The Military & IThe Military & I

What are the Air Cadets?What are the Air Cadets?The Air Cadets is a voluntary youth group was originally formed to help people join the Royal The Air Cadets is a voluntary youth group was originally formed to help people join the Royal

Air Force but has since moved on to be an organisation Air Force but has since moved on to be an organisation

The Aims of the Air Training Corps as set out in the Royal Warrant and approved by HM the The Aims of the Air Training Corps as set out in the Royal Warrant and approved by HM the Queen are as follows Queen are as follows To promote and encourage among young men and women To promote and encourage among young men and women a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force. a practical interest in aviation and the Royal Air Force.

To provide training which will be useful both in the Services and in civil life. To provide training which will be useful both in the Services and in civil life. To foster the spirit of adventure. To foster the spirit of adventure. To develop the qualities of leadership and good citizenship.To develop the qualities of leadership and good citizenship.

Why I Joined the Air CadetsWhy I Joined the Air Cadets Joining the cadets has made an impact on my identity, life and values in many Joining the cadets has made an impact on my identity, life and values in many

different ways:different ways:

It has helped become more confident within myself by speaking publicly in It has helped become more confident within myself by speaking publicly in front of other people and meeting others.front of other people and meeting others.

It can also relate to roger’s concentric circle because at first I only showed my It can also relate to roger’s concentric circle because at first I only showed my public self then parts of my private self started to show and then in turn this public self then parts of my private self started to show and then in turn this has effected my core self.has effected my core self.

Discipline within Discipline within cadets cadets Joining cadets is not like joining other social after school activities as there is a Joining cadets is not like joining other social after school activities as there is a

sense of discipline that has to be upheld both behavioural and dress discipline sense of discipline that has to be upheld both behavioural and dress discipline as well such as: as well such as:

Boys need to maintain a short and neat haircut ensuring it doesn’t touch their Boys need to maintain a short and neat haircut ensuring it doesn’t touch their collar. They must also be clean shaven every parade night. collar. They must also be clean shaven every parade night.

Girls need to keep their hair tied neatly in a bun and wear no make up or jewellery Girls need to keep their hair tied neatly in a bun and wear no make up or jewellery if they do they will be expected to remove it. if they do they will be expected to remove it.

All cadets must also maintain there uniform to a certain degree. Trousers must be All cadets must also maintain there uniform to a certain degree. Trousers must be ironed with a definite crease on both the front and back of the trousers. The ironed with a definite crease on both the front and back of the trousers. The shirt must be pressed and without creases same as the brassard. Shoes must shirt must be pressed and without creases same as the brassard. Shoes must be polished and your beret shaped. This especially applies to NCOs' (Non be polished and your beret shaped. This especially applies to NCOs' (Non commissioned officers) as they are required to set an example for those commissioned officers) as they are required to set an example for those below them in rank below them in rank

All of this helps the cadets feel as they are all in the same position. Everybody is All of this helps the cadets feel as they are all in the same position. Everybody is equal. All sharing very similar identities wearing the same uniform and abiding equal. All sharing very similar identities wearing the same uniform and abiding by the same rules. by the same rules.

Stereotypes of the Military Stereotypes of the Military

Each branch of the military has it’s own stereotypes the most common ones are that people Each branch of the military has it’s own stereotypes the most common ones are that people in thein the

Army - Are all school dropouts all looking for a fight.Army - Are all school dropouts all looking for a fight. Royal Navy - For people who aren’t strong enough to be in the army also as being Royal Navy - For people who aren’t strong enough to be in the army also as being

homosexual. homosexual. Royal Air Force – Is full of people who are more intelligent and are a better “class” than Royal Air Force – Is full of people who are more intelligent and are a better “class” than

everyone else and that seemingly everybody is a pilot. everyone else and that seemingly everybody is a pilot.

This obviously is not the case as people from all different backgrounds join the military for This obviously is not the case as people from all different backgrounds join the military for their own personal reasons. It’s very unfair how people with no knowledge of life within their own personal reasons. It’s very unfair how people with no knowledge of life within the military make these comment especially people in the general public and media.the military make these comment especially people in the general public and media.

Stereotypes continuedStereotypes continued

Stereotypes are also reinforced by both books and films as they portray people to Stereotypes are also reinforced by both books and films as they portray people to be a certain way in a military environment as they most often or not show that be a certain way in a military environment as they most often or not show that the soldier was someone failing in school who joined the army as a last resort the soldier was someone failing in school who joined the army as a last resort also them being powerful figures and macho men adrenaline junkies who live also them being powerful figures and macho men adrenaline junkies who live for nothing but for the thrill of war. But this is over dramatised and is not the for nothing but for the thrill of war. But this is over dramatised and is not the case as many people who join the military do it for their own personal reasons case as many people who join the military do it for their own personal reasons not to fuel some addiction to violence.not to fuel some addiction to violence.

Also there are many stereotypes towards female personnel within the military as Also there are many stereotypes towards female personnel within the military as it is considered a “mans” job which obviously offends a lot of women who feel it is considered a “mans” job which obviously offends a lot of women who feel that they are just as good as men and that they have every right to fight for that they are just as good as men and that they have every right to fight for their country as a man does. People also seem to think that women who have their country as a man does. People also seem to think that women who have married someone from the army is just after their money when in fact most married someone from the army is just after their money when in fact most servicemen earn the same wage as someone working an ordinary job. servicemen earn the same wage as someone working an ordinary job.

Military Sub-Culture Military Sub-Culture

The military sub culture is one of that is highly criticised and stereotyped by many The military sub culture is one of that is highly criticised and stereotyped by many people. Children bought up in a militaristic environment are often referred to people. Children bought up in a militaristic environment are often referred to as military brats. Children who don’t belong to a specific culture as they move as military brats. Children who don’t belong to a specific culture as they move quite often and don’t say in a place for long periods of time. People within the quite often and don’t say in a place for long periods of time. People within the military also tend to hang around others in the military rather than those who military also tend to hang around others in the military rather than those who are not as there is a higher sense of comaraderie as people in normal civilian are not as there is a higher sense of comaraderie as people in normal civilian life don’t understand what it’s like only how the media tries to explain to the life don’t understand what it’s like only how the media tries to explain to the public. Due to the high amount of stereotyping it speaks for itself why people public. Due to the high amount of stereotyping it speaks for itself why people in the military tend to only socialise with others within it. in the military tend to only socialise with others within it.

RAF Recruitment Video RAF Recruitment Video

See file attached

Video Explained Video Explained

The video is trying to inspire and bring in more people to join the RAF it does this The video is trying to inspire and bring in more people to join the RAF it does this by challenging the stereotypes that people think of the RAF because most by challenging the stereotypes that people think of the RAF because most people think it’s all to do with aircraft and do not think there is anything else to people think it’s all to do with aircraft and do not think there is anything else to do. There are a wide range of jobs in each of the armed forces that people do. There are a wide range of jobs in each of the armed forces that people simply know nothing about so they disregard joining thinking they can’t join simply know nothing about so they disregard joining thinking they can’t join because they don’t want to be a pilot. There are of course a wide range of because they don’t want to be a pilot. There are of course a wide range of jobs ranging from the RAF police to being a chef. This is why in past and jobs ranging from the RAF police to being a chef. This is why in past and present recruitment videos the advert nearly always ends with “you don’t have present recruitment videos the advert nearly always ends with “you don’t have to be a pilot to fly in the RAF” to be a pilot to fly in the RAF”

This can be related to Cooley’s looking glass theory in a way as people within the This can be related to Cooley’s looking glass theory in a way as people within the military socialise with others from the military they see themselves further and military socialise with others from the military they see themselves further and further than being a civilian which would explain why a lot of ex further than being a civilian which would explain why a lot of ex servicemen/women struggle to come to terms with living civilian life as it’s the servicemen/women struggle to come to terms with living civilian life as it’s the complete opposite of what they are used to. complete opposite of what they are used to.