Basic Cadet Training squadron
From USAFA Folklore
Basic Cadet Training squadrons only exist over the summer. Each BCT squadron is comprised of approximately 140 basic cadets along with a cadre of about 50 first and second class cadets who oversee the training.
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[edit] Organization
The basics in each squadron are normally divided into four flights of about 35 basics each. Each flight is divided into three elements of about 12 basics each, with a first class cadet acting as element leader and a second class cadet as element sergeant.
The basics from a given flight normally go to the same academic year cadet squadrons after Acceptance. Traditionally, the flights have been divided in numerical sequence, with Aggressors Squadron's flights going to the first four academic year squadrons: A-Flight to CS-01, B-Flight to CS-02, C-Flight CS-03, and D-Flight CS-04. Barbarians Squadron Flights A through D go to CS-05 through 08, and so on, through to Jaguars Squadron A- through D-Flight, whose basics go to CS-37 through 40.
At some points in the Academy's history, the numerical sequence structure was not used. For a few years, basics went into academic year squadrons sequentially by group: e.g., Aggressors Squadron's A- through D-Flight would go to academic year squadrons CS-01, CS-11, CS-21, and CS-31 respectively. There has also occasionally been a complete shuffle of basic cadets following BCT.
[edit] Cadre
The cadre normally come from the same squadrons to which the basics will be assigned, although at a few times in the Academy's history, the cadre have come from entirely unrelated squadrons, in order to limit any problems carrying over from BCT into the academic year.
The staff in a BCT squadron is generally much leaner than it is in an academic year cadet squadron, given that the mission in BCT is much more focused. BCT cadre positions are normally:
[edit] First class cadre
- Cadet Squadron Commander
- Operations Officer
- Training Officer
- Executive Officer
- Athletic Officer
- Safety/Medical Officer
- Flight Commanders (one per flight)
- Element Leaders (3 per flight)
- Flight Specialist (one per flight), may also be a second class cadet
[edit] Second class cadre
- Cadet First Sergeant
- Operations NCO
- Training NCO
- Athletic NCO
- Safety/Medical NCO
- Logistics NCO
- Flight Sergeants (one per flight)
- Element Sergeants (three per flight)
