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Tolerance of homosexuality has been included for the first time in the RAF's officer training course at Cranwell, following the policy U-turn forced on the Ministry of Defence by the European Court of Human Rights.

The successors of Douglas Bader are now taught that homosexuality is compatible with service, ending decades where the exact opposite was taught and a less tolerant attitude was the norm.

Although the issue has not yet been included in the core syllabus, it is discussed during the "Beliefs and Values" sessions, which are held by the college chaplain and staff.

The issue of the new Code of Conduct outlawing intolerance on grounds of sexual orientation is discussed to ensure cadets are aware of the MoD's new  legal position. It was drawn up when the MoD lost a series of test cases in the European Court of Human Rights, even though senior officers supported the original ban on homosexuals serving in the Armed  Forces on the grounds that it damaged team morale.

Officer cadets at Cranwell are now taught 'that homosexuality per se does not damage team morale. Overt displays of affection, whether homosexual or heterosexual, are deemed, however, to threaten team discipline and the new code makes clear that officers still have a duty to clamp down on such behaviour.

A straw poll of recent cadets going through Cranwell, Lincs, revealed an already relaxed attitude to the issue. The cadets questioned were mainly in their early twenties and most of them were university graduates.

"It might just be that we belong to a different generation but I do not see it as a problem," one female cadet said. Her attitude was largely accepted by a group of fellow students, who all took the view that it was possible for a homosexual person to serve in the RAF if their professional work was not influenced by their sexual orientation.

One male cadet, however, reflected the traditional view that the presence of a homosexual in a unit could threaten to damage the team's morale. "I personally do not have a problem with homosexuals but I can see it being a problem if everyone is cooped up together," he said.

Staff at Cranwell are bracing themselves for the firstmajor test of the policy when a cadet arrives at the college and outwardly admits to being homosexual. This will pose a new range of problems. At the moment, the college is full to bursting, as the RAF tries to train more pilots and aircrew to compensate for the current shortfall of 95 combat pilots.

Since the new Code of Conduct was published there has been only one known case in the Armed Forces of a person "coming out" and admitting homosexuality to colleagues. It involved a sailor on a Royal Navy
warship.

Cranwell currently has about 380 students, divided into three courses or squadrons. Every bed space is full - some flats normally used by visitors are being used by students - and the arrival of an overtly homosexual cadet is expected to cause problems.

It is up to the training staff of Air Vice-Marshal Bill Rimmer, the Commandant of Cranwell, to deal with the issues raised by such a recruit, if and when it happens.

Cranwell's basic course last 24 weeks and transforms officer cadets into RAF officers before they leave for specialist training. As well as basic military training, it focuses on leadership skills and academic excellence. There is little sign of "beasting", whereby  non-commissioned officers scream at cadets. Instead, a more tolerant and trusting system is in place, with cadets relied on to maintain the highest standards of behaviour.

A regular complaint among cadets concerns the lack of physically demanding exercise. They are encouraged to train before they reach Cranwell but many find the level of exercise at the college relatively low.

The current shortfall in pilots means Cranwell is at its busiest for a generation and staff are expected to produce a total of 821 new officcers this year alone This is quadruple the output of the early Nineties, when manning levels were cut dramatically in all three Services.