THE BASICS

Reporting Time. First-year and Second-Year cadets arrive between 1815-1830hrs (that’s 6:15-6:30pm). You will need time to get signed in for attendance, and to get formed up for opening parade. Schedule your pickup from cadets for between 2125-2140hrs (9:25-9:40pm).

Required Items. Bring the following with you when you attend Tuesday training nights:

• your valid health card, in case of emergency (this is a national policy for safety purposes - cadets will be sent home if they do not have a health card);

• your squadron ID card, if one has been issued; and

• a notebook or binder with paper, pen, and pencil for note-taking (backpack or briefcase optional).

Electronics & Valuables. Please avoid bringing electronics and valuables to cadets. Cell phones may be necessary at times, but they should be turned off and stored out of sight when not absolutely needed. 800 RCAirCS provides change rooms for storage, but is not responsible for lost or stolen valuables. Instructors are permitted to confiscate distracting items during training sessions.

Drop-Off / Pick-Up / Parking: There are two options for drop off, to help ease traffic. Please use whichever is least congested when you arrive:

• Elevated Parking Lot: Cadets can be dropped off at the south side of the parking lot, or can park, and walk in.

• Front Driveway: Drop off anywhere along the front driveway which runs across the front of the school. Cadets can walk round to the north side entrance from here (do not use the front doors to the school).

• FOR SAFETY - DO NOT use the fire route which goes around the back of the school. Cadets cross this path to get in and out of the school, and there is no lighting. Vehicles in this pathway also block the school's delivery bay and fire route, which is against the terms of our permit.

Entrance: Use the north side entrance, right next to the delivery bay (large garage doors). Do not use the front entrance to the school.

If you know that you will be unable to attend an upcoming training night, submit a ticket on our Absence Report form before Tuesday afternoon. Please note:

• use ONLY the ‘Absence Report’ form on the Admin site to report your absence;

• make sure to read the Squadron Attendance Policy on the Absence Report form page, to make sure you know your attendance requirements; and

• DO NOT E-MAIL THE STAFF about an absence unless it coincides with an assignment or scheduled duty that they need to be made aware of.

If you know that you will miss more than 3 Tuesdays in a row, contact the Administration officer (Administration@800Squadron.com) and explain the situation – they will advise you on next steps.

Cadets are loaned a uniform, which must be returned when they leave the program. New uniforms may take several months to arrive, but all cadets should receive theirs before the end of their first training year. 

Until you receive your uniform, wear the following when attending Tuesday training nights:

• a clean, white, long-sleeve, collared dress shirt, which is to be free of wrinkles, have all cuffs and buttons done up, and be neatly tucked in to the pants; 

• a black tie, worn conventionally, with a Windsor or Half-Windsor knot; 

• clean, black trousers (not jeans or leggings) which are free of wrinkles, and which may be worn with a black belt of conservative style; 

• clean, black footwear (preferably dress shoes), worn with black or grey socks; and

• if working outdoors, a civilian jacket or coat may be worn, or a clean, unmarked, black, grey, or blue sweater may be worn over top of the white shirt, so long as it is not a hoodie or a surplus uniform part.

For the basic standards regarding hairstyles, facial hair, jewelry, nails, and makeup, check HERE.

Everything about appearance (hair, makeup, jewelry, etc.) and how to correctly wear the uniform is covered by CCO-100 CJCR Dress Instructions.

See our 'Care & Wear' page for basics on how to maintain and wear the various parts of the uniform.

We use terms like 'C3', or 'C5' to say which uniform to wear. These are called 'Numbered Orders of Dress' - see our reference chart HERE.

Cadets are given some leeway in terms of hair, makeup, jewelry, etc. - there are, however, some simple standards that all cadets must adhere to:

• Leniencies afforded to cadets for hair, makeup, jewelry, etc. are NOT to be taken as excuses to ignore personal grooming or professionalism.

• Cadets must appear professional and tidy at all times.

• The uniform must be worn correctly, free of wrinkles and dust.

• Footwear must be cleaned, blackened, and buffed to a dull shine free of streaks and grey areas.

• Hair styles:

  • • Must not over any part of the face,

    • Must not interfere with the correct wearing of the headdress, and

    • If extending to the shoulder or lower, must be tied back and fastened.

Where to Place an Order: Measurements are submitted by the cadet through an online form. Get a parent to help you with the measurements, and set aside enough time to get them done in one go.

Deadlines for Measurements: The Supply Officer will place an order at the end of October for uniforms for all cadets who submitted measurements and are actively attending training. Another batch order will be placed around February. Please make sure to submit your measurements on time.

When Will It Arrive? We cannot guarantee when uniforms will arrive. The squadron maintains a small stock of uniform parts to exchange outgrown or damaged parts, but cannot outfit large numbers of cadets on its own. Most cadets can expect their uniforms to start arriving around 4-5 months after joining.

Pick Up: When your uniform arrives, you will be contacted by the Supply Officer to arrange an appointment to pick it up at our supply room. See Supply.800Squadron.com for the address. If you have any questions about the uniform issuance process, please e-mail Supply@800Squadron.com .

How to Wear: See our Care & Wear page for info on how to maintain and wear the uniform.

Cadet 365 is a Microsoft Office 365 platform for Cadets, nationwide. It is run on a national level, and is required by CANCDTGEN 024/23 as the authorized online collaboration app for cadets. Getting your Cadet365 account as early as possible is very helpful in getting access to announcements, updates, and resources that otherwise can't be posted publicly on the squadron website.

The e-mail address you provide for yourself in Section 3 of the application form will be used to create a ‘Cadet 365’ account for you. Cadet 365 is a Microsoft Office 365 platform for the entire cadet program, and gives cadets secure access to a variety of resources. Monitor your e-mail (including your Spam filter) for an activation e-mail after your membership application has been fully processed.

See our Cadet365 page for more details, and links to the official onboarding process.

Entrance: Use the north side entrance, right next to the delivery bay (large garage doors). Do not use the front entrance to the school.

Drop-Off / Pick-Up / Parking: There are two options for drop off, to help ease traffic. Please use whichever is least congested when you arrive:

• Elevated Parking Lot: Cadets can be dropped off at the south side of the parking lot, or can park, and walk in.

• Front Driveway: Drop off anywhere along the front driveway which runs across the front of the school. Cadets can walk round to the north side entrance from here (do not use the front doors to the school).

• FOR SAFETY - DO NOT use the fire route which goes around the back of the school. Cadets cross this path to get in and out of the school, and there is no lighting. Vehicles in this pathway also block the school's delivery bay and fire route, which is against the terms of our permit.

Washrooms: Male and female washrooms are located in the hallway between the south end of the gymnasium and the main foyer. Other washrooms are off limits to cadets.

Out of Bounds Areas. Cadets are not permitted in the following areas, except in an emergency:

• the front entryway of the school, including the front steps;

• the west hallway, which extends to each side of the front entry way;

• all stairwells on the west side of the building; and

• any room not clearly meant for use by 800 RCAirCS.

As a new cadet, your immediate supervisors are the senior cadets who instruct your classes, followed by the Level 1 Officer. For most queries, start by speaking to your immediate supervisor. If they cannot provide an answer, speak to the person in the next highest position.

After a few months of training, you’ll be assigned to a ‘flight’ – a group of about 30 cadets, lead by a Flight Sergeant. You will belong to a ‘Section’ within the flight, which is led by a Section Leader. Your Section Leader and Flight Sergeant should be your first points of contact for most issues and questions. Continue to see your instructors and the Level 1 Officer for questions about training.

You should know the name of the following people, and how to contact them. Using Cadet 365 makes this much easier!

• Your Section Leader - Handles your basic needs and low-level questions.

• Your Flight Sergeant - Can handle bigger issues, and more specialized questions. 

• Your Level NCO - Can address questions or needs regarding your training progression.

• Your Level Officer - Is in charge of your training on a manager level, and can provide information on your records and progress.

Use the Squadron Website: In some cases, it is appropriate to go directly to the staff member in charge of a particular training level, department, or team. You can see who is in charge of what, and how to contact them, by checking the ‘Staff Contact’ page of the squadron website.

Pick the Right Person: Try not to add every possible person on to your e-mail – it makes it hard for staff to tell whether it has been answered. Just select the most relevant person to ask your question to. If it’s really important, CC the Training Officer or the CO just in case.

E-Mail Format. E-Mail is preferred when contacting adult staff. A good professional e-mail opens with a salutation, ends with a proper signature block (using your name and rank), and has a clear message which uses proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Here’s an example:

Good morning Capt Thompson,

Please find attached my community service tracker for school. I was wondering if I could get your signature for the dates of 4 and 5 October, when I attended the event at the Legion. Please let me know if there is anything else I can provide.

Sincerely,

J. Smith

AC

The training you do at cadets is part of a course, which runs from September to June each year. As a first year cadet, you start in the Proficiency Level 1 training course.

See our 'Training Standards' page for details on how to pass each Proficiency Level.

It is up to you to make sure that you participate in the requisite activities to complete your training. Your Level Officer will conduct an audit of all cadets' attendance records at the end of the year to determine a pass or fail.

Promotion requirements are a nation-wide standard. You can find the squadron’s full policy on how promotions are handled HERE, and in Chapter 6 of the Squadron Standing Orders.

As a new cadet, you start with the rank of Air Cadet (or “AC”). After five months of good service, you may be promoted to Leading Air Cadet (or “LAC”).

Promotions are held only at CO’s Parade (first Tuesday of each month). You must be present in order to be promoted.

As a summary, most ranks require:

• a period of meritorious service in the current rank, typically six months or more;

• successful completion of a specific proficiency training level;

• the Commanding Officer's recommendation*; 

• for promotion to Cadet Sergeant and up, candidates must apply to be put on the Rank Eligibility List (REL) of that rank (requires a cover letter and resume);

• for promotion to Cadet Flight Sergeant and up, the cadet must apply to the REL, provide cover letter and resume, and pass an interview; and be selected to hold a leadership appointment requiring that rank.

Please note that the COmmanding Officer's recommendation can be made or withheld upon consideration of:

• the cadet's readiness and reliability to hold a higher level of responsibility;

• the cadet's demonstration of leadership skills equal to the next rank;

• availability of a position in the squadron which requires the desired rank;

• fulfillment of duties and expectations of the cadet’s current rank or position;

• participation in squadron functions such as fundraising;

• likelihood of the cadet successfully completing their current proficiency training;

• conduct, attitude, response to direction, dress, and deportment; and

• other criteria outlined in CATO 13-02, paragraph 10

Cadets who will be 14 years old or more by the end of their first training year may participate in accelerated training in order to catch up to their peers in a timely manner. Age is a requirement for accelerating a cadet's training, but other factors such as attendance and general competency may be factored in as well.

The extent and method for conducting accelerated training will be determined annually by the Training Officer, taking into account the current national or regional policy on acceleration, the number of candidates, and availability of staff and resources.

Normally, first-year cadets train together for the first few months to learn the basics of the cadet program. Then, those eligible cadets who are selected for advancement will be moved up into higher Proficiency Levels to continue their training. In some cases, additional academic work may be needed to catch up - your Level Officer will advise you on what's needed.

The Squadron Standing Orders are a way of combining lots of the most relevant policies, rules, and regulations, all under one document. It covers a lot more than just the basics on this page - things like duties and responsibilities for each rank, information on how the squadron is organized, and more detailed rules about how we operate!

It’s a good idea to check out the Squadron Standing Orders, and try to read them all the way through. The chapters are just a few pages each, so you can probably read each one in one sitting. Consider making it a one-week project for yourself, or with your parent or guardian!

Here is the most useful order to read the Standing Orders in:

• Chapter 2 includes the Flight Management System, and Squadron Organizational Chart.

• Chapter 3 contains a streamlined set of expectations for all cadets by rank, and by position.

• Chapter 8 summarizes how we communicate at cadets.

• Chapter 5 lays out a streamlined system and aide-memoire for conflict management and discipline.

• Chapter 6 summarizes and clarifies training requirements and promotion standards.

• Chapter 7 outlines policy on the use of the primary training facility, with fire safety procedures at Annex D.

• Annex A provides amplifying instructions on uniform standards, in addition to those in CCO-100 CJCR Dress Instructions.

• Chapter 4 contains national and local policies that are useful to be aware of, and know where to find them.

We hope you'll enjoy the program and stick with it through the many challenges you might face. If you do decide to leave the cadet program, follow these steps:

1. Contact Us Officially. Have your parent or guardian e-mail the squadron inbox ( 800Air@Cadets.gc.ca ) to confirm their decision to end your membership. Cadets who are 18 years or older can e-mail this confirmation on their own.

2. Inform Your Flight Staff. Let your Section Leader and Flight NCO know of your departure, so they know not to continue contacting you as part of weekly calling.

3. Return Your Uniform. Contact the Supply Officer to arrange an appointment to return your uniform, and any other equipment you were given during your time as a cadet. Uniforms are loaned, and remain the property of the Department of National Defence.