As the summer approaches, we will soon get into the joys that are the Annual Formal Inspections. However, is there a different way to skin this particular cat?
At the end of the day, the AFI is there to assure the respective OC Wg, the Regional Commandant and therefore ultimately the Commandant, that a Sqn is being run effectively. However, as most probably appreciate, all an inspection really does is make sure that everything is in order on that particular day. Moreover, the AFI paperwork (in my Region anyway) asks for a lot of information that is readily available on BADGER, such as cadet numbers and age breakdown, staff details, exam results, flying and gliding stats and marksmanship awards to name but a few; a considerable admin burden and to what end? In a lot of specialisations, the RAF itself moved away from inspecting to auditing in the 90s to make sure that things run satisfactorily for a greater part of the year and auditing is the norm across civvy street too, so why don’t we do something similar?
I would suggest that any Sqn Cdr worth his salt should have some mechanism to make sure that his train set is running properly and all the routine things (yes, arguably there are too many) are being done. However, I would also suggest that WSOs/Sector Cdrs should be taking an interest more frequently by formally checking the results of their Sqn Cdr’s routine work more often and provide the appropriate steering where necessary. They should also give feedback to OC Wg to keep him assured; basically, we should move to an audit-based assurance regime. Of course we’ll still have a place for a formal parade as that’s one of the few times a Sqn has to ‘show off’ but it doesn’t need to come with all the other stuff we get now.
Thoughts?
Agreed - the current requirements of an AFI should be checked/reviewed every 3 months by Sector Cdrs; meaning that issues can be picked up, corrected, etc. The AFI would become, in effect, and annual “performance appraisal” for the Sqn rather than an admin inspection.
Cheers
BTI
We filled in a form and returned to wing. No formal inspection anymore, but ongoing Squadron Support Officer inspections.
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Ours has changed to a real faff. We are supposed to use an open day, intake night or something similar. Someone comes down and noses around - doesn’t inspect anything per se, but meets cadets and staff, new parents etc.
Personally, I can’t see the point. I’d prefer to just have a regular chat with the wing commander, with him dropping by to see us occasionally.
Prepare for AAA. No, not Anytown Alcoholics Anon. Annual Assurance Audit.
Probably another 12 months of full introduction if that.
More and more like work/full time employment, less and less like the volunteer youth organisation I joined.
Without a change of culture, I bet it will just be a change of name. You’ll still find the ‘Auditing Officer’ doing just as they’ve always done - inspecting. And why make it just an annual audit? Sure, there should be an annual check of what the WSOs have done and they should be doing a lower-level check of their Sqns every 3 - 4 months.
It shouldn’t need to be a painful task. As I said in my original post, any Sqn Cdr worth his salt is making sure the essentials are done anyway. All we really need is a process whereby their work is confirmed by WSOs to OC Wg and the Regional Commandants, sweeping up any issues through the staffing process.
Regardless of how we assure what we do, we still have to do something, otherwise we run the risk of having an unregulated, unassured, inefficient organisation which does as it pleases. Hmm, we might well have that in some places already!
Its Like an MOT for the Car. At a specific point in time everything was OK. I Try to visit either when told/asked or just to chat and find out if help is needed. Other than that if there is no issue I have heaps of jobs to be getting on with.
I see most of the staff on a monthly basis and if there is anything they need I’m available.
Nice idea kfd, but how does your OC Wg, your Regional Commandant and ultimately, the Commandant get assurance that things are ok? There has to be some mechanism to show that A, B or C was found at a Sqn and X, Y or Z done or recommended etc. Equally, if OC Wg’s and Regional Commandants are not kept in the loop somehow, how can we hope to spread ‘best practice’?
I think the current formal inspection process is very dated and as kfd said, it’s like your MoT, only valid on that day. But I don’t want to advocate bringing in full blown audits which could increase the admin burden at Sqn level at a time when we’re trying to reduce it, hence my thoughts to put the onus more on the WSOs.
I happen to be a WSO, do the AFI’s, visit units every ~6 weeks and meet up with most staff from all units on a monthly basis. My roles mean I have direct contact with cadets and staff and if my OC doesn’t know what is going on, its because I’m in my shed. B)
its odd…in the CAC facebook update thread she is praised for getting in amongst the Cadets, rass roots/coal face of the Air Cadet experience and in here we’re b1tching about our Wg Cmdr down once a year!
ok so the two events are not the same, but proves me point in the other thread about the CAC being “human” and getting stuck in with the Cadets.
I know Sqns, who haven’t seen the Wg Cmdr for years at a AFI, his Dept always sent. whoever it is that turns up often sticks to the office and the whole evening is more about the Staff/Office/pleasing the WSO than the Cadets.
why?
i am not saying when CAC visits an event or Sqn it is an inspection but all of those visits prove what can and is being done…why can the same approach not be applied to AFIs…?
the “showing off” aspect is still there, proving what can and is being achieved by the Squadron but in a less “dry” format…
Whenever the sqdn organise an open day or special evening event OC wing should be invited and this can be used as a AFI. To make the AFI a special occasion just for OC wing does put a lot of work for a limited return IMO.
To involve parents and present the unit is its best light and then use OC wings to assist and promote the staff and cadets, is a better use of time.
How would you differentiate between an inspection and an audit?
I’ve recently started as a Sector Officer, and I have 3 ‘inspections/audits’ to do on each unit. Health and Safety, Security, and an Annual Inspection.
The first two of these are mainly paperwork and show me tell me stuff. The third is a mandated form from region, which is in desperate need of a review, since most of the information Sqns input should be on Bader. It was becoming a very paperwork heavy process with the WSO trapped in the office. I have tried to make it a mix, so that the paperwork is submitted before inspection. I chat through it with OC and ask any questions that have arisen, but I also get out and about, review the cadets, see their activities etc.
It is absolutely a night for the Sqn to show what it is doing, what it has to offer, and that it is playing by the rules.
Other than those it is striking a balance between visiting often enough to support the unit, and not smothering the OC and his staff, but also having the flexibility to respond when a unit wants help, not to mention attending Staff meetings, and attending to my other secondary units.
Its every bit as busy, if not busier than being a Sqn Commander, but it is also a different role as well.
My take is that an Inspection is when you examine something to make sure it is at a set standard. An Audit is a more systematic assessment of something. Arguably two very similar actions, but I think that the key bit has already been mentioned, an Inspection is more a one-off event whereas an Audit should be continuous.
I think you’re right about striking a balance as a WSO MW, a lot of the time the Sqn Cdr won’t want the WSO getting in the way and distracting him/her from running the Sqn, but equally, the WSO needs to be seen and also find out issues. I also absolutely agree about the need for a review of the Annual Inspection format; there’s no need for most of it as it’s on BADER. What I think we should do is spread the topics out over the year, rather that hit a Sqn with all of them at the same time. For example, in Jan, go through Health & Safety procedures and admin, Apr could be cdt Admin, Jul Security, Oct Training etc. Of course, there will always be a place for a more formal (and traditional) Inspection of uniform and drill etc, where the cadets and staff are in best uniforms and parents (and Wg Cdr) may or may not be there. I think spreading things out would be a better use of not only the WSOs time, but also their Sqn Cdrs too and as MW said, it would also show what a Sqn is doing, what it has to offer, and whether it was playing by the rules.