Join as a Trustee > Opportunities for progression
Whether you’re brand new or you’ve been around committees for years, there are plenty of ways to develop your skills, take on new responsibilities, and get more involved in the RAF Air Cadets. None of this is compulsory and there’s no expectation that anyone “moves up” – it’s simply here for those who are curious about what comes next.
Leadership roles within your squadron committee
Every squadron holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM) where the community, parents/carers of cadets and existing trustees elect the key roles for the next 12 months. The main positions are:
- Chair
- Treasurer
- Secretary
Some squadrons also elect Vice Chairs, Deputy Secretaries or Treasurers, which helps with succession planning and avoids everything falling on one person. These deputy/vice roles are also a brilliant stepping stone if you’d like to build confidence before taking on a main position.
Chair
The Chair leads committee meetings, supports trustee recruitment, oversees succession planning and keeps the committee running smoothly. The time commitment is usually around one hour a month, plus chairing meetings. Anything beyond that is flexible and based on how much time the individual wants to give.
Treasurer
The Treasurer handles the financial administration – reconciling accounts, preparing reports and giving assurance that everything is in good order. This usually works out at two to three hours per month, depending on how busy the squadron is.
Secretary
The Secretary oversees the committee’s admin: preparing agendas, writing up minutes, circulating reports, and keeping everyone organised. Typically, this takes around an hour a month outside of meetings.
Vice/Deputy Roles
These positions support the main postholders and step in when needed. They’re particularly valuable for continuity, and they’re ideal for anyone who wants to get involved gradually.
Supporting squadrons at a local or wing level
Lots of trustees have skills that go far beyond their own squadron – and we’d always encourage you to let the Wing Chair know if you’d like to help more widely. Support can be:
Informal
Maybe you’ve got a background in finance, relationship management, recruitment, communications, charity governance, IT, or fundraising. If you’re happy to share that experience now and again, we can match you with the right area when something comes up.
More structured
If you want to give a little more time, you can formally support one or more squadrons, or work with the Wing on specific projects. This can be completely tailored to your availability – a few hours a month or just at certain points in the year.
Wing Trustee roles
If you enjoy governance and want to help shape how all squadrons across the wing are supported, you can also become a Wing Trustee. This isn’t a replacement for your squadron role – it’s an additional opportunity for those who want to get involved at a wider level.
Regional and National Governance
As you become more confident in your trustee role, you might wish to influence decisions at a higher level. There are opportunities to get involved with:
- Regional governance
- National governance
- Advisory and consultation roles
These roles help shape policy, support decision-making and ensure trustees’ voices are represented throughout the organisation. Many trustees find this work hugely rewarding and a natural next step once they’ve gained experience at squadron or wing level.
Moving into uniformed or civilian volunteer roles
Some trustees eventually decide they’d like to work directly with cadets or support the squadron in a more hands-on way. That’s absolutely fine – lots of volunteers start as trustees first.
If you think this might be your path, we simply ask that you remain a trustee for at least 12 months before transferring. This gives you time to settle into the organisation, understand how squadrons operate, and ensures the committee isn’t left without a trained trustee straight after investing time in onboarding.
If and when you want to make that move, we’ll guide you through the transition and make it as smooth as possible.
No pressure, no deadlines – your journey is your own
Everything on this page is completely optional. Progression isn’t a requirement – it’s simply there for anyone who wants to explore different ways of supporting the RAF Air Cadets.