2025 sees the 75th Anniversary of RAF Recognition of the Air Scouts as an air-minded youth organisation. That recognition is administered on behalf of the RAF by HQ RAFAC.
Here is the history:
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Interesting post Shakey, I know that you do a load of stuff for a raft of youth organisations, RAFAC and RAF sponsored colleges. I’ll give you a shout, to see what we can do for the Air Scouts as an alternative air minded youth group. A STEM event perhaps?
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Last year Clint Marler of 1st Sywell organised a STEM/logistics camp hosted at RAF Wittering. I thought they might get some AEF but no such luck.
Air explorer scouts (the 14-17 year old age group) were invited to apply and 40 were selected. Three scouts that I know attended and they all had good things to say.
Apart from provision from RAF proper, I think there are opportunities for air scouts and RAFAC to cooperate. The difficulty will be the bureaucratic obstacles - especially drones, civilian flying/gliding and paragliding.
I have been lurking on here for some time with in the intent of skimming some osint​:stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: but also program ideas. For the record, I am an air scout leader in one of the home counties. I grew up with air scouts and had a very brief stint with a local ATC squadron on account of the lack of flying. I was even awarded “air scout of the year” at the annual squadron dinner on account of my mixed allegiances 
I am keen to share program ideas that would convert into RAFAC without too much admin headache - mainly bottle rockets and flight simulators
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It was a great pleasure to write, organise, and execute the Logistics STEM Course for the Air Scouts in October 2024. This is something I have done since 2015 (when I was a regular), along with and funded by the Youth STEM Team of the RAF College. The course focuses on what is put in place logistally so that aircraft can operate in an austere environment. Planning and aquisition of equipment starts the real part of the course on day 2. The students then get a hands on experience with the SMEs from the RAF Support Force Elements over a 2 day period. Some evening work too. The teams of student then put together presentations for the VIP guests and parents on graduation day. They are assessed here too. I really must say that the 40 Air Scouts/Scouts that attended the course, were amongst the best we’ve had up to that point out of the 503, that we have graduated since the pilot course in 2015. Flying was never on the cards. I have not encountered a group of young people so willing to take part and learn what it is all about.
It is great the that Air Scouts had a great time. It was great to work with Clint and the other Scout staff, and I totally aggree that the Air Scout and RAFAC could share best practice. The year of the 75th Anniversary of the RAF Recognition of the Air Scouts should be the starting block for this.
By the way, I have Air Scouts attending the Station Families Day to assit with the STEM stand (Rockets using the MindSet Rockets Kits) to help mark the 75th.
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Back in the day I did a few Air Scouts inspections for when they were due to renew their RAF recognition. I found them to be a well motivated bunch with leaders who were enthusiastic and dedicated. It was difficult not to like them. The adults did not/could not claim any pay or VA so that was never an issue. Sadly all the units I ever did have since closed.
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There are current about 61 Air Scout groups in the UK. The scouts themselves are enthusiastic about all things air and so are their leaders. I have even come across air scouts that are also air cadets, even a couple of leaders who are also RAFAC CFAVs. Chatting to them some are happy doing what scouts do with the air related programme, within the military stuff that goes with being and air cadet. Land scouts can also do air related things to gain badges. As an advocate for young people getting out and doing stuff rather than sitting on a screen. I recently ran the Logistics STEM Course for RAFAC, and one of the staff fed back that instead of doing the planning by “red teaming” and discussing what is required, or using real maps to plan routes, it should all be done on iPads. When I ran it for the Air Scouts, there was no mention of doing anything electronically, they loved it and felt privileged to be have been selected.
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