Well after leaving my squadron 12 years ago as a cadet, I’ve finally decided to come back as a CI. Feels great to be back but loads of changes seem to have happened. Any helpful tips would be appreciated!
Yea, dont bother. Unless of course you want to go into uniform, then to the Headshed your more than welcome.
Ignore RAS - there’s still loads of rewarding opportunities for CIs and I’m sure your squadron will benefit from your return.
It can be a slow start for new staff members, and if you want some responsibility, you’ve often got to ask for it. On the flip side, if people are trying to give you responsibilities you don’t want, don’t accept them.
If you start to get drawn into wing politics, remember why you came back. Spending more time with the cadets always motivates me and makes me remember why I volunteer.
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Thanks for the advice Jacques. Coincidently RAS the WSO was on the Sqn as well and he asked the uniform question…
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find a specialism
ok so it might not work for everyone but too many CIs get recruited and just float along and lose interest.
there are loads of different activities the Corps offers, find one that you like, have an interest in and can work at…it could be simply teaching the syllabus, or it could be gaining a Mountain Leader (ML(S) award to take the Cadets up to Snowdonia or anything in between.
you’ll get more out of it if you have something yourself to work towards, and then use those skills and experience to pass on to the Cadets, you’ll enjoy it much more than turning up to drink tea and you’ll be more useful to the Sqn and potentially your Sector/Wing which in turn will help build your integration…
but don’t run before you can walk. take at least 6-12 months to look at what is on offer and where you’d like to develop.
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Cheers Steve. I’ll be getting my self as stuck in as possible so hopefully will find something that suits me. I’m ex RAF so already have a few interests I can bring over. I do have to say though that I’m quite interested in the drill side of things so wouldn’t be opposed to SNCO (eventually!)
It would be safe to say it has changed probably out of all recognition to what you knew. The biggest changes on the surface are the e-systems and requiring qualifications for everything bar using a toilet.
There seems to be a greater emphasis on getting CIs into uniform, so if you make any noises in that direction they will try and snag you quicker than you can blink. Take your time and don’t get pushed into it, even if it’s what you want to do. Many WSOs are worse than cold callers, wanting you to sign up there and then, with no going back.
I would suggest a couple of years at least as a CI, going to camps if you can and as many Wing activities to get the lie of the land in relation to uniformed service and the Corps in general. Ultimately it’s your free time you are giving and you want to get the best experience for you and nuts to what the organisation wants from you. If you go the way the organisation wants you to you may not enjoy it which not good for you or the cadets.
Once you have your number get on the electronic systems as we have to use them and you should be au fait with them as we have been made to be reliant on them.
Your first starting point will probably be classification instruction.
See if anyone has the classification bits downloaded, get a copy and adapt them to your own style. We were told by our Wing TO you should download the ppt from ultilearn use it and then delete it. Not everyone likes or wants to use ppt etc, so use whatever method you feel comfortable with. Experience tells me download it, change it and keep it. If there any old books on the sqn they are still relevant for a number of subjects.
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this, this, a thousand times this.
i got asked - first night i was down - by a WSO and i stupidly gave a polite, non-commital answer. from that point it was never ending, i’d be approached at every opportunity and had both the WSO and wing commander ring me at home to try it on.
private chats with the OC were to no avail, i know he tried to get them to back off, but it had no effect. only stiff - but still polite - words worked, oddly enough the wing commander never felt the need to speak to me in the four years between that conversation and me leaving his orbit…
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This is the general consensus I’m hearing from a lot of CI staff. It seems (from an outside looking in view) that the ACO feel you are more valuable to them if you don the blue uniform, it’s a reason why it took me so long to come back.
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A sensible move to run with the CI route & see how things develop.
As you are ex-RAF, you have branch/trade experience & associated skill sets that should be well received.
Yes, certainly some classroom instruction will be inevitable, but a sqn should try to use your background to give best trg value if possible. Otherwise, flexibility is the key to Air Power! 
The ACO always needs more CFAVs with shooting qualifications! Once you have your staff number, then perhaps consider RCO or especially if ex-Rock, how about SAAI? 
You will have to go through the relevant security clearance (whatever it is called this year), so that would be the limiting time factor prior to any such shooting-related application.
Thanks for that Mike, I’ll look into that as soon as I get my number. I’m not ex Rock but the shooting quals sound like my cup of tea. Just a question on my mind, if I decided to go down the SNCO route would I be issued with a service number or would I keep my previous one/if at all?
That comes from someone who has a bias towards shooting; but the ACO is looking for people who are prepared to specialise across the board. Doesn’t have to be shooting, could be AT, FC, FA, Sports, etc, etc…
Sorry, dunno on that one, haven’t experienced it locally. Guessing at a new number as it is a “different” organisation for admin, blah, blah. Probably hidden somewhere in ACP20 (Personnel Regulations) - had a quick peek but couldn’t see anything specified about appointment + computer/service number.
As for shooting, worth trying to get range time in advance (although no trg/quals = no handling/shooting, etc) & attending any wpns trg events to watch/learn, with a view to get trained/WHT’d as soon as you can. Once WHT’d = more range time!
If you want a project & there is space on your sqn, look at getting an indoor air rifle range (5.5m/10m). I did this for our sqn so can point out the route if needed. There will be a delay in any preliminary inspection, as the relevant post is currently vacant at HQAC, pending finalisation of recruitment/selection/trg.
It’s funny because as an Ex-Cadet I have been targeting a return to a uniformed role since I stopped being a cadet, yet at every opportunity I am seemingly blind-sided into remaining as a CI, during a WSO visit all I get is a hello, no one has ever tried to push me into a uniformed role, unless I press the subject. Maybe we have more staff my way than other wings, or I’m doing something really wrong to upset people!!
Back to the OP, it all depends what type of CI you wish to be
-
Sqn Admin Assistant
Assist the Training Officer/Adj with the reams of admin we now seem to deal in, or take on one of these roles, that are vital to a well run unit. -
General Sqn Instructor
Attending on a parade evening and instructing cadets for classifications/projects. -
Active Off-Sqn Instructor
Could specialise in AT / Shooting / Sport / FT, will no doubt attend a range of Sqn/Wing activities, and support the wider wing in the area that you specialise in.
On the admin side, there seems to be more of it than there was 5 years ago.
As a instructor, there is less read the book, more read the power point that has little info in, so you really need to know the subject. The cadets exams are now online with instant results, and 7 day resits.
As for getting out and specialising, it all depends what area you want to focus on, but I’ve seen changes in the shooting world since I started to get my quals 3 years ago.
Just remember that this is our Hobby, don’t let it take over your life.
It’s funny how it varies across the corps, as I said it was one of the first things I was asked but I feel SNCO would be a role I could see myself doing so I’m not overly fussed with the asking
Ps thanks for the advise!