.
They head a long list of other former air force cadets who went on to provide leadership to the nation, the defence force, business and the community. Many commercial airline pilots were inspired to seek a career in aviation as a result of their time and experiences in the AAFC.
Originally, the Air Training Corps, now the Australian Air Force Cadets, provided 74% of aircrew training for the RAAF.
However, today it’s role and focus is as a youth development organisation which has an emphasis on leadership and aviation.
CCPL Lachlan Chadwick from 226 SQN, Beenleigh and CCPL Erin Labuschagne from 213 SQN, Elanora in the RAAF Balloon with the Chairman of the AAFC National Council, AVM Hugh Bartholomeusz and the AAFC Commander GPCAPT(AAFC) Ken Given at the Gold Coast Show
