Whatever level you are as a cadet, you'll have the opportunity to try your hand at military skills and drills. That means rifle shooting and field craft.

At close range

Marksmanship goes a long way back in the history of Air Cadets and is one of our most popular activities. Think you can concentrate on distant targets and fire with consistent accuracy? It's not easy. It requires focus, agility and a very steady hand.

We'll teach you to handle a variety of weapons safely. Firing is always done lying on your stomach (the prone position) at static targets. Progress through the course and you'll experience different types of weapons and could even take part in shooting competitions if you really prove your skills.

Ranges come in different shapes and sizes but all are in controlled conditions with full training on any weapon that you handle - safety is our top priority. To start with you'll be firing at targets that are fairly close - around 25m away. As you advance through weapons and your skill builds, you will fire at targets 100m or more away.

The great outdoors

Everyone gets excited about fieldcraft. But what is it? Put simply, it's the skills you need to survive and navigate yourself around outdoors, in unfamiliar places. It means sorting food, shelter, protection from the weather and getting from A to B as quickly and effectively as you can.

this is where Air Cadet training gets closer to what RAF personnel do in their training. The principle is the same - think on your feet, adapt to your situation and work to your team's strengths.