Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ( RAFVR ) consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force ' s ( RAF ) Air Training Corps and CCF ( RAF ) Air Cadet formations , Volunteer Gliding Squadron s ( VGS ) , Air Experience Flights , and also to form the membership of University Air Squadron s ( RAFVR ( UAS ) ) and the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme ( RAFVR ( DTUS ) ) . Personnel involved in a training function of the RAFVR are commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ( Training ) Branch ( RAFVR ( T ) ) for service with the Air Cadet Organisation . History . The RAFVR was formed in July 1936 to provide individuals to supplement the Royal Auxiliary Air Force which had been formed in 1925 by the local Territorial Associations . The AAF was organised on a Squadron basis , with local recruitment similar to the Territorial Army Regiments . Initially the RAFVR was composed of civilians recruited from the neighbourhoods of Reserve Flying Schools , which were run by civilian contractors who largely employed as instructors members of the Reserve of Air Force Officers ( RAFO ) , who had previously completed a four year short service commission as pilots in the RAF . Navigation instructors were mainly former master mariners without any air experience . Recruits were confined to men of between 18 and 25 years of age who had been accepted for part time training as Pilots , Observers and Wireless Operators . The object was to provide a reserve of aircrew for use in the event of war . By September 1939 , the RAFVR comprised 6 , 646 Pilots , 1 , 625 Observers and 1 , 946 Wireless Operators When war broke out in 1939 the Air Ministry employed the RAFVR as the principal means for aircrew entry to serve with the RAF . A civilian volunteer on being accepted for aircrew training took an oath of allegiance ( ' attestation ' ) and was then inducted into the RAFVR . Normally he returned to his civilian job for several months until he was called up for aircrew training . During this waiting period he could wear a silver RAFVR lapel badge to indicate his status . By the end of 1941 more than half of Bomber Command aircrew were members of the RAFVR . Most of the pre - war pilot and observer NCO aircrew had been commissioned and the surviving regular officers and members of the RAFO filled the posts of flight and squadron commanders . Eventually of the " RAF " aircrew in the Command probably more than 95 % were serving members of the RAFVR . During 1943 , the decision was taken by the Air Ministry to raise an order for members of the RAFVR to remove the brass and cloth ' VR ' s worn on the collars and shoulders of officers and other ranks ( respectively ) , as these were viewed as being divisive . No similar order was raised for members of the Auxiliary Air Force , who retained their ' A ' s on uniforms at that time . The association with the Air Cadet Organisation began informally during the 1930s as members of the RAF VR would arrange and implement the cadets ' training . During the Second World War , all those called up for Air Force Service with the RAF , both commissioned officers and other ranks , did so as members of the RAFVR under the National Service ( Armed Forces ) Act 1939 . At the end of World War II , the RAFVR was reconstituted in 1947 , and continued to act as a focus for individuals who had a continuing obligation under the Acts , peaking in its activities at the end of the 1950s . Following the end of conscription in 1962 / 63 , the war - appointable RAFVR diminished in size down to a small number of specialist support flights which were absorbed into the RAuxAF in 1997 ( the RAFVR ( T ) and RAFVR ( UAS ) continued unaffected from 1947 to 1997 , and from then to the present day , but have now been joined by the RAFVR ( DTUS ) ) . Today . The original function to provide a source of aircrew is no longer necessary in a professional and non - conscriptive RAF . The association with the Air Cadet Organisation has been maintained by members of the RAFVR ( T ) who coordinate and administer at various levels of the command structure . This includes CCF and ATC Section / Squadron Officers , some CCF Contingent Commanders , ATC Wing and Region Staff Officers , VGS / Air Experience Flight Pilots and Instructors , and permanent SNCOs of the Air Cadet Central Gliding School ' s Engineering Flight . There is also speculation that the Adult WOs and SNCOs serving with the Air Training Corps may also be admitted to membership of the RAFVR ( T ) . However , this is just speculation and the processes involved would require the British Government and the Ministry of Defence to amend the respective regulations . RAFVR ( UAS ) Officers continue in their capacity as members of the University Air Squadrons . Following the advent of the Marston Report , and the removal of the requirement to follow the RAF Elementary Flying Training syllabus ( replaced instead by an extended syllabus that includes value - added flying ) , there has been a much greater emphasis upon development of military skills , building existing leadership abilities and expanding the officer potential within the current membership . RAFVR ( DTUS ) Officers are members of the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme , a scheme which marries the benefits of studying science and engineering degrees with leadership and team work , under RAF sponsorship , whilst attending one of a small number of designated universities . During this period of study , members of the RAFVR ( DTUS ) are associated with their university ' s DTUS Squadron which provides members with a varied syllabus of activities including military and leadership training , physical fitness , adventure training and attachments to RAF units both in the UK and overseas . Members of both the RAFVR ( UAS ) and RAFVR ( DTUS ) are eligible ( in exactly the same manner as for members of the RAF ' s active volunteer reserve , the RAuxAF ) for published daily rates of pay when on duty , and also the annual reservist bounty or Proficiency Grant , as long as they maintain the required levels of personal fitness tested via the RAuxAF , successfully complete the requirements of Common Core Skills in terms of military capability , and attend the required number of Man Training Days and Annual Continuous Training periods . This is evidenced by a Certificate of Efficiency signed off by the Commanding Officer of the individual concerned .