I have just read of a CWO aging out who was a fully qualified cadet drill instructor, and it got me wondering about the subject. My questions are as follows:
Is the cadet drill instructor course a bit of a rarity, such as maybe QAIC or JL?
How long is the course, and how is it set out (e.g. Weekend basis)?
Is there anything that distinguishes a cadet DI from non qualified cadet except the title and experience?
Also, any other information will be much appreciated.
Officially there is no such thing as a Cadet Drill Instructor. A number of wings have run their own Cadet DI courses and called the graduates cadet DIs but this was not officially sanctioned. There is no badge, stick or form of dress authorised for cadets who have drill instructional skills.
The Cadet Drill Course (CDC) is the official course that teaches cadets over a weekend how to use the preferred method of drill instruction so that the standards of drill at squadrons might be improved, though that course is careful to avoid referring to those completing the course as Cadet DIs.
With the current badging frenzy it is not out of the question that there might be some sort of scale of badges to denote drill expertise but I’ve not seen any official proposal along those lines yet.
I believe the idea is for a Blue, Bronze, Silver and Gold Pace Stick
and they will be sewn onto the pullover in a little column with the bronze at the bottom and gold at the top.
Does the best student on each course receive a framed polishing cloth and tin of polish?
Pace sticks wasn’t too bad, but a framed polishing cloth? Poor effort.
Reading this thread makes me cringe…
I keep thinking back to our armed forces and rememberence parades and the local army cadet RSM ( a cadet) running round screaming at people (army cadets and staff, veterans) waving his pacestick about, looking so imature and cringeworthy. Showing off everything that is the worst about the cadet forces. I just want to run over take it of him and smash it through his head and his staff for letting him act that way, I keep sending my WO over to have a word because I couldn’t contain myself.
I just hope these D&C camps don’t lead to the same attitude from our cadets…
I’m not sure how your brain arrived at the D&C camp in this thread about drill instruction courses but I’ve seen nothing on the camps or on CDC that will turn somebody into a stick-waving prat. Cadets don’t get to carry pace sticks and that is one flaw with some local cadet DI courses that CDC was trying to eliminate.
This doesn’t account for what the individual brings to the party and they are more likely to pick up bad habits from idiot staff or from bad lads army than on the activities you mention.
I meant to say the CDC course my mind has been on the D & C stuff for a few weeks assisting in weapons training for those going… Sorry…
And I agree it’s down to the mentality of both Staff and cadets.