Air / Sea / Army cadets

hello007007

My kids have only just started.

I heard it will boost their self esteem and confidance however I dont know anyone personnally who has enrolled their kids. My oldest two really need a good boost as they will be starting a new school in Septemeber (5 months :eek:) and lack self esteem and confidance.

I have looked online for a review and cant find much, has anyone had experiance of the cadets with their children?

chalkiesalem_2

Both myself and my husband were Army Cadets, it's how we met. I also went back for a short while as an instructor. Although things have changed since I was in it was a brilliant place to be as a child. You make friends for life and get to experience and do things you wouldn't otherwise get to do

Brickwall

My daughter was in the sea cadets when she was younger. She loved her time there, they used to camp out at other cadets units, go boating on the river, just generally had a great time.

I encouraged her to join because she was quite shy, it really brought her out of herself. She went back for a time as a volunteer.

oystercatcher

Two of my three boys went to air cadets. They really loved it and gained leadership skills and teamwork skills. Lots of useful things to put down on CV's or uni application forms later.
My youngest was taking control of a plane before he was old enough to drive ! He also got two BTECs from them while he was doing GCSE's
Interest in girls meant they both left eventually but it was really good while it lasted .

nearlyrich

My two both went to Air cadets and they both had a great experience, my DD went to Canada on the international exchange and both ended up as Cadet warrant. They both had amazing experiences to add to their CV and DS gained the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. I wholeheartedly recommend them joining and if you can get involved with the civilian committee.

Alikay

DS2 (now age 22) joined air cadets the first day he was old enough at 13. He had a great time and it did wonders for his confidence and developing a sense of responsibility. He experienced so many things...endurance walks, shooting, flying, gliding, drumming in the band, D of E awards, overseas and UK camps etc. It helped a lot with his application to the RAF, and personal statement (even though he didn't end up going to uni). He is still great mates with his old cadet pals, even though they're grown up and many are serving members of HM Forces.

I'd say the only negative is the time commitment: 2 sessions a week (each lasting about 3 hours) and many weekend activities, charitable events etc can eat into a youngsters spare time, especially around exam periods.

nearlyrich

Forgot to mention the lifelong friends they made, they went through a lot together as teens and they are still very close.

Mr.Generous

one of my daughters went to fire cadets, really enjoyed it and it does promote all sorts of beneficial skills and amazing experiences. She went to Ghana to help build a school at age 16 and has done similar things herself. Seeing true poverty and helping has made her a better person imo.

margaretclare

My eldest GD is a Petty Officer in the Sea Cadets. She's the third generation to have been in SC. My younger step-GD was in the Air Cadets.

It does a lot for young people but it does demand commitment. If they're prepared to 'go for it' they will get a lot out of it. Friendship, companionship, learning to get on with others outside school, physical activity, learning different things etc etc.And fun!

olgadapolga

I would echo what other posters have said. My two sons joined the Sea Cadets last November and they have absolutely flourished since then, especially in confidence. I used to have to go into the building with them both for the first couple of weeks after which they used to run in without a backwards glance. For my older son, this was especially good as he is (was) very shy.

The boating season has just started and in his first time in a canoe, he fell out right at the end of the session and just laughed at himself. Before, he would have been very distressed. He also signs up for anything going - this weekend he's doing a First Aid course with them.

The opportunities are great and no limit to the number of additional qualifications they can get, including Duke of Edinburgh when they are old enough.

My daughter is in the Air Cadets, again, a real confidence booster and she has learned a lot with them. She's been with the ACC for about eight months and has already been taken up in an aeroplane. She's in the middle of her Bronze DoE, through the ACC.

Brilliant organisations.

Mupette

My son did Air Cadets, taught him responsibility, he's another who flew planes before he drove a car, he also did his Btec's whilst there and had a great time, then he found girls and didnt go back, but the time he was there it engrained some things in him.

They are given opportunities that normally they wouldn't do if your a poor family, even the subs was cheap.