You’re not wrong in the current model. This is if for example the ACF and RAFAC were not sustainable as 2 separate organisations due to budget cuts from the MOD (Army/RAF). Realistically without a lot of grants and using private flying/gliding clubs and more costs for parents or fundraising, we wouldn’t be sustainable if a considerable budget cut happened.
In 2017 it was rumoured the RAFAC bill including the CCF (RAF) was around £4.8million - Not huge in terms of MOD or gov budget however that bill has likely raised since. Based on extra safeguarding hire and other costs that bill is likely to be in the £6million mark if not more. As CFAV we have already taken a hit in terms of claimable VA rates and still lose out on it being taxed (whole different issue and thread).
There could be a HQ merger for ACF & RAFAC to streamline the process and cut costs with policy on Safeguarding/AT/DofE/Shooting/Fieldcraft being aligned and still have 2 separate organisations as they are now i.e. ACF & RAFAC. There will be “political” problems at times which can guaranteed will make threads on here how an ACF guy has brought x in but its being batted back or whatever.
However if the budget became too low for example, if as a country we were involved in a “peace keeping” solution in Ukraine, the “CCF model” isn’t the actual CCF (Army) and CCF (RAF) but in practice it would be CCF (Army & RAF) - merging 2 organisations into 1, to keep some form of uniformed cadet organisation available. Apart from Cyber/Flying/aviation theme and wearing the blue we offer the same “product” as the ACF regarding DofE, Shooting, Fieldcraft, AT, band and drill etc.