But to be fair, like in life, you tend to find promotions come quicker when you get up the the more senior levels.
Is there really much difference between a cdt FS and CWO, when we consider the type of person you’d want to promote to that level?
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CWO is almost a sideways move as they’re doing (or should do) more Wing level stuff. Assuming they can drive and can afford the fuel of course.
Would there really be any difference between a L/Cpl and a Cpl? Or are you looking to just give rank to your Senior Cadets who you don’t want to promote currently for some reason or another?
I disagree, for me CWO’s are full blown members of Squadron staff responsible for a portfolio the same as any other, a Flight Sergeant isn’t quite in that place.
The organisation seems to have a pointless obsession with identifying people in “training ranks” when the level of rank alone alreadg demonstrates that. (Looking at you Acting Pilot Officer and precursor Sergeants).
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My general point is that there’s a bigger jump at the bottom of the rank range than at the top.
Yes, I’d say that there are many cadets who could do with an intermediary step between cadet and cdt cpl to help manage their development.
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In which case I would say you are expecting too much from your Corporals. It’s a JNCO rank they aren’t going to be leading Cadets over the top, they are running canteen and getting the building cleaned at the end of the night.
Let’s say we add in L/Cpl, you still won’t be promoted for around 2 years, that makes you 14-15 as a L/Cpl say another year to be promoted again (if you aren’t spending any time at the rank what’s the point?), that makes your Cpl 15-16, Sgt 16-17, FS 17-18.
If you are only making FS when you are 18 you either. Spend no time at that rank before becoming a CWO or you spend 10 minutes as a CWO at the end of your service.
That’s before you consider that we all keep arguing about getting rid of Cadets at 18.
There is a good case to say we already have too many ranks.
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Which for rural areas like mine is an issue; it can be a solid 45 minute each-way drive just between neighbouring squadrons, along winding single-carriageway roads. Public transport not being an option after 6pm.
If they’re doing Wing stuff they should be entitled to mileage. Anyhow, I’ll end my divergent chat here.
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I might lower those ranges a bit but I’d see L/Cpl slotting in at 14, and depending on the how the proposed changes to O18s shake out probably not that many CWOs. So FS would be the highest ‘cadet’ rank?
Other threads have covered whether staff cdt FS and CWO are pseudo staff, but it seems em be a postcode lottery.
I suppose that’s my issue. I’m not yet back in the fold, and so trying to recall what responsibilities I had at that age and what I might have been able to handle with more/less support.
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As CWO is a wing appointment I would cap the max allowed at one per sector and make the boards competitive
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What does that really achieve though? You can have a competitive process without limiting yourself to 4 or 5 CWO’s per Wing.
You could, but I suspect we don’t as most wing commanders don’t want upset their senior cadets and OCs by rejecting candidates without serious concerns. If they had a limited number of spaces to fill it gives them a ‘my hands are tied’ excuse.
Sorry to any wing commanders I have just slandered without any evidence to back up my assumptions whatsoever.
The ACF and CCF both seem to manage with an extra rank between cdt and cpl (and two WO ranks, and CUOs). The top ranks are for exceptional and dedicated cadets and there should be no expectation for everyone to get through all the ranks. I left at 18 as a cdt sgt.
This is another thing that would be achieved by turning sqns into flts and sectors into sqns. The sqn (sector) cdrs would appoint one CWO per sqn.
Wings are established for 1 CWO per unit plus one third.
I’d be very surprised to have a suitable candidate and not be able to promote because of an arbitrary limit.
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On the flip side, we didn’t have one for I think about 5 or 6 years. We had some good FS but they just didn’t have that bit extra to get CWO.
Our Wing wouldn’t ever manage that number - I think the most we’ve had recently equates to around 1 for every 4 squadrons!
Which is a consequence of ending Cadet service at 20, most don’t get CWO until they are 19 and it can almost not be worth the effort if they are going to tine out as soon as they get it.
Another reason I don’t see any need to add another layer of rank in.
Our wing has abolished sectors as not viable (the Sqns ignored the concept & carried on as before).
Currently CWOs are limited to the 18+ which means that effectively we have three cadet NCO ranks as by the time someone become eligible to become a CWO they are moving on to adult life & university.
as a consequence due to the current system of CWOs only being eligible if they do Wg JNCO, SNCO & ANCO courses you end up with a very small pool.
Unfortunately the rank of CWO (in the ATC) is on the path of being of being regarded as only for the Peter Pan cadets who are too thick to go to university - the smart ones move on & grow up in life & come back as CFAVs after getting things in life sorted.
Feel we need to know the story here.
This did made make chuckle 
Then I had a think. Of the CWOs on my Squadron as a Cadet, none went to Uni and half stayed as CFAVs for a couple years then left. Without being too judgemental/pretentious what they achieved in Cadets was probably the pinnacle of life achievement.
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I think it is changing (or has changed).
Most of the CWOs and a lot of the cadet FS round our way are at university or college / doing an apprenticeship away from home. A few are on gap years.
Consequentially we only see many of them during holidays and occasional weekends.
It is another argument for starting CFAV service at 18 - they wouldn’t be in this limbo land and students would be able to volunteer as adults during their studies, as they can with Scouts.
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