Royal Air Force College Cranwell

The Royal Air Force Officer Training Academy (RAFOTA), formerly known as the Royal Air Force College (RAFC), is the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force academy, based at RAF Cranwell near Sleaford in Lincolnshire. It provides initial training to all RAF personnel preparing to become commissioned officers and to aircrew cadets, and is responsible for all RAF recruiting along with officer and aircrew selection. Originally established as a naval aviation training centre during World War I, it became the world's first air academy in 1919. During World War II, the College was closed and its facilities were used as a flying training school. Reopened after the War, the College absorbed the Royal Air Force Technical College in 1966.