About Us

Air Training Corps - New Zealand Cadet Forces

We are a disciplined and uniformed youth organisation, with an emphasis on leadership, bushcraft, firearms skills and aviation.

88 Squadron was founded in 2015 and achieved recognition in 2016. Since then our unit has grown into one of the finest in the country and our cadets achieve widely in all areas of the NZCF and their outside lives.

We have received numerous accolades from the community and other cadet units, as well as multiple community service awards. In 2021, we received a District Charter from the Wamakariri Mayor, which our unit carries with great pride.

Our membership has grown substantially since 2015 and we are committed to being, what we believe is, the finest youth organisation in the Waimakariri District.

Led by Flying Officer JJ Micallef, with support from a commited and dedicated team of Officers, our vision is to provide a range of training and activities for our cadets that provide essential life skills in a safe and fun environment alongside like-minded individuals.

Our team is made up of highly experienced and knowledgeable officers who are passoinate about youth development and believe strongly in the value of the NZCF. Our team brings a wide range expertice from their individual lives including bushcraft, aviation, medicine, marksmanship and leadership which meshes well with the NZCF training syllabus to provide our cadets with engaging and valuable lessons and activities. In their private lives our officers are nurses, PHD students, marketing managers and ski patrollers but all share a commitment to making our squadron the premier youth organisation in the district. 

FGOFF JJ Micallef
Unit Commander
jesmond.micallef@cadetforces.org.nz
PLTOFF Ruari Hockley
Executive Officer, Asst Engagement
ruari.hockley@cadetforces.org.nz
PLTOFF Dave Warwick
Executive Officer, Asst Stores
david.warwick@cadetforces.org.nz
SQNLDR Tania MacKinnon
Stores Officer, Asst Adjutant
tania.mackinnon@cadetforces.org.nz
PLTOFF Hamish Cook
Engagement Officer, Unit Historian
hamish.cook@cadetforces.org.nz
Mr Scott McMillan
Adjutant
Mrs Nikki Warwick
Training Officer
PLTOFF Reuben Kemna
Asst Adjutant
reuben.kemna@cadetforces.org.nz
FGOFF Rita Gathercole
Asst Training Officer
rita.gathercole@cadetforces.org.nz
Mr Zac Lane
Asst Training Officer
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