[3] The organisation is headed by a former serving RAF officer, Commandant Air Cadets.The current commandant is Air Commodore Al Lewis.[2] Prior to 1 October 2017, the RAFAC was called the Air Cadet Organisation (ACO).[5] Cadets are aged between 12 and 17 on entry to the organisation, and can remain until they are 18, or with special permission, until they are 20.Above their school unit, they diverge into the same chain of command as the Air Training Corps, which is usually their Wing, or Region.