History of the Air Cadets

The Beginning

1862 marked the creation of Drill Associations. These associations were linked to local schools. The American Civil War and the threat of the Fenian Raids motivated their creation. These early cadet units, called drill associations, mark the beginning of the Canadian Cadet Movement, one of the country's oldest youth programs.

These early "drill associations" accepted members ranging in age from 13 to 60. The distinction between high school cadets and the adult militia became clear in 1879, when authorization was given to form 74 "Association for Drill in Educational Institutions". Young men over 14 years of age where invited to participate and would not be employed in active service.

These associations included:

• 34 in Ontario

• 24 in Quebec

• 13 in the Maritime provinces

• 2 in Manitoba

• 1 in British Columbia.

Canada's oldest continually serving cadet corps is No. 2 Bishop's College School Cadet Corps in Lennoxville, Quebec.

Public Support

An increased support, motivated in part by the Northwest Campaign during the Riel Rebellion of 1885, increased the issue of uniforms, weapons and other equipment to schools providing military training.

By 1887, the name cadet corps was recognized as designating the associations providing the training to boys over the age of 12.

Early Sea Cadets

The Navy League of Canada was founded in 1895 in order to support the lobby to create the Canadian Navy. Beginning in 1902, the League sponsored Canada's first Boys and Girls' Naval Brigades.

The Officer Cadre

The Cadet Instructors Cadre originated on 1 May 1909 in the Militia under the designation 'Corps of School Cadet Instructors (Militia)'. Formed primarily of school teachers, this officer cadre was disbanded in 1921 during a period of reorganization. It reappeared on 1 June 1924 as the Cadet Services of Canada; it was a component of the Canadian Army and the forerunner of the current Cadet Instructor Cadre. This arrangement between the Federal Government and local schoolboards contributed significantly to the development of physical education programs in Canadian schools.

Strathcona Trust

In 1910, Sir Donald Alexander Smith—Lord Strathcona—the Canadian High Commissioner to Britain, deposited in trust with the Dominion Government the sum of $500 000, bearing annual interest of 4%, to develop citizenship and patriotism in cadets through physical training, rifle shooting, and military drill.

The World Wars

Forty thousand former army cadets and several thousand former sea cadets served in His Majesty's forces during World War One. By the end of the war there were 64 000 boys enrolled in Army Cadet corps across Canada.

The Navy League authorized the creation of Girls Naval Brigades as early as World War One. The girls benefited from a training program providing, as much as possible, a parallel training to that of the boys.

During the twenty years following World War One, cadet training came to a standstill. Many corps survived these hard times, but the Depression and the lack of public interest caused the cancellation of the uniform grant for Army Cadets in 1931 and the instructional grant for 12 and 13 year olds in 1934.

The beginning of World War Two brought a renewed public interest in cadet training. Cadet corps were formed in many high schools. During the war, the Royal Canadian Navy began its partnership with the Navy League in sponsoring Sea Cadets and their officers were taken on the payroll to the Royal Canadian Navy.

The Air Cadet League of Canada was formed in 1940, and raised its first squadrons in 1941. From the outset, the Air Cadet League enjoyed a partnership with the Royal Canadian Air Force, which enrolled Air Cadet instructors as commissioned officers. By the end of World War Two, they had raised 374 squadrons with an enrolment of 29 000 Air Cadets.

During and after World War Two, you could find a cadet corps that paraded a female platoon or company. But these unofficial female cadets could never lawfully be trained, kited, fed or transported and were not allowed to attend summer camp.

The Post-War Situation

In recognition of the significant contribution of former cadets to the war effort, His Majesty King George VI conferred the title royal to the cadet program, creating the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, and the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. It is estimated that nearly 230 000 former sea, army and air cadets served in His Majesty's forces during World War Two.

After World War Two, quotas were imposed reducing Canada's total cadet force to about 75 000 members. Many of the closed corps, those with membership restricted to boys in one particular school, were disbanded; some of them became open corps, training in militia armouries or in Legion halls; others, like many corps sponsored by the Navy League, acquired their own buildings.

The Korean War stimulated growth among open corps in the early 1950s. After 1954, Korea veterans staffed the Area Cadet Offices that began to manage these corps and the summer camps that trained them.

Unification of the Canadian Forces

Following the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, a number of changes occurred in the Cadet world:

• Sea and Air Cadets came more fully under the control of the Canadian Forces in order to standardize the three Cadet organizations;

• A directorate of cadets was established in Ottawa to set policy and co-ordinate the activities of the Sea, Army and Air cadets;

• The Army Cadet League of Canada was formed in 1971 in order to give the Army cadets a civilian voice comparable to that of the Navy League and the Air Cadet League;

• Sea Cadet officers became commissioned members of the Canadian Forces. Before this date, sea cadet officers were created by means of a warrant from the Navy League of Canada; and

• The Cadet Services of Canada was superseded by the Cadet Instructor List, which was later redesignated the Cadet Instructor Cadre.

Girls in the Cadet Program

Girls have participated unofficially in cadet training almost from the beginning. Shortly after the Highland Cadet Corps was stood up at the Guelph Grammar School in 1882, a female cadet company called the Daughters of the Regiment, was also raised.

On the 30 July 1975, parliament amended the relevant legislation by changing the word boys to persons, therefore permitting girls to become members of the Royal Canadian Sea, Army, and Air Cadets. 

YOUNG EAGLES / EAA

Since 1992, some 900 kids have experienced the excitement of flying in a small airplane in the Young Eagles Program at Langley Regional Airport.

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Program offers kids the chance of a lifetime -- to turn dreams into reality. The EAA is giving everyone between the ages of ages 8 and 17 an opportunity to fly in a private airplane with a qualified pilot. It's safe. It's fun. It's free. And it's fantastic!

By experiencing a Young Eagle flight, youngsters join the more than 400,000 Young Eagles who have already entered the wild blue yonder since 1992. The EAA goal is to have 1,000,000 young people grace the skies by the 100th anniversary of flight in the year 2004! So, if you're ready to share the skies with the likes of the Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart and Neil Armstrong, then come on board, buckle up and let your spirits soar with the Young Eagles!

See our Be a Young Eagle page for sign-up information.

How to Become a Young Eagle ? Becoming an EAA Young Eagle is as easy as   Contact the EAA Young Eagles program administrator at the number listed below: Michelle Kunes  /  920-426-6114     We'll let you know who / where to contact for a scheduled Young Eagles flight.     Take off!!! You and your personal pilot will zoom through the skies!   Please note: If you are not in the Langley, BC area please contact the International Young Eagles office at 1-877-806-8902 for the location of a Young Eagles chapter near you. As long as you're between the ages of 8 and 17, you can be an EAA Young Eagle just like that! Not only will you fly for free, you'll also receive an official Young Eagle certificate AND your name will be entered in the World's Largest Logbook at the Young Eagles website! So, what are you waiting for? What will my flight be like? First of all, your pilot will explain what you will do and see. This will include: - Telling you about the airplane; - Reviewing an aeronautical chart and identifying reference points you will look for during the flight; - Completing a careful "walk around" preflight inspection of the airplane and identifying the parts that control the airplane; - Help you buckle your seatbelt and describe the interior of the airplane, including the instrument panel. Once airborne, you'll see the earth and sky in a new and exciting way and experience the wonderful freedom of flight that many only dream about. What can I do while waiting for my flight? You can explore the official Young Eagles website for lot's of interesting aviation stuff including photos of airplanes and some great games that you can play online. Another great place to learn about different aircraft is at the Canadian Museum of Flight website. What Parents Need to Know 1. What is EAA and the EAA Aviation Foundation? The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is an international aviation membership association founded in 1953. More than 165,000 people belong to EAA, with Chapters located in all 50 states and many countries. Members are aviation enthusiasts of every age group, including airline and commercial pilots, engineers, business people, and even astronauts. The Young Eagles Program is sponsored by the EAA Aviation Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to the discovery and fulfillment of individual potential through personal flight. General Chuck Yeager is the Honorary Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles Program. 2. Who is involved with EAA? Under the "become an EAA Young Eagle" section of the official Young Eagles website, you can learn all about one of aviation's living legends, General Chuck Yeager, who is the Honarary Chairman of the EAA Young Eagles Program. 3. Why does EAA sponsor the Young Eagles Program? The Young Eagles Program has been developed by the EAA Aviation Foundation to welcome young people into the world of aviation. Aviation is exciting and vital to our nation's future. Your child will experience a safe and enjoyable flight that will give new perspectives on the world and life in general. Participation in the Young Eagles Program will help your child understand that an individual's potential is unlimited. 4. How safe is flying? Flying in an airplane is safer than many other forms of recreation. Each Young Eagle Flight takes place in a FAA registered airplane flown by a licensed pilot. The flight is conducted according to federal regulations. No aerobatic or non-standard maneuvers will ever be performed when a Young Eagle is inside an aircraft. 5. I understand some of the airplanes are considered "experimental". What are "experimental" aircraft? Experimental aircraft are a category of airplanes designated by the FAA, built by individual craftsmen instead of on a factory assembly line. Because they comply with FAA standards, they are just as safe and reliable as other airplanes. 6. What a great program! Is there anything I can do to help? Volunteers are needed to assist in finding young people, assisting with ground transportation or coordinating pre- and post-flight activities. There are many opportunities to help young people experience sport aviation and your assistance is welcome. Information for Pilots and EAA Members 1. What are the pilot requirements? Simply stated, we ask all pilots to be an EAA member, current in aircraft type, carry a current medical and provide their own liability insurance on aircraft they own or a non-owner's liability policy on rented or borrowed aircraft. As an EAA member, you are eligible for an additional policy that provides $1 million of coverage, provided you carry at least $100,000 per passenger seat yourself. For more information on this and any insurance question, please contact the EEA Insurance Office at (920) 426-4822. 2. Do I have to belong to an EAA Chapter to participate? No. Any EAA member may participate. We require a current EAA membership, except in those cases when an aviation organization applies for authorization for its members to participate. A list of currently authorized organizations is available upon request. 3. Can an EAA member from another country participate in the Young Eagles Program? Absolutely. There have been Young Eagles flown in more than 50 countries - including Canada, Scotland, Germany, England, Greece, France, Finland, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. 4. Can I fly in my licensed "Experimental" aircraft? Yes. All aircraft are eligible provided they are properly licensed and flown in accordance with appropriate FARs (or the country's equivalent) and conform to Young Eagles Program parameters. 5. I'm not a pilot. How can I participate? Volunteers are needed to assist in finding young people, assisting with ground transportation or coordinating pre- and post-flight activities. Volunteers are also needed to serve as Chapter Coordinators or as Young Eagle Field Representatives. Field Representatives serve as liaisons between the Young Eagles Office and local Flight Leaders. There are many opportunities to help young people experience sport aviation. There are many Young Eagle Flight Rallies scheduled around the world and your assistance is welcome. 6. Can I deduct expenses incurred while flying Young Eagles? Yes. In the US the IRS has ruled that volunteer Young Eagle Pilots can deduct direct, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in direct connection with and solely attributed to the Program. Contact EAA for more information. 7. Who can I contact for suggestions or support? In the Langley area you can call: Mike Davenport at (604) 534-5383 If you are outside the Langley/Fraser Valley area please contact the Young Eagles Office and they can provide you with a list of key Young Eagles Leaders in your area. Call 1-877-806-8902 and request the name of the Chapter Coordinator or Field Representative near you.     Information on this page has been provided with kind permission of the EAA Young Eagles administration. For additional infomation about the Young Eagles program please visit the official Young Eagles website at www.youngeagles.com