Cadet leadership

[ushopeful2025]

Can anyone provide insight on how cadets are selected for positions of responsibility/leadership? i.e Squadron Commander, Wing Commander, Public Affairs Officer

 

[SomeCasualLt]

Cadets are selected for higher leadership positions based on merit and interviews. There will be an application (Class rank, extracurriculars. etc.) and potentially a writing sample (Vision Statement, Commanders Intent, etc.) followed by interviews. Usually the higher the position the more competitive and arduous the process is. For example, if you are applying for the Wing Commander position you will see at least two different interview panels with a dozen or so cadets and officers participating. For squadron Commander you will typically only see one interview panel with far less rank in the room. As for positions that are not command, they are selected by the cadet who is in command of that position. The Public Affairs Officer/NCO would be selected via cadet commander however she/he sees fit. This may be a similar interview process, or an appointment or a delegation to another cadet.

 

[wtayroy]

Cadets are selected for higher leadership positions based on merit and interviews. There will be an application (Class rank, extracurriculars. etc.) and potentially a writing sample (Vision Statement, Commanders Intent, etc.) followed by interviews. Usually the higher the position the more competitive and arduous the process is. For example, if you are applying for the Wing Commander position you will see at least two different interview panels with a dozen or so cadets and officers participating. For squadron Commander you will typically only see one interview panel with far less rank in the room. As for positions that are not command, they are selected by the cadet who is in command of that position. The Public Affairs Officer/NCO would be selected via cadet commander however she/he sees fit. This may be a similar interview process, or an appointment or a delegation to another cadet.

What do these cadet leadership positions do? Are they solely honorific, do they have ceremonial duties, or is there actual things that they do?

 

[shiner]

They are operational and run the wing (student body). For the most part, higher level leadership positions take a significant amount of time. A SQUADRON role impacts ~100 students, a GROUP has ~1000 students, and the WING would impact 4000 students. Most leadership roles are at the small unit level (Squadron > Flight > Element) and have minimal time commitments.