General Cadet Knowledge
Every cadet is expected to know the following fundamental information regarding the Canadian Cadet Program purpose and principles.
The Motto of the Canadian Cadet Program is:
To Learn, To Serve, To Advance
The 3 Aims of the Canadian Cadet Program are:
1. To develop in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership
2. To promote physical fitness
3. To stimulate an interest in the air, land, and sea activities of the Canadian Forces
Rank and Paying of Compliments
In the Air Cadet program, you can advance both in rank and qualification. As a first year cadet, you should be able to recognize the rank and qualifications of other Air Cadets. Cadets of Warrant Officer First Class, Warrant Officer Second Class, Flight Sergeant, and Sergeant rank are senior noncommissioned officers (NCOs). Cadets of Flight Corporal and Corporal rank are junior NCOs.
You are responsible for knowing the rank structure and the badge for each rank.
​
Officer Ranks
It is equally important to recognize the ranks of officers, as it is to recognize the ranks of fellow air cadets. Each officer has a job to do and has received a rank that is equivalent to the responsibilities of that job. If a squadron is to function smoothly, everyone in that squadron must recognize the rank of supervising staff and their equivalent authority. Recognition of rank is important as a courtesy and is a sign of respect.
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
Paying of Compliments
The reason for saluting is, in one word, respect. The air cadets salute because they have respect for the organization in which they serve. A salute between an officer and service person is a sign of mutual trust and respect. It is a privilege granted to members of a service to use this form of greeting. For the same reason, the cadet organization follows this custom.
The rules governing saluting by air cadets include the following:
-
Cadets shall salute all commissioned officers, including those not in uniform. (Note: Officer Cadets are not commissioned and shall not be saluted)
-
Warrant officers shall not be saluted.
-
When a cadet addresses or is addressed by a commissioned officer, the cadet shall salute. The cadet shall salute again when the conversation has ended.
-
Cadets do not salute cadets at any time.
​
When our National Anthem or a foreign national anthem plays:
-
An officer or cadet in uniform and wearing head-dress will come to attention and salute.
-
With head-dress removed, eg, in a theatre, all ranks will stand at attention.
-
On parade, officers and cadets in certain positions of responsibility will salute; cadets will stand at attention.
-
In civilian clothes, all ranks will remove head-dress and stand at attention.
​
When the national flag is being lowered or raised, cadets shall halt, face the flag, stand at attention and salute.
Cadets shall salute the quarter-deck when boarding and upon leaving any of Her Majesty's ships or those of a foreign service.