But the point of this conference was (ultimately) to improve CI recruitment/retention/morale.
A great way of doing that would have been to disseminate the findings quickly. Nobody here thinks they’re entitled to a personal update, only a general announcement.
The excessive delay shows that HQAC doesn’t understand one of the main staff complaints, ie. a lack of communication.
Prune, CIs are the most important group staffwise in the Corps, but it seems that even after this meeting HQAC seemingly still haven’t grasped this fact.
If squadron commanders treated their CIs with the disdain as they are from above, they’d vote with their feet.
You really don’t get the picture, do you? If the CI cadre left the ACO, there would be no viable ACO left - & those in the ivory towers (you have to be in one somewhere) would have no-one to try & be superior to. More importantly, the cadets would not get the range/depth of experiences that they deserve. On a typical local sqn, CIs are responsible for shooting, band, aero-modelling, Wg Field, & carry out about 50% of classification trg; I’m sure I’ve forgotten some items in the list.
Feedback is an exceptionally easy process, especially in this technological age. There can be no excuse or valid reason for not providing it for this event.
Right, from the HQAC sponsor, so this is the authoritative information. Apologies have been made for the timescale to push this out.
The output from the CIs Convention is not being ignored.
There will be a short article in the next issue of Air Cadet Magazine.
A comprehensive report of issues raised/potential actions is being staffed and will be circulated to all CIs/others shortly.
Some of the issues raised are already being worked on as they tied in with other work in progress within HQAC. More information as & when.
From on-line edition of latest Air Cadet magazine:
CIs’ Vital Role
The first ever Civilian Instructors’ Convention has been held at RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire and sought the views of today’s Civilian Instructors on a host of key issues.
“The convention should be really helpful in considering how best to recruit and to retain the 6,000 plus
Civilian Instructors who are at the heart of cadet activity,”* said Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, Commandant Air Cadets.
Forty CIs from all corners of the UK, including two Civilian Gliding Instructors, attended the weekend
event that looked at recruitment, retention and reward of the Civilian Instructors and how to generally
improve the Cadet experience. As well as raising issues, the CIs were tasked with developing detailed ideas to deliver solutions. Wing Commander Geoff Hewett from Headquarters Air Cadets said:
“The aim of the convention was to involve the Civilian Cadet Force Adult Volunteers’ cadre of the ACO in the development of the ACO 2020 Strategy. There was a free and open exchange of views and a wide range of issues were tackled.”
Four major themes emerged: the need to more effectively recognize and support the vital role that CIs play within the ACO; the need to better recognise and exploit the skills and qualifications that CIs possess for the benefit of cadets; to better utilise IT to effectively deliver the cadet experience and to update and modernise the teaching material. Wing Commander Hewett added: “All those who attended felt the Convention was well worthwhile and HQ ACO staff, in conjunction with CFAVs, now have the task of taking this forward to deliver change”
It is hoped the convention will be repeated in the future and consideration is being given to holding similar smaller, regional events.
He has asked that they sit on them until the official minutes come out so that they are placed in context.
You mean HQAC wants to get its version out first so that the notes from one CI will either get ignored, or dismissed as the rantings of a lone nutter…?
See, their tricks would work so much better if they weren’t tricks that everyone knew about.
And we have a winner!
What have you won? A Commision! Let’s get all these terrible CIs into uniform, it’s what they want after all, from these notes we have on the convention.
No as I said HE has requested they be sat on, not HQAC. A large portion of the convention including syndicate work so for those areas he only speaks about his experiences and he would rather that those be looked at alongside the official minutes which will have the sounding of the whole conference.
You can’t silence the nutters. Once they smell a conspiracy they’re off.
It seems quite clear the information is out there and yet it still hasn’t made it into the mainstream. This is extremely poor and the delay will only serve to fuel an air of HQAC don’t really care about CIs especially since the marvellous piece of empty rhetoric in the comic.
When it does materialise, if there is the slightest hint that CI as a specific role / appointment isn’t fully respected and embraced and you only really get recognition of you as a person not just as a member of staff in the Corps if you wear a blue suit, then don’t expect positivity.
As I have said and will keep saying this delay wouldn’t be tolerated when attending these sort of things in my real job. We are running a training course in a fortnight and we have a deadline of COP 2 days after to email notes, answer questions etc to those attending.
I’m going to laugh when these minutes come out. So much hilarity with some people on here. So much.
When they do come out you know what I am expecting … nothing of any note, the article sort of prepares you for it. When you consider that older cadet conference ‘delivered’ exemptions wrt adult service for cadets leaving to go to uni, which was IMO a HQAC straw clutching move as anything to try and recruit staff at all falls flat. My gast would be flabbered if an ex-cadet comes back at all after 4/5 years away, never mind wanting to go straight back into uniform of any type There could be something similar for CIs out of this, not a promise of a uniform, but things to make them feel valued.
However there might be a couple of projects hived off to the ACMB which is a sure fire way to ensure nothing gets done, as seems to be the way.
those HQAC Peoples Assembly minutes in full…
Let Party officials learn the Party’s methods of work with the people and become skilful in remoulding them and giving play to their spiritual strength! - you, at the back, be quiet.
Thoroughly get rid of abuse of authority and bureaucratism! - by appopinting a bureaucrat.
Regard supply service work as an important link in the whole chain of Party work! - red tape saves the day!
Let Party cells become death-defying corps and pioneers in implementing the Party’s policies! - if you write nasty things, we’ll make stuff up and have you arrested!
Let us hasten final victory through a revolutionary ideological offensive! - look into my eyes: theres no such thing as ‘a life’…
Hold fast to ideological work as the top priority! - get those stats in boys, stats keep little kittens alive!
Let the entire army be prepared as crack shots by raising more fiercely the flames of the movement of becoming accurate riflemen and gunners! - except in Wales, where the RAF appears to be the only people incapable of findig a single unemployed Armourer.
in a spontaneous outburst of the love of the people, the assembly voted unanimously for a motion to have everyone at HQAC and OC 2FTS awarded both the AFC and the DSO for their heroic action action against flying costs and their unparalelled success in maintaining a perfect flight safety record.
ithangyeow.
Locked. Grow up.