Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1941. AIR TRAINING CORPS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 9, 22 October 1941, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1941. AIR TRAINING CORPS.

The statement by the Minister of Defence on the scheme for pre-entry training for the Air Force reveals that it is performing a useful part in keeping up the number of recruits for this most important service. Since the outbreak of war, Mr Jones said, pre-entry air crew training had been given to a large number of men, actually well into five figures, and the number in training continued to be large. At present 3758 were under instruction, 1755 in classes from Whangarei to Invercargill, and 2003 by correspondence from the educational services branch of the Air Department. The Minister was also able to refer to “the wonderful response” received from the schools throughout the country in the formation of school units of the Air Training Corps. Already 35 schools, secondary, technical and private, have indicated that units of the corps are being formed. The total enrolment to date from this source is some 1500 cadets, covering the age group 15-18. Thus,it is a valuable addition to the other means of ensuring the required personnel in the future. An application to the aerial arm of the principle embodied long ago in the senior cadet system, it is provided with ample safeguards against any boy being called on to commit hirtiself to more than preliminary ground training without his parents’ knowledge and consent. To the very many boys who are interested in all aspects of flying membership of the corps opens up new avenues of knowledge in a field which already fascinates them. It is true the scheme is directly linked with the war effort, and eventual service with one of the air arms is the avowed end. It is still possible to hope that the majority of those toward whom the present recruiting campaign is directed will not be called upon in this way. But should it happily be that peace comes before they are old enough to serve their time with the corps will not be wasted. What they learn will be valuable to those attracted by civil aviation while it will increase the knowledge and widen the outlook of all.