The ATC's mission is to develop and enable self-disciplined, confident and responsible young people, with a vision to prepare New Zealand's successful leaders of tomorrow.

[2] In the late 1930s, with the increase of military aircraft technology and the decrease of war-time resources, the Royal Air Force (RAF) struggled to find sufficient numbers of suitable recruits.

[4] Early the following year, a review of aircrew requirements found that there would be difficulty obtaining sufficient recruits by the end of 1942.

[5] With New Zealand considered to be at risk from Japanese invasion and the British not in a position to help, the ATC's purpose was to prepare potential airmen to join the RNZAF when they came of age by training them in basic airmanship and providing an insight into Air Force work.

Steps were taken to improve the ATC by reducing the lower age limit to 15 years, closing some smaller units and holding a refresher course for instructors.

Compulsory military training was abolished in 1958 and replaced by a ballot system of conscripted service for randomly selected 20-year-old males, which operated between 1960 and 1970.

Regular Force Defence personnel, under the control of the Commandant, provided support units at five locations around New Zealand.

To celebrate and raise its public profile, cadets from every unit in New Zealand participated in a run that started at either end of the country and converged in Wellington.

The exercise had an attendance of over 150 personnel from nine units all over the lower North Island and functioned as both a celebration and as a friendly competition between central area ATC Squadrons.

Cadets also participated in a "Village Green", which included a tug of war, fitness tests, observation exercises, and rogaining.

[17] The ATC is managed at a national level by the Commandant (usually a Regular Force Lieutenant-Colonel/Wing Commander/Commander), and their Staff based out of Trentham Army Camp.

These meetings are often held at the relevant cadet unit's headquarters or the nearest Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RSA).

Each year ATCANZ provides a number of scholarships to Air Training Corps Personnel, including, Further prizes are given to cadets on Air Training Corps aviation courses;[23] Navigation Flight – 3 subscriptions to AVIATION NEWS The uniform worn by ATC members is the same as that of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, except that for all ranks, the lettering on the bottom of the rank insignia shoulder boards reads "CADET FORCES" rather than "NEW ZEALAND" to differentiate ATC personnel from RNZAF personnel.

Since 2019, all ATC personnel wear dark blue oval badges with "AIR TRAINING CORPS" on their shoulders to differentiate them from the RNZAF.

Cadets wear a shoulder brassard on their right arm to display their individual achievements, which further distinguishes them from RNZAF personnel.

Intended to be introduced in late 2021, the New Zealand Sea Cadet Corps and ATC have a new single multipurpose uniform.

The ATC was to adopt the uniform first to free up remaining disruptive pattern material for the New Zealand Cadet Corps.

The Sea Cadet retained the darker blue colour of the Royal New Zealand Navy's General Working Dress, but was otherwise identical.

As well as the key components of shirt, pants and boots, the New Zealand Cadet Forces also intend to roll out accessories such as rain jackets, either to be supplied or purchased through the NZCF.

More accessories are yet to be announced but warm weather equipment such as jerseys, wind breakers, and high visibility vests have been speculated by NZCF personnel.

Air Training Corps Officers also follow RNZAF Ranks: to be awarded (Pronounced: Flight Leftenant)

The Navigation component is a 1-week-long theoretical and practical course covering the NZ CAA Private Pilot Licence syllabus.

Separately the course serves to train Commissioned Officers to lead and manage cadets on day tramps and/or overnight camps on clearly formed tracks in and below the bush line.

Cadets who achieve high marks regularly on the range may be awarded a marksmanship badge to be worn on their brassard.

Each year the New Zealand Air Training Corps sends a dozen members of the organisation to countries all over the world.

The participants can be any rank and a Commissioned NZCF Officer accompanies each group of cadets overseas, providing opportunities for both adult and youth members.

The content of the Four-Year Training Programme is not designed to fill every period during parade nights in a calendar year, but intentionally leaves scope for Cadet Unit Commanders to add content that will add value to their communities, strengthen Unit identity and provide opportunities for cadets that they may not receive outside of NZCF.

The three winning squadrons are then inspected by New Zealand Defence Force staff who determine the most efficient unit nationally.

The competition is only open to the ATC and must consist of no less than 12 people in a marching formation, with one parade commander, which is to be of Senior NCO rank.

The aim of these team matches is to encourage the Youth of the Commonwealth to participate in the sport of small-bore target rifle shooting.