Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch) an initial filter interview at an ATC Wing HQ. This interview is usually chaired by the OC Wing who holds the rank of Wing Commander Air Cadets. Others present at the filter interview may include the Wing Executive Officer who is nowadays a civil servant that may also hold the rank of Squadron Leader RAF VR(T) and one or more Wing Staff Officers in the rank of Squadron Leader/Flight Lieutenant Air Cadets. The Chair of the interview panel must have attended and passed the RAF's Short Interview Technique Course. Candidates who successfully pass this filter interview are then called forward
Squadron leader RAF used major as the equivalent rank to squadron leader. Royal Naval Air Service lieutenant-commanders and Royal Flying Corps majors on 31 March 1918 became RAF majors on 1 April 1918. On 31 August 1919, the RAF rank of major was superseded by squadron leader which has remained in continuous usage ever since. Promotion to squadron leader is strictly on merit, and requires the individual to be appointed to a Career Commission, which will see them remain in the RAF until retirement or voluntary resignation. Before the Second World War, a squadron leader commanded a squadron of aircraft. Today, however,