We don’t stop cadets from attending wing events for six months…
3 Likes
We do until they’ve learned about ATC, Drill, RAFAC and History of Flight though…
Do we? Not sure that’s very strictly enforced…
Most definitely is in my wing
1 Like
I don’t think we do…
1 Like
Naaaaa…we let them do pretty much anything from day one
Edit…i remembered except camps, must be first class for that
Yeah, had a look there and seems to be a made up local requirement… in fairness I don’t know if it’s happened since ACTO 10 came in with the clearer approval process.
We could make more use of university students as a resource. We are hampered because we can only take existing (staff) Cadets - with 20+ undergrads typically being in their final year so maybe not too practical for them to start as staff.
As it is now compulsory to mention the scouts in these threads, they have university scouting support units which link willing students to local units.
I’m sure there are practical details to work round but there are lots of students out there.
I’ve made the suggestion to my wing about UAS students.
Yes, there’s only a thousand of them, yes they’re concentrated at 12 units, but they’re a pro-RAF group, probably 50% ex cadets, and will bombburst all over the country at every holiday and have a fair bit of time on their hands. And they could come in as SIs.
Would be a great way of getting more people thinking about being staff.
3 Likes
Apparently our regs don’t allow them to act as SIs. The ACF regs do allow that, and although most of their student helpers are OTC I’m sure some are UAS.
A sensible first step would be to allow OTC and UAS members SI status - after all they have attested.
I thought that they could but that they had to be 20+
I don’t think it’s quite so rosy.
The uni holidays are mainly at Christmas, Easter and over the summer, there maybe ‘reading weeks’, during which they maybe at home with families chilling or doing other things. Christmas we are shutdown and over the summer many will be away and a lot of sqns (like us) go to one night a week from middle of July to the beginning of Sep as staff have lives too.
Our kids didn’t do uni, but some of nieces and nephews and our kid’s mates did and when they were home, they were out with mates and family. I wouldn’t expect anything different.
WRT to a lot our older cadets they get to the end of Y12 early Y13 period and start to drop off as they begin to realise the seriousness of the 2 years RPA and the consequences of messing it up. Plus what is in the Air Cadets for them by this point except being or expected to be like staff. When you are 17 you want more excitement than that. Don’t you? I like to think they’ve seen through the tissue of lies. Those that do stay are under no illusion from me of it being roses and blue skies.
1 Like
Right, ok, it won’t work for some so let’s ignore the idea completely.
Sums you up, that.
As we go into the first weekend of the recruitment campaign. Anyone had any interest so far?
2 Likes
22 interested persons.
I’m going to assume you mean cadets and not CFAVs?
2 adults have responded to a “Cadet Instructor” Job posted to my Sqn Facebook page and shared to local community groups.