Ingham’s Australian Air Force Cadet (AAFC) 103 Squadron resumes this Friday 31st January and Flight Lieutenant and Commanding Officer (CO) Rodger Bow is looking forward to another year.
Rodger Bow has been with the 103 Squadron for 36 years and what keeps him coming back is the working with the cadets and seeing them grow up and mature.
With the Air Force Cadets, cadets learn a wide variety of skills.
“They learn field craft which includes putting up tents, building fires and camping activities, we are now into drone technology, so cadets build drones and fly the drones,” said CO Rodger Bow.
“But it’s all about discipline, the AAFC are the primary youth organisation in Australia and disciplines part of it.”
Cadets also learn skills in the classroom too and last year the 103 Squadron implemented a new curriculum, and CO Rodger Bow said it includes everything.
AAFC is not just learning in the classroom; they get to use those skills on bivouacs.
“We join up with Townsville, Charters Towers and Ayr and we go to a scout camp down in Bluewater. Or we go out to Macrossan Training Area at Charters Towers.
“They live in tents while they are there, they sleep on the ground in their sleeping bag.
“Also, once a year we go to Ayr for a weekend of firearms training. Cadets shoot .22 Calibre Rifles and the best part is they're trained to shoot load, clear the weapons and things like that, they are taught properly.”
To become a part of the Australian Air Force Cadets you must be 13, or be turning 13 before the 31st December 2025.
The AAFC runs every Friday night 6.30pm – 10.30pm during school terms, and fees cost $160 a year for the first year, but following that $100, all uniform is included.
The 103 Squadron are currently recruiting up until the 31st March, and CO Rodger Bow encourages any that are thinking of signing up, to come and have a tour of the squadron.
Location: Ingham Airport Entrance, Townsville Road, Ingham, QLD, 4850
Apply online: https://www.airforcecadets.gov.au/how-to-join/wings/1-wing-aafc-nth-qld/103-squadron-ingham
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