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Cadets: A youth work force to be reckoned with?

8 mins read Uniformed
The government has pumped £50m into expanding cadet units in schools. Tom de Castella assesses the youth work contribution of cadet groups and asks if they are value for money.

Lauren hadn't yet got her driving license. But on a windy day in June last year she flew solo above the Scottish countryside in a light aircraft. "You're flying the plane on your own," recalls the 18-year-old. "It's nerve-racking but exhilarating. When I landed and realised I'd completed my scholarship I felt overjoyed." The flying scholarship came through her participation in the Air Training Corps, the cadet force of the RAF, an organisation she credits with giving her more confidence.

"I was quite a quiet person and the cadets brought me out of my shell," she says. Her aim is to fly fast jets for the RAF. She has several university offers to choose from and has been invited to attend an RAF training college while she is a student.

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