What are the criteria for promotion to CWO, do you need to be an instructor cadet or not. Only asking because I’ve seen some considerable variation recently.
Many Thanks
MRAR
[quote]AIR CADET PERSONNEL REGULATIONS
PERSONNEL INSTRUCTION No 503
APPOINTMENT OF STAFF CADET WARRANT OFFICERS
INTRODUCTION
- This instruction on the appointment of staff Cadet Warrant Officers (CWOs) is issued for the guidance and compliance of all concerned.
ESTABLISHMENTS
- The establishment scales for CWOs are given in PI 101, Annex B. Additional CWOs and staff cadet SNCOs may be appointed above the permitted wing establishment by up to the number of squadrons in the Wing. Squadron appointments are filled from the total establishment of a Wing.
APPOINTMENTS
-
Recommendations for the appointment of CWOs will be initiated by the Squadron Commanding Officer (Sqn CO). CWO appointments will cease on the 20th birthday.
-
Recommendations are to be made on Pers Form 5-03; once complete Sqn COs are to pass it to Wing HQ for action. If the appointment is agreed by the OC Wing, the form is to be forwarded to HQ Air Cadets (P2b1) for final approval.
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A Certificate of Appointment signed by the Comdt Air Cadets will be sent to the Wing HQ for presentation to the individual. The date of appointment is the date approved by the Wing Headquarters or the date the cadet reaches the age of 18, whichever is the later.
TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT ON DISCIPLINARY OR ADMINISTRATIVE GROUNDS
- Where a Sqn CO wishes to terminate a CWO’s appointment on disciplinary or administrative grounds, a case is to be submitted in writing through OC Wing to the Regional Commandant in accordance with PI 501. Pending a decision, the CWO is to be suspended from all ACO activities.
[/quote]
Perfect, thank you!
Unfortunately this doesn’t stop there being massive variation still.
When I tried putting a cadet forward for CWO recently I was told they had to have done all manner of things! When I pointed out the contents of the PI, I eventually got my way - wasn’t easy though.
Despite the fact that a CWO is appointed by a higher echelon than other cadet NCO’s, the recommendation still comes from a Sqn Commander.
Maybe it’s time that proper promotion courses especially for Cadets to Corporal and FS to CWO were created. This doesn’t need to come from HQAC, as a CWO is supposedly a Wing asset why can’t Wings create the course.
They could be a couple of weekends long and provide potential CWO’s with an idea of what they have to be. A recommendation can then be forwarded accordingly from staff outside of their Sqn’s.
The Australian Air Cadets have such a system.
Apparently, their JNCO course lasts 12-14 days; 2 or 3 weeks for the SNCO course; and 2-4 weeks for the Cadet Warrant Officer course.
Crikey!! My Brecon course didn’t last that long!! You probably can go straight into the SAAS after leaving cadets with courses like that.
Great idea though. Thanks for that.
[quote=“Racing Stick” post=11384]
Maybe it’s time that proper promotion courses especially for Cadets to Corporal and FS to CWO were created. This doesn’t need to come from HQAC, as a CWO is supposedly a Wing asset why can’t Wings create the course.[/quote]
Nice idea, but unless something comes from HQAC, and is promulgated and adopted across the whole Corps, we would end up with training anarchy!
As Stab In The Dark has said, we have massive variation across the Corps already, something like this, although a really good idea, would probably only make things worse!
Not used Ultifail yet then 
[quote=“wdimagineer2b” post=11388]The Australian Air Cadets have such a system.
Apparently, their JNCO course lasts 12-14 days; 2 or 3 weeks for the SNCO course; and 2-4 weeks for the Cadet Warrant Officer course.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranks_of_the_AAFC[/quote]
If you add it together, that’s like making something the length of JLs (if you add 9 weekends together to the 10 days on test week, it’s 4 weeks compulsory for all CWOs.
Not used Ultifail yet then ;)[/quote]
How very dare you suggest that our outstanding training medium is anything other than super efficient and absolutely fit for purpose!
[quote=“Baldrick” post=11396][quote=“wdimagineer2b” post=11388]The Australian Air Cadets have such a system.
Apparently, their JNCO course lasts 12-14 days; 2 or 3 weeks for the SNCO course; and 2-4 weeks for the Cadet Warrant Officer course.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranks_of_the_AAFC[/quote]
If you add it together, that’s like making something the length of JLs (if you add 9 weekends together to the 10 days on test week, it’s 4 weeks compulsory for all CWOs.[/quote]
Yeah, I’d love to see it. It’d be interesting to see what’s covered on such long (compared to our two day) courses and particularly to see the calibre of cadet NCO they turn out.
[quote=“wdimagineer2b” post=11398][quote=“Baldrick” post=11396][quote=“wdimagineer2b” post=11388]The Australian Air Cadets have such a system.
Apparently, their JNCO course lasts 12-14 days; 2 or 3 weeks for the SNCO course; and 2-4 weeks for the Cadet Warrant Officer course.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranks_of_the_AAFC[/quote]
If you add it together, that’s like making something the length of JLs (if you add 9 weekends together to the 10 days on test week, it’s 4 weeks compulsory for all CWOs.[/quote]
Yeah, I’d love to see it. It’d be interesting to see what’s covered on such long (compared to our two day) courses and particularly to see the calibre of cadet NCO they turn out.[/quote]
I also note that the AAFC have Staff JNCO ranks. Would like to see how that works as well.
Yes, me too.
[quote=“cygnus maximus” post=11394]Nice idea, but unless something comes from HQAC, and is promulgated and adopted across the whole Corps, we would end up with training anarchy!
As Stab In The Dark has said, we have massive variation across the Corps already, something like this, although a really good idea, would probably only make things worse![/quote]
Absolutely.
Sounds fine on paper but the reality would be a complete mess, even if or because HQAC got involved. Then add into the mix the variable of staff getting involved and it becomes even more unwieldy. My Wing runs NCO courses and there is a large pool of staff which introduces inconsistency, due to the different approaches they take.
In reality though I struggle to see how the Aussies do this, don’t their cadets have things I don’t know, like school, homework and exams? Does attending the course affect normal parade night attendance? I want cadets attending parade nights not courses.
When I have cadets do GS they end up taking homework, revision etc. My kids used to, at times, get completely bogged down and had to cut back on their out of school clubs etc. So to have courses which are suggesting x weeks only for a cadet promotion, seems hugely disproportionate. I personally feel you’d get staff wince at doing a course like that.
[quote=“glass half empty 2” post=11407][quote=“cygnus maximus” post=11394]Nice idea, but unless something comes from HQAC, and is promulgated and adopted across the whole Corps, we would end up with training anarchy!
As Stab In The Dark has said, we have massive variation across the Corps already, something like this, although a really good idea, would probably only make things worse![/quote]
Absolutely.
Sounds fine on paper but the reality would be a complete mess, even if or because HQAC got involved. Then add into the mix the variable of staff getting involved and it becomes even more unwieldy. My Wing runs NCO courses and there is a large pool of staff which introduces inconsistency, due to the different approaches they take.
In reality though I struggle to see how the Aussies do this, don’t their cadets have things I don’t know, like school, homework and exams? Does attending the course affect normal parade night attendance? I want cadets attending parade nights not courses.
When I have cadets do GS they end up taking homework, revision etc. My kids used to, at times, get completely bogged down and had to cut back on their out of school clubs etc. So to have courses which are suggesting x weeks only for a cadet promotion, seems hugely disproportionate. I personally feel you’d get staff wince at doing a course like that.[/quote]
Don’t forget, Australia had no professional armed forces until after WW2 so their whole cultural attitude to people taking time out to do ‘military’ things is totally different to the UK.
Their reservists do six weeks basic training and can be ordered to attend courses and so on, the flip side being that their employment is legally protected in federal law. Even if that protection was in place in the UK, employers would just never employ reservists, so that goes to show how the national attitude is different.
I believe the NCO courses done by the AAFC are done as their ‘summer camp’ which is more like summer camps in the USA in scope and duration.
There’s only one thing for it…ACC trip to Australia to see first hand.
Don’t we have a resident of the colonies on here?