Page 46 - AAPT March 2019

AFC
Shaping the next generation of

mavericks

On Point with WGCDR (AAFC) WGCDR (AAFC) Martin Hughes will
Paul Martin Hughes JP also discuss the vital links established
between the AAFC and Australia's
The arrival of the F-35 has sparked the growing defence and aerospace
imagination of many young Australians industries, and the symbiotic relationship
seeking to step into the cockpit and developing among the contributing
take to the skies. For Wing Commander members.
(AAFC) Paul Martin Hughes JP, the
relationship between the RAAF and As an introduction, what is your role
Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) is within the Air Force Cadets?
invaluable. In essence, I'm one of eight officers
The changing face and nature of commanding within the Australian Air
air combat is challenging the way the Force Cadets looking after one of the
RAAF recruits the next generation of eight wings right across Australia.
Australian pilots. The AAFC provides Three wing is the largest of the
an invaluable link to the Air Force and eight wings and it has around about
the broader ADF, instilling valuable 32 per cent of the total population of
life skills to develop qualities including the Australian Air Force Cadets. So it's
leadership, self-reliance, confidence, a large geographic area and a large
teamwork and communication. population to deal with around that.
In this edition of On Point, Defence But really, my responsibility's No. 336 Squadron Cadets Harrison
Connect will discuss the relationship about leadership development. It's Mitchell (left) and Courtney Stafford at
the No. 3 Wing AAFC Competition held at
between the RAAF, ADF and AAFC about providing opportunities to our RAAF Base Richmond.
in developing the next-generation of young cadets right across the board
Australia's top gun pilots, ground crews and providing them with that level of And probably, if anything, it's creating
and military leaders for the 21st century opportunity that allows them to think something in them that allows them to
with WGCDR (AAFC) Paul Martin about future career aspirations as well. see themselves differently. So it's a bit
Hughes JP. like the opportunity that they thought
they would've never had, and as a result
it allows them to think about what they
want to do in terms of career choices
moving forward.
The AAFC is sponsored by the Chief
of Air Force, and then that cascades
down through to the Director General Air
Force Cadets, which is based at Cadet
Branch Air Force. And then we have an
Australian Air Force Cadet structure as
well headed up by a Group Captain who
is the national commander.
As an organisation, the AAFC is
heavily supported both in terms of
manpower, Defence support, and
that includes ability to go to Air Force
bases and stay for a week and put on
numerous camps, accommodation,
transport.
Why does the RAAF invest in the air
No. 336 Squadron Cadets Ethan Kapoor (left), Sienna Quinlivan (middle) and Zachary cadets, and what is the purpose of
McPherson at the No. 3 Wing AAFC Competition held at RAAF Base Richmond. this investment?

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