R.A.F. RESERVE

Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 September 1936, Page 11

R.A.F. RESERVE

THE ONE-YEAR SCHEME

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, August 26. Steps are being taken .by the Air Ministry to ensure that adequate reserves of pilots shall be built up for the Royal, Air Force by the time the new equipment which has been ordered begins to reach the squadrons. A new one-year training scheme has been announced. It is intended to increase the present reserve of fully-trained pilots to meet the requirements of the expanded air force, and it creates a special reserve category. ■.'"'"

; On entry the pilots pass through the same full course of training as is attended by pilots of the regular R.A.F. It lasts for about a year. They are trained in elementary and service types of aircraft at civil and service flying training: schools, and they then go to an R.A.F. depot at'full pay according to their rank. On completing the training period they return to civil life_ for the remainder of their.reserye period.

The scheme is intended to appeal to young men who can. spare the twelve months for the training before embarking on a career and in"this the scheme differs from the R.A.F. Volunteer ReServe. Selected candidates under the one-year scheme will be appointed to commissions in the Reserve of , Air Force Officers for five years' service. After the year's training they are not liable to attend for more than twentyfour days' annual training in subsequent years. The retaining fee is £25 a year for each year, after the first. The age limits are 18 and 25, and the educational standard is that of the school certificate of the Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination Board. The first course under the'sehemeVwill. begin in -October." f