Glossary

Common Terms

Parade Night: Our weekly meeting on a Tuesday night.

Activity: Any cadet activity other than a parade night.

Course: Refers to activities run at an Area or National level (these terms are explained below). Courses are often fully-funded and therefore free to attend.

Leave: If a Cadet is not able to attend a parade night, then it is important that they Request Leave. This is just a formal way of letting us know that you won't be attending a parade night, so we know you are safe. 

Withdrawing from an activity: Similar to requesting leave, you need to Withdraw from an activity if you can no longer attend. If you know you cannot attend before the application close-off date, then you can just withdraw through our online system. If you need to withdraw after the application close-off date then as well as withdrawing online, you need to text the Activity Point-of-Contact to let them know you have withdrawn. 

Warning Order: This is a military term for a document warning people of an upcoming activity. They often include the date, location, estimated cost and a general outline of the activity - however specific details have not yet been decided. We put out Warning Orders for any overnight activity to provide lots of notice so our cadets can save the date if they wish to attend, while allowing us to finalise details closer to the date. These are published on the Activity Forms Page. 

Joining Instructions: Know as JIs, this is the follow up document to the Warning Order, with full details of the activity. This is typically released closer to the activity than the Warning Order and will contain everything you need to know, such as the gear list and exact pick up and drop off details. JIs are generally emailed out to those whose application is accepted once applications close (we will also notify those who were not accepted  by email).

Activity Information: For non-overnight activities, rather than putting out a Warning Order and detailed Joining Instructions, we often just put out an Activity Information Slip. The document still contains all the information you need, but does not follow the (rather verbose) Joining Instructions format. Generally, one-day activities do not have a numbers restriction, so you can assume you are accepted unless told otherwise. You will still need to apply on CadetNet before a certain date, but you can generally assume that you will be accepted. Activity Information Slips are published on the Activity Forms Page.

CadetNet: This is a national online system developed and maintained by HQ NZCF to replace paper permission slips. As a unit we have very little control or input into this system. When you first sign up, all of your details are entered into CadetNet. In order to attend any activity (apart from a parade night), you must apply through CadetNet, your Next of Kin (NOK) will then receive an email which they must approve. Only then can the unit approve you to attend the activity.

Cadet: Any young person who has enrolled in cadets. Although this is the first rank in cadets and you will likely be promoted beyond cadet, we often use the term to include all youths involved in cadets whether or not they have been promoted.

NCO: This stands for Non-Commissioned Officer. NCOs are the youth leaders of Cadet Forces. You become an NCO once you are promoted to Corporal. Learn more about NCO ranks in the Cadet Handbook on the Resources Page.

Warrant Officer(W/O): The highest rank a Cadet can achieve. Each Unit can only have one Warrant Officer - they are the most senior cadet in the unit, and are directly responsible to the Unit Commander for running the unit operations.

Supplementary Staff Member(SSM): We use this term for any Adult (who is not still a Cadet - as you can stay a Cadet until age 19) involved in Cadets, but is not an Officer or Officer Cadet (someone in the process of becoming an Officer).

Officer: Or more specifically, a Commissioned Officer, this term refers to a member of staff who has passed the NZCF Commissioning Course, which qualifies them to take sole charge of cadets. Staff members who are not commissioned are not yet qualified to take sole charge of cadets. You can read more about the Commissioning Course and other Officer Courses here. The Officers do a lot of the paperwork and planning for parade nights and activities behind the scenes, but we try to leave us much of the running of the unit to the NCOs, including teaching lessons and running activities. This gives them hands-on leadership experience.

Unit: A group of Air, Army or Sea Cadets who parade together. A unit is made up of Cadets, NCOs and Officers. When you attend a weekly parade, everyone who attends makes up the "Unit". Most cadet activities you attend will be within your unit. Weekend activities are often combined with other local units. Each Unit is lead by a Unit Commander (see below).

Unit Support Committee(USC): The USC is similar to a school's board of trustees. They do not have direct involvement in the day-to-day running of the unit, but are responsible for managing the Unit's facilities and finances. USCs are vital for the efficient operation of a Unit - becoming a member of the USC is an excellent way for parents to contribute to the Unit. Members attend a monthly meeting to discuss USC business.

ATCANZ: Stands for Air Training Corps Association New Zealand. This is the national body and all Air Cadet Unit Support Committees are branches of ATCANZ. ATCANZ is a registered charity, which legitimises local Unit Support Committee operations.

Unit Commander(UCDR): Generally there are several Officers at each unit. The Unit Commander is the officer who has ultimate responsibility for the unit (apart from the facilities and finances which are managed by the Unit Support Committee). They are responsible for the running of the unit and delegate tasks to the rest of the Officer team to ensure the unit runs smoothly. If parents have any complaints or concerns they should bring them to the attention of the Unit Commander. If the Unit Support Committee is like a School's board of trustees, then the Unit Commander is like the School's Principal.

Squadron: The specific term for an Air Cadet Unit. All Squadrons are numbered, roughly based on how old they are, although many numbers are skipped as the Squadrons have closed down or merged. 

Corps: Cadet Forces is made up of three corps (pronounced "cores"): Air Cadets, Army Cadets, and Sea Cadets. You may also see their official names used: Air Training Corps (ATC), New Zealand Cadet Corps (NZCC), and Sea Cadet Corps (SCC). Each unit (and all Cadets and Officers) belongs to one of these three corps. The corps are modelled after their parent services: the Airforce, Army and Navy.

Tri-corps: Since 1971, Air, Army and Sea Cadets have all been part of the same organisation: New Zealand Cadet Forces. Therefore a lot of the activities involve cadets from all three corps and which are called tri-corps activities. Cadet Forces leadership is also tri-corps, meaning that Air, Army and Sea Cadets all report to the same leaders.

Area: Cadet Forces is also split into three geographical areas: Northern (north of Taupo), Central (south of Taupo), and Southern (all of the South Island). All units in an Area are administered by the Area Office (regardless of which corps they belong to). 2 Squadron is part of Central Area. Leadership courses are run at an area-level, so 2 Squadron cadets attending leadership courses will meet Air, Army and Sea Cadets from all over the lower North Island.

Training and Support Unit: Each Area has a Training and Support Unit (often called the Area Office or Area HQ) which administers all of the units in their area. 2 Squadron's Training and Support Unit is called the Central Area Cadet Forces Training and Support Unit (CACFTSU) - you may also hear them called the Central Area Office or Central Area HQ. To run any activity we must submit our risk management documentation to CACFTSU and get approval.

Area Coordinator: The full time NZDF Officer in charge of an Area, they have several Advisors and one Senior Advisor assisting them.

Advisor: Each area has one or two advisors for each corps (Air, Sea, Army). Advisors are full time NZDF personnel belonging to the appropriate service (i.e. Air Force personnel advise Air Cadet Squadrons). 2 Squadron's Advisor is, of course, enlisted in the Air Force. The advisor visits the unit approximately once a term to ensure everything is running smoothly. They must also give approval for all our activities before they go ahead.

Area Support Officer: In addition to the full time NZDF Advisors, the Area Coordinator also has several senior Cadet Force Officers (part-time volunteers with day jobs) reporting to them. Area Support Officers generally support 4 to 5 units that are geographically near. 2 Squadron's Area Support Officer supports the five Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt units. Area Support Officers also visit the unit once a term, and are available to provide support and advice to the Unit Staff. Area Support Officers hold a tri-corps position, meaning they may support Air, Army and Sea Cadet units (whereas Advisors focus on just one corps).

Commandant(CMDT): The Commandant is the full-time NZDF Officer in charge of the New Zealand Cadet Forces. The three Area Coordinators are directly responsible to them for the management and administration of their areas.

Executive Officer(XO): This is a military term for a Second-in-Charge. New Zealand Cadet Forces has an XO, as do most Units.

HQ Staff: There are a number of full-time and part-time volunteer staff members attached to National HQ. They all have codes to designate their role, starting with "S". For example, the S4 is responsible for National Logistics, including procurement of uniforms for all cadets.

Abbreviations

AC:  Area Commander

AC(S):  Area Commander(Southern)

ASO:  Area Support Officer

ASST COMDT:  Assistant Commandant 

ATC:  Air Training Corps

ATCANZ:  Air Training Corps Association of New Zealand

ATP:  Annual Training Plan (The plan for all Area and National courses for the year. Available to all cadets on CadetNet)

AWO  Area Warrant Officer

CA:  Chief of Army 

CAA:  Civil Aviation Authority

CAF:  Chief of Air Force 

CCANZ:  Cadet Corps Association of New Zealand

CDF:  Chief of Defence Force

CFM:  Cadet Forces Medal (a medal awarded to Officers for extended service to the NZCF)

CFO:  Cadet Force Orders (a document containing all NZCF rules and procedures. Available to all Cadets on CadetNet)

CN:  Chief of Navy 

CUCDR:  Cadet Unit Commander

COMDT:  Commandant New Zealand Cadet Forces

CO:  Commanding Officer

CFTSU:  Cadet Forces Training and Support Unit

DFO:  Defence Force Orders

DFTTs:  Dry Fire Test of Training (a test carried out before a cadet is allowed to fire a rifle)

DPTA:  Drill Purpose Training Aid (the wooden, green rifle cut-out)

FS:  Field Service (refers to the headdress “FS Cap”)

HQ NZCF:  Headquarters New Zealand Cadet Forces

HQ NZDF:  Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force

IACE:  International Air Cadet Exchange

JIs:  Joining Instructions

MSC:  Mountain Safety Council

NCO:  Non-Commissioned Officer

NZA:  New Zealand Army 

NZCC:  New Zealand Cadet Corps (Army Cadets)

NZCF:  New Zealand Cadet Forces

NZDF:  New Zealand Defence Force

OIC:  Officer in Charge

PF:  Personal Files

RF:  Regular Force

RNZAF:  Royal New Zealand Air Force

RNZN:  Royal New Zealand Navy

RCO:  Range Conducting Officer

SAA:  Senior Area Advisor

SCANZ:  Sea Cadet Association of New Zealand

SCC:  Sea Cadet Corps

USC:  Unit Support Committee

WOSA:  Warrant Officer Central Area

WOCF:  Warrant Officer Cadet Forces

WODF:  Warrant Officer Defence Force 

WONA:  Warrant Officer Northern Area

WOSA:  Warrant Officer Southern Area

XO:  Executive Officer