| Unit Name: | Royal Air Force Air Cadets |
| Dates: | Since 5 February 1941[1] |
| Country: |  United Kingdom |
| Type: | Volunteer Military Youth Organisation |
| Garrison: | RAF Cranwell |
| Garrison Label: | Headquarters |
| Ceremonial Chief: | The Princess of Wales |
| Ceremonial Chief Label: | Honorary Air Commodore-in-Chief |
| Commander1: | Air Cdre Al Lewis[2] |
| Commander1 Label: | Commandant Air Cadets |
| Commander2: | WO Donna Hall RAFAC |
| Commander2 Label: | RAFAC WO |
| Commander3: |
|
| Commander3 Label: | Honorary Ambassadors |
| Colonel Of The Regiment Label: | Commandant Air Cadets |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Ensign |
| Patron: | The Princess of Wales |
The Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) is the combined volunteer-military youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force, which is formed by both the Air Training Corps and RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force.[3] The organisation is headed by a former serving RAF officer, Commandant Air Cadets. The current commandant is Air Commodore Al Lewis.[2]
Prior to 1 October 2017, the RAFAC was called the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO).[4] As of 1 April 2023, the ACO had a strength of 42,190 cadets and 10,070 cadet force adult volunteers.[5] Cadets are aged between 12 and 17 on entry to the organisation, and can remain until they are 18, or with special permission, until they are 20.[6]
The RAFAC's infrastructure consists of:
The six regions consist of:
Each Region is commanded by a "Regional Commandant" (RC), who holds the rank of group captain, and is usually retired regular RAF. The Region is further staffed by a number of cadet forces adult volunteers (CFAV) who maintain the day-to-day operations of each of the regions.[8] Examples of these CFAV posts include Region Staff Officer, Region Training Officer, and Region STEM Officer.[9]
Air Cadet sections within the Combined Cadet Force usually follow their own chain of command within their school's unit. Above their school unit, they diverge into the same chain of command as the Air Training Corps, which is usually their Wing, or Region.
Air Cadet activities vary vastly, however some of the most common to take place include:
There are also more rare, but enriching activities that take place also. Examples include: