Joining Cadets

You can join if you are between the ages of 12 and 18.

To be eligible for membership as a Cadet one must:

• 1. be a legal resident of Canada:

NOTE: A legal resident of Canada is a Canadian citizen, a landed immigrant, or, the dependant of a person who is lawfully resident in Canada on a temporary basis for the purpose of education or employment.

• 2. provide proof of provincial health insurance coverage or equivalent;

  3. be at least 12 years of age;

  4. not have attained 19 years of age;

  5. normally be in good physical condition;

  6. not belong to another corps or squadron (you may switch though); and

  7. be acceptable to the Commanding Officer (CO) of the cadet corps or squadron.

The CO of the cadet corps or squadron shall review and approve all membership applications; however, he/she shall consult with the Regional Cadet Support Unit (RCSU) when there is uncertainty as to whether an application meets the basic membership standards or an application requires special consideration such as:

• 1. application from a youth who is not yet a legal resident of Canada; and

  2. application from a youth who has a medical, physical or mental condition specified in Part 2 of the CF 1158 that cannot be accommodated as outlined in the What about medical, physical and mental conditions section below.

What about medical, physical and mental conditions?

In that a minimum standard of medical fitness has not been established for membership of a cadet in a corps or squadron, a person with a medical condition or who is mentally or physically challenged may become a member at the Commanding Officer’s discretion.

The Commanding Officer of the Cadet Corps or Squadron shall ensure that:

• 1. the parent or guardian describes the medical, physical or mental condition at part 2 of form CF 1158;

  2. the corps or squadron has the physical facilities and the staff required to provide cadet training in light of the medical condition or the mental or medical challenge;

  3. the ability of the corps or squadron to provide effective training to other members will not be reduced; and

  4. the parent or guardian and the prospective cadet are aware that minimum medical fitness standards do exist for attendance at Cadet Summer Training Centres (CSTC) and for the Exchange Programmes. The parents or guardians shall be informed that cadets with a medical condition may not be permitted to attend summer training. This fact must be clearly understood by all parties prior to accepting a person with a medical condition, or who is mentally or physically challenged as a member of a cadet corps or squadron.

But I'm not 12 years of age yet?

You have to be at least 12 years old and under 19 to join the Air Cadet Program. 

If you are between the ages of 9 and 11, you may want to consider our sister program:  Navy League Cadets

These are the required documents you need to join a squadron:

• Proof of age:

  • a valid Canadian passport;

  • a birth certificate issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal government agency;

  • any card, visa or permit (work, study, resident, etc.) (with photo) issued by the Canadian government which legally authorizes the person to reside in Canada for an extended period of time; or

  • any identification card (with or without photo) issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal government agency. No certificates of live birth please.

• Proof of health insurance: Provincial or Territorial health insurance card or private insurance (ie. Blue Cross) card.

If you are registering in person, please have these original documents with you when you attend the squadron.

To help speed up the registration process, you may wish to bring a photocopy of these documents as well.

All you do is bring these along to the squadron on a parade night. We will need parent/guardian signature on some documents as well.

HERE ARE 2 WAYS YOU CAN JOIN

1) Attend any Parade Night

If you are shy and want to join with the greatest number of youth, September is your best month to join as there will be other youth equally as shy and new.

You may join our squadron at anytime during the cadet training year (September to March), however, if you are interested in attending summer camp or want to progress to the next proficiency level the following year – you will need to have joined NO LATER THAN January 31.

Contact the Squadron at 176air@cadets.gc.ca and you may attend on any training night.

2) Apply online

Follow the instructions at  www.cadets.gc.ca . You will then receive an email from a staff member of our squadron.

Be prepared with your documentation.

Once you have completed all the necessary forms and have been accepted for membership,

Welcome to 176 Boeing of Canada Royal Canadian Air Cadets!

Enjoy your time with the squadron!

Access to Cadet Personnel Records are restricted to those individuals authorized in writing by the Commanding Officer (CO) of the cadet Corps/Squadron pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act.

Cadets/parents/legal guardians shall have access to the cadet’s file by asking the CO or the Administration Officer of the Cadet Squadron.

Cadet Personnel Records are kept until the date at which the cadet reaches the age of twenty-five. The files may only be destroyed at that time in accordance with the Defence Administrative Orders and Directives (DAOD) on the Management of Recorded Information and the Treasury Board Policy on the Management of Government Information.

When you leave or age-out of Cadets, make sure to ask for a copy of your Cadet Personnel Record. You never know if you will need it in the future and it makes for a great keepsake!

It costs you NOTHING to join and participate in the Cadet program.

The Air Cadet Program is funded by the Department of National Defence in partnership with the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada. The civilian Air Cadet League (Sponsoring/Parents committee) at the squadron level needs community support to meet its obligations that include accommodations, training aids and equipment and program enhancements not otherwise provided. 

* Parents and Cadets are expected to participate in and contribute to fundraising as required by the squadron's sponsoring/parents committee.

The Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces assumes costs (including uniform and travel) for Cadets. Consequently, membership in the Cadet Program provides thousands of Canadian youth with unique opportunities free of charge that they might not otherwise experience — making the Cadet Program a viable option.

Absolutely not! The Cadet Program is a Civilian Youth Program.  It is a great way to have fun, be challenged and make friends. You also find out more about Canada and develop new skills that will be with you for life, no matter what career you choose.

If you decide Cadets is not for you, there is no obligation to stay.

Please inform the squadron staff and return any equipment and uniforms that are in your possession.