We were discussing this on our coach back from NASC y’day - it’s crucial that the support / logistics / resources / whatever includes ways to expand / enhance the existing opportunities on offer (& the staff quals to run them if needed). Otherwise, pointless (political) exercise.
Major jewels such as QAIC & JL seem to have had very little news spread around recently, wonder if they have bit the dust for good? If so, there’s a few more pennies in the pot.
I did look into this a while back. You need 2 sets of staff to operate as two flights, but you also need a management team who can oversee both. Maybe OC and Adj. The OC can’t do it on their own.
Then you need to decide which night(s) the senior leaders do. One per each flight? Do you have 2 OC’s parades or have them every other month? How do the trg officers coordinate resources across flights?
It’s all possible and there could well be advantages especially for units that have dedicated accommodation that isn’t fully used.
For those of us who share the pressure could be in the opposite direction, would we need to relinquish some of our slots in favour of a 30% larger ACF?
I keep considering responding positively to requests for a Friday night flight, as we’re hitting our limit too.
It would require staff to run, yes, but in the scheme of the unit, would be an easy way to provide a second offering (even though they’d only get half the training nights, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing).
It’d be so much easier than a new standalone unit and most of the planning would just be pinched from the main squadron.
From the last Cadet Expansion Programme!
*Phase 3 (2020 to2024) *
Damn, that sounds like training that’s actually useful.
It’s a good idea, so won’t happen here
As I understand it the SCC has, and some Police Cadet units had, junior sections. This allows younger cadets to parade separately, sometimes on their own night, sometimes before the main unit. @Baldrick mivht be able confirm re SCC.
Pluses include allowing staff to volunteer to help with the slightly younger age group, a more tailored programme and shorter meetings.
I’d not advocate starting at a younger age, or if we did only lowering to 12 rather than 12 and year 8. But it would overcome some of the issues we have with aged 12 recruits being a bit young for the main programme, and unable to do certain activities.
I’d prefer not having 12 year old at and 13 being the minimum age again. The maturity difference is significant and it’s more difficult to keep them engaged until they’re ready for more off Sqn activities.
I completely agree.
SCC have juniors that start at 9 & are a bit like sea scouts in nature of activities.
Some police forces have mini police which is like a weird police version of sea cadet juniors based in a primary school like a CCF
https://vpc.police.uk/be-a-cadet/mini-police-8-11-years-old
It’s the school year link aspect but it can be quite tiring for some of the youngsters doing two nights a week & not getting home til 10pm.
I can’t see it reverting although if you have a waiting list you could do this to aid priority.
I don’t think they would revert but it’s worth running the numbers.
Say a squadron of 45 has 15 aged 12-13 (not unreasonable, that could be one intake).
Separate them out and it gives capacity for say 30 juniors, being conservative with ratios, and frees up 15 regular cadet places in the main Squadron. So a 66% increase in capacity with potentially no extra premises costs.
Plus it sorts out the more tailored training and avoiding the late nights mentioned above.
ETA you’d not get to 66% in day one as it’ll take time for the juniors to become seniors, unless you have older ones on the waiting list.
Funnily enough, we have a waiting list and no 12 year olds 
