Army or Air Cadets?

[mummyrex]

Anyone have an experience of either or even both? DS would like to join one or the other having gotten rather bored with limited activities of Scouts.

[plimple]

I loved army cadets. Sometimes the routine week nights were a bit dull, but the weekends away we had and camp and going to Germany and doing Nijmegan marches more than made up for it.
I do remember once patrolling a field with a gun and thinking "Ooh, this is what soldiers do, it's like I'm being trained for the army" then I thought "who cares, I'm not going to join the army, but I like imagining there are enemy in the bushes!"
It is where I first learnt to smoke and drink though...
My nephews tell me it's not like that anymore, but they still love it.

[plimple]

by "ooh", I mean, oh dear!

[mummyrex]

good advice and thanks for your input.

[notagrannyyet]

All 5 of my sons started at beavers and continued through cubs and scouts. Two wanted more than our troop could offer so switched to the Air Training Corps. I still help with the cubs so I think I may have been looked upon as a deserter. One scout leader even said the cadets were only interested in recruiting for the armed services. I never found this to be the case.

DS1 was in the ATC from 13 to 17. DS4 is in ATC now. They do the same as scouts but more IYSWIM. They do lots more camps, go gliding/flying(if they want to), D of E, shooting, etc.

They also do lots of drill, polish drill shoes, iron shirts, press trousers and visit the barbers more often than most!