21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS AIR POWER 2017 127
THE PERSONNEL
T
he term ‘social mobility’ may be
a relatively new buzzword, but it
succinctly encapsulates a basic human
right, whereby an individual can find
his or her place in society determined by ability
and application, rather than the lottery or luck
of birthright. The RAF has always prided itself
on being a meritocracy in which ability and
hard work enable progress, and the RAF Air
Cadets proudly follow this noble tradition.
Social mobility is defined by the government as
“a measure of how free people are to improve their
position in society”. The drivers of social mobility
encompass improvements in income, employment
and educational attainment. It is acknowledged
that higher levels of educational attainment or
skills open up access to more education and
training and to higher-level occupations and wages,
which in turn contribute to social mobility.
Restriction on social mobility for young people
from socially excluded backgrounds is a key barrier to
a more inclusive society. The Condition of Britain:
Interim report by the Institute for Public Policy
Research suggests that many young people do not
have access to resources that could help develop
their non-cognitive abilities (many of these
Group Captain John Lawlor, Chief of Staff of the Air Cadets,
explains how being an RAF Air Cadet can open up opportunities,
and how the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force are
acting as engines of social mobility throughout the United Kingdom
UPWARDLY MOBILE
Experience of the
disciplined aviation
environment
develops cadets’
confidence, respect
and citizenship skills
(PHOTO: PAUL
GAPPER/ALAMY )
