Other than the differential that uniformed staff are meant to adhere to minimal attendance levels (which many CIs meet or exceed anyway) and there isn’t such a criterion for Civilian Instructors, I can see no real reason why committed and contributing CIs should NOT be eligible for being awarded the Cadet Forces Medal, once the duration of service and OC recommendation requirements are met.
I’d be very interested to hear a reasoned counter-argument to this proposal.
I’m not certain about how such a proposal could be made (yes, yes, observing the CoC etc) but I am certain that such a propostion could be justified.
Tell me why you disagree. And you’d better have some really convincing reasons…
You’ll have to ask the MOD to change the criteria to allow none uniformed staff members. You then hit the issue of back dating it for those who would have received it and then the initial costs of issuing all of those who need to receive it now.
I sense the real reason would then be budget.
I would ask if you a committed CI then why not sign on the line and wear the uniform with the added benefits and ability to claim the medal for the service?
Or at least allow those who were CI’s and then went into uniform to count the CI service towards the 12 years, even if the CI numbers of years was capped.
Personally I don’t expect medals or certificates etc to thank me for all the time I give for the cadets. I have the spare time to give and I’m more than happy to spend that at the Sqn or taking cadets to activities. Currently there is nothing I can’t do that I already do that requires me to dress up (Please don’t take offence at that) I’m more than happy to help cadets with their uniform but I’d rather not have my own to keep on top of and that includes having to source greens and all the other items of kit I’d need.
CI me is happy as is and cadets are happy with the time I can give for them. I’m not one who likes recognition but that’s just me.
I would spin this and as @DontCallMeSir implies why bother, if you can all you need to do without one. The question should be, “what advantages and benefits are there for you personally to go into uniform within the ATC?”
All you get are a few shekels and trinkets if you tick the appropriate boxes and are allowed to make a claim.
The ACF does have CIs, but they seem to be restricted to those resigning or retiring and it would seem they can do practically everything. Which makes the bit above somewhat nonsensical.
I would suggest the only reason to be in uniform to do things, is because the idea of a civvie doing things doesn’t fit the blinkered military perspective. Except of course for the many and various contracted out things in the modern military, done by non-military civilian companies and personnel. Which does make the insistence for uniformed adults within cadet forces a bit nonsensical, IMO.
My honest opinion is that there are so few ‘benefit’ differentials between ci and uniform now that uniform staff do deserve the medal over non uniformed personnel.
Uniformed staff dont have the option to attend or not attend on a whim, to pull out of events or just decide to not shave on an evening.
CIs, (no matter how good you maybe individually) do have these options and therefore shouldn’t be recognised with the medal.
Finally. If CIs do get the medal… where exactly is the line to be drawn and at what point do us in uniform just go “sod it”.
Cant deny that there is a culture at a levels though that if you wear the blue stuff they expect you to live and breath cadets 24/7…but guess that’s another thread.
I have been a CI since 1982 I sent my last Long Service Certificate back as I consider it to be just is a bad joke. I think its just a half hatred gesture from the ATC to placate the uniform staff and some CI’s like the CI id card with etc.
If it were to be of any importance to HQAC it would at least the issuing periods would be at the same lengths for the Long Service Certificate as the CFM and should be automatic from HQAC not SQN or Wing. After all previous RAF service doesn’t affect qualification for CI’s but CFM uniform service or CADET service can be affected.
From all the long term CI’s I have known I don’t think any would go into uniform so in 12 years we may get a CFM. This has no importance what so ever from our perspective, has it for you?
For a number of years the ACO has made it clear that Civil Servants supporting ACO activities may wear uniform if they see fit and are eligible for the CFM so what is the difference with CI’s?
If CI’s were to be given a CFM or some equivalent at least it would mean when trying to off load jobs uniform staff saying we are all staff and should all work the same to give the cadet experience that would give a bit more resonance than 12 years for the first CFM or the twenty odd years for Long Service Certificate if you get it (I didn’t because some VRT didn’t think it was worth the effort) and so on.