AIR FORCE CADET CORPS

Evening Star, Issue 23836, 17 March 1941, Page 5

AIR FORCE CADET CORPS

SCHOOL OF ENTRY PLANNED ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONDITIONS [Pea United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 16. A decision to establish an Air Force' Cadet Corps in New Zealand for the training of boys between the ages of 16 years and a-half and 18 was announced to-day by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones. “ The corps,” the Minister stated, “ will be on somewhat similar lines to that in the United Kingdom, where the Air Ministry recently, concluded arrangements to extend the opportunity of preliminary training to approximately 700,000 boys. The 'scheme will be administered by the R.N.Z.A.F., and an officer at Air Headquarters, Wellington, is being appointed superintendent of the corps.”

Forms of application for membership of the corps, together with the conditions of service. Mr Jones said, were now available at the post offices in the undermentioned towns, from which applications were at present being considered. The application forms were to be completed , and forwarded to Air Headquarters by March 81. Arrangements for the interview and selectiorTof applicants would bo made by June next after certain aspects of the training scheme bad been discussed with the educational authorities and others throughout the Dominion. It was honed to commence training about August next. CONDITIONS OUTLINED.

Applications to join the corps, Mr Jones said, would be considered from those able to comply with the following conditions;—

1. Natural-born British subjects of sons of parents both of whom are (or, if deceased, were at the time of death) British subjects. 2. Not less than 16} years at June 30, 1941, nor attained his eighteenth birthday by that date. 3. Of an educational standard not lower than that represented by the i Standard VI. proficiency certificate. 4. Free of any known physical defects likely to interfere with present or subsequent training. 5. All applicants to have the written consent of their parents or guardians. 6. Prepared to attend at least two evening lectures a week and occasional parades on Saturdays at one of the following centres: — North Island.—Whangnrei, Auckland, Hamilton, Thames, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Dannevirke, Palmerston North, Feiiding, New Plymouth, Hawera, \\ ar.ganui, Mastertou, Wellington.

South Island.—Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Hu nodin, Invercargill, Gore, Greymouth, Westport. .‘/It is recognised,” Mr Jones said, ‘‘ that many of the above centres may not be able to provide the minimum i number of applicants to form a unit of the corps, which has been tentatively fixed at 100, but the question of making alternative arrangements‘ for instruction in such centres will be considered after consultation with bead masters and, others in the plaees concerned. Members of the Army School cadet units are eligible to apply for admission to the Air Cadet Corps, and arrangements will be made in sueb cases to avoid any dislocation in the training of the existing cadet units. ”It is intended,” Mr Jones continued, “ to vest control of the units in officers to be selected from the various districts concerned. They will be assisted by area organisers under the control of the superintendent of the corps.” Alternative arrangements would bo made in those centres where it was not possible to obtain the services of suitable instructors locally, Mr Jones said. Applications for instructors would be called when the training requirements had been finally decided on. The trainees would be provided with uniforms, and grants would be made to local units to meet the cost of training. It was also intended to issue a lapel badge to members of the corps for wearing with civilian clothing. A full year’s training would be carried out, Mr Jones said, and it would include visits to R.N.Z.A.F, stations, together with instruction in the following subjects;—(l) Airmanship, (2) theory of flight, (3) elementary principles of aircraft engineering and maintenance, (4) a wireless operator’s course, (5) air navigation, (6) meteorology, (7) mathematics and physics (elementary), 18) physical training. (!)) drill and ceremonial, and (10) administration. i “No actual flying training is intended. nor are the members of the corps eligible for war service before attaining the age of 18 years, and then ' onlv with the prior written consent of , their parents or guardians,” Mr Jones

concluded. “The corps will provide a valuable opportunity for gaining an insight into service conditions, and should appeal to those contemplating entry to the R.N.Z..A.F.”