THis is changing, soon
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This is a definite step forwards in involving CFAVs. I hope the SLT think of creative ways to ensure our and cadets’ feedback is taken into account for proposed changes BEFORE they’re enacted too.
The most successful changes are the ones where the customers/users feel like they have ownership over them. If the project team remembers this, the changes will be well received and positive for the organisation.
Also, the only real negative I heard through the call was about VA being cut. But if the day rate has to stay the same due to the JSP and it’s only the number of days that will be cut, it’ll actually have no negative impact on me anyhow - I only claim 4-5 days per year as it is. It will affect some of the very senior (hence much higher day rate) wing staff though who load up on everything they can.
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It took until 20.26hrs before CIs got a single mention. Thanks RAFC,.nice to be appreciated.
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I think our Sqn Ldr bloat has had a massive impact on this.
Honestly, I would be VERY interested to know the stats around where the VA goes.
By rank vs days, mean, median, mode, and upper limit days by rank, etc. Anything you could possibly extract from it.
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Maybe you should drop an FOI email the boss about it?
But I agree, I do think this is where the issue lies. Our Wg Cdr and his Flt Lt wife are out at events almost every weekend, when they’re not jetsetting. Most of our Sqn Ldr sector commanders and SMEs are the same.
I can’t remember what the exact rates are, but I know they’re not cheap.
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I remember, as a cadet, 30+ years ago, the running joke of the entire Wing Staff turning up to the Okehampton weekend on the Sunday - the WATTO and Sqn staff would do all the planning, prep, getting down there on Thursday, picking up rations, cooking, running the event, and then the Holy Wing Commander and a dozen other Rain Dodgers would turn up on Sunday morning in very clean DPM’s.
Days pay, plus mileage.
No contribution whatsoever - but guess who signed it off…
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Deleted original as posted to wrong thread!
I’m never satisfied with the ACTO 035 response. I know it’s a total no-go but…
How come HQAC can square away private vehicle hire, regulated by an external government agency (the DVLA) including the vehicle and driver under its assurance…
But can’t square away an airborne vehicle and “driver” under a different govt agency (CAA/BGA) for its assurance. Probably a more rigorous and safer option than driving.
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As a WSO I only ever claim if I am actually teaching/delivering for the day. I count that as being there early for set up, delivery and breakdown.
If I organise a day, but am not there for the set up, duration or breakdown I wouldn’t claim.
If just popping in for the day for tea and a chat, where I’m surplus to requirements, I wouldn’t claim.
I thought this was just the rules. Anything other than being there to deliver training is not claimable and so is surely fraud.
A 6 out of 10 from me. Yes there are glimmers of hope, but still too many questions unanswered about the Organisation in it’s current state. O18’s? Not much further forward. VA? Probably being cut. Flying? Not ambitious enough. Admin burden? Seems like it’s only going one way. Utilising CFAV skills? Meh.
I’ll continue to stick it out but watch the amount of gaps (particularly Sqn Cdrs) increase…
Do i need to sit down…some hints of positivity on ACC?
I havent watched it as working US hours waiting for the recording.
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Yes sorry…forgetting where I was for a sec…
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How many sqn ldrs does your wing have?
Ours has 6 and the Wg cdr. That’s 4 sector cdrs, WTO and assurance.
Works well.
I can think of 10 off the top of my head but there are quite a few of us…
We’re a big wing. 28 sqns over 1300 cadets/250 CFAV. Still manage on a lean team.
I didn’t watch it - anyone willing to post a TLDR?
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I would have asked whether we could tap into more of the RAF outreach resources. For example I had a Smallpeice Trust email today promoting a STEM scheme for schools sponsored by BAe and the RAF. It would be a really good fit for our younger cadets.
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TL;DR 2024 isn’t about canning activities. It’s about pausing to allow for strategic review of what we do, why we do it, how we do it, and what it costs. This is about improving what we do from 2024 onwards. A year of less, to hopefully lead to many years of more.
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Sorry, just catching up on all the memes…
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Or are you just expecting people to take on large responsibilities without the adequate rank and remuneration that goes with it. Shooting Officer & WATTO for example expected to take responsibility for risk to life activities.
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If they reduce VA you’ll loose a lot of pilots. They are only paid as Fg Offs anyway so most of the escorting staff are paid more for sitting in the crew room drinking tea than the pilots that are flying their cadets. I’m not sure how the uplift in cadet flying is going to be achieved unless they are going to plough money into the system to increase airframes and increase pilot numbers but that’s a different budget.
From a personal perspective I’m on about 44 days VA to date. It keeps OC Home Command off my back and goes towards a family holiday which compensates me not being at home when I should be. As most, I don’t claim for the hours I spend working at home doing RAFAC/6FTS stuff. If I did that I’d run out of days in about June! Maybe we should be paid hourly?? The days when I’m on Sqn I do 8-10 hours plus about another 2-3 at home nearly every day.
Saying that, we shouldn’t do it for the VA we should do it for the cadets.
Volunteer Allowance – daily rates for RAFAC Officers and SNCOs
Rank Rate code Effective date 1 APR 23
WO ATC A £86.82
Plt Off B £73.87
Fg Off C £88.75
Flt Lt H £113.77
Sqn Ldr I £143.31
Wg Cdr J £201.17
Mark Time M £86.82
Sgt Q £69.51
FS S R £74.62