Good afternoon everyone, I hope this topic finds you well.
I am looking to become an adult member of staff soon after being a cadet for close to five years. I’ve finished up pretty much everything that I would like to do as a cadet - and, for a while now, attending my squadron has been more about teaching and developing younger cadets rather than myself. I think that this is something that I would be better supported in doing as a staff member, and so I am looking to make that transition soon.
Therefore, I would like to ask whether you are able to give me any tips regarding this move from being a staff cadet to an adult member of staff. I have spoken to staff on my squadron regarding this, but I would also like a broader range of opinions.
Its all in ACP 20.
What i will say is prepare to be asked to move Sqns
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Depending on your age and what you are expecting to achieve. Although as rightly pointed out it is laid out in ACP 20 with it being a new process many Regional Commandants are wary of promotion into uniform for everyone. You may have to consider being a CI for a while first or even until you are 20 before switching squadrons to go into uniform. Ultimately you must think about if you are happy to drop your “uniformed status” as soon as you make the transition to staff, chat to as many as you can but you will find it isn’t just a “teaching and developing younger cadets” organisation. When you reach CFAV you are firstly Safeguarding and Health & Safety youth volunteer before the teaching part and the focus switches massively. ACP 4 & 5 along with ACP 20 are must reads for this
Which is exactly why I joined the ACF at 18 instead.
As much as I have “bantered” the ACF personally I think they do CFAV better than us and also their version of Sector into Wing where they have detachments that “tour” around the sector (not sure if it’s called that) and have adj’s and training officers along with SME’s at sector level. The detachment commanders role is definitely more hands on with cadets than burdened with paperwork from what I have seen in any case.
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Hello all, thank you for the replies.
I have officially lost my rank of FS and I am now beginning the transition to CFAV, provided all goes well with my board next week.
As some of you say, I may be without uniform until I am 20 - although I do love my uniform, I am content with this. I understand why this may be the case, and though I am still looking to get myself in uniform as soon as possible, I still understand and respect that there are hoops to jump though - not least the stigma regarding my age.
Although I will be a CI for a while, I think that getting the clock ticking is the best way forward, especially since I am hopefully going into a full-time apprenticeship in September.
Thanks again for the advice everyone!
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