basic airmanship and provide an insight into Air Force work to prepare young men for the RNZAF when they became of age. The ATC peaked during World War II at approximately 9,200 cadets and had provided 3,500 recruits to the RNZAF. By the end of the war unit numbers had risen to 105 town units and 64 school units. However, in August 1945 the war ended and unit and cadet numbers began to decline. Post WWII and Compulsive Military Training – 1950 The introduction of Compulsory Military Training brought a period of crisis for the ATC. If the RNZAF could get sufficient recruits from interested CMT trainees there would be little need for an ATC at all. A series of conferences were held to decide the future of the ATC. Premises were in poor shape, equipment was short, and there was a serious shortage of instructors. It was decided that the Corps lacked good officers, and that the regular force did an insufficient amount to assist. A practical step was taken to lower the age limit to 15 years, some smaller units were closed and a refresher course was held for instructors. Compulsory Military Training was abolished again in 1958 and replaced by the ballot system of conscripted service for randomly selected 20-year-old males, which operated between 1960 and 1970. By 1964 the Combined Cadet Forces reached a peak strength of 198 units, with 1000 officers and about 56,000 cadets. Modernization and Restructuring – 1970 The Corps remained part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force until 1971 when the Government decided to disband it. However this caused a public outcry, with tremendous support from such organisations as the Returned Services Association, Brevet Clubs and the Air Force Association, and the Government was forced to reconsider its decision. Reorganisation saw many schools cease cadet support and by 1970 Sea Cadet and Air Training Corps (ATC) units had decreased to 55 units with 3,200 cadets. The result was that from 1972 the ATC was severed from the RNZAF and came under the umbrella of the newly formed New Zealand Cadet Forces, along with the Sea Cadets and N.Z. Cadet Corps. As a voluntary organisation for which the Minister of Defence was responsible. The open units were required to be initiated and funded by the community and the Chief of Defence Forces was authorised to "direct and supervise" the Cadet Forces and