When I was a cadet you would typically have your first class boxed off within probably the first six to nine months.
You would then do your leading and senior and staff (assuming you pass) on a yearly basis, so you end up being staff cadet at about 16 years old. This was via exams sat at the squadron
Can someone please explain how the new classification system works in terms of attainment?
I believe the first class is now a online or digital workbook that connects work through and then the squadron signs off?
The squadron will then allow cadets to study the leading etc buy enrolling them on the system?
I have heard that cadets have done a lot of work on classifications above leading at home… And basically coming inform that they have completed it. I am not even sure if they have been taught anything or whether they have self-taught by the internet!
So can anyone give me a brief synopsis of how it works in their squadron and what they feel might be the best practice??
To address the last bit first. I don’t remember AVIP covering this sort of thing. It was more about general things that a CFAV or staff cadet should know.
On classification training, it’s essentially the same as you described. The main differences being there is a First Class log book which can either be completely physically or digitally, and the exams are now online and can be retaken more regularly.
The aim should still be to complete First Class in the cadets first six months, and then probably no more than one classification a year (the idea is still not to rush through).
As for delivery, it’s up to squadrons whether they teach the lessons or let cadets self study. The preference generally is to teach it but for some cadets it makes sense for them to self study.
The logbook contains mini-exams in their own right. There’s lots of questions that get signed off, but also some ‘tests’. Like the comms one you need signed off to show you’ve had a conversation, and the nav one you need signed off to say you’ve discussed map symbols. etc
I don’t remember there ever being an official exam for First Class anyway, even ‘back in the day’ when it was paper exams twice a year. Those exams were only leading and above. First Class had the subjects, but it was up to the sqns to assess that.
Drill is a separate thing to the classification book. I think it’s now a pre-uniform assessment and a pre-enrolment assessment. Drill isn’t really my thing though, so citation is needed!
I tend to find drill is something you need to run continuously alongside the rest of the First Class subjects. There are quite a few movements to cover and they’ll likely need more time to practice than more experienced cadets would.
Also, one thing to remember with the First Class logbook is that it doesn’t contain everything any more, only sections for the Part 3 subjects (map reading, initial expedition training, flying ops, and basic radio comms). Not even a page to tick off which bits they’ve done in Parts 1 & 2.
The content for Parts 1 & 2 are probably the same as you remember, you just need to make sure you don’t forget anything. We also put in a session for an NCO to show them how to drive Cadet Portal and the MyRAFAC app which I don’t think is mentioned anywhere (might be in the ACTO or guidance somewhere but I can’t remember).
This is where this organisation is losing its thread and drive.
There is no structure in cadet, or staff, training and development. Gone are the days when both knew their career path, having to complete this, before moving on to that.
Squadrons use Learn for their own benefit, and WSOs don’t monitor for compliance.
Similarly with staff. They join, move into wht area they are needed. No checks for ACTO99 compliance, before they can teach or mingle with cadets or other squadrons.
I’m not sure what your points on Learn and ACTO99 have to do with this conversation, but I see where you’re coming from with the other points.
I think with such a broad range of subject areas, we’re never going to have a generic training plan for anyone. I think it’s good that people can specialise in the areas they’re interested in, particularly staff.
A counter to that is that it doesn’t work as effectively everywhere, particularly where resources are constrained, like for squadrons with small staff teams where there individuals might have less time to focus on one or two subjects.
Delivering such a broad and deep syllabus is always going to have some challenges, in theory that’s where the org structure comes in, but that’s still reliant on volunteers whose primary role will be on a squadron.
So, in the first class cadet log book there are only four topics covered
I understand in the log book where there are tasks that are required but not included such as spelling words using the phonetic alphabet, or some map reading activities
I also understand that things such as drill will not be in the logbook
However there are topics on SharePoint under first class that I would expect to be in the logbook such as the history of flight, the RAF and RAFAC?!
History, drill etc are now treated as ‘basic training’ to move from junior cadet to second class cadet (bader definitions) they no longer form part of the first class assessment.
Not at all! That’s what I was trying to say in one of my comments above.
Nothing in Parts 1 & 2 are mentioned in the logbook any more, but they still need to be delivered. So that’s history of flight, ATC history & organisation, RAF history & organisation, drill, security. Uniform is covered in ATC org but I like to put in some dedicated practical uniform prep sessions.
All subjects should be delivered in an engaging and interactive way, with as many practical elements as possible. The subjects; ATC, RAF, Security and History of Flight have no formal assessment, but their completion should be recorded on SMS via the Classification > Summary tab. Drill Parts 1 and 2 have their own assessment sheets. The remaining four subjects are assessed by the cadet completing the questions in the First Class Cadet Logbook. The Logbook should be completed as part of each lesson and marked by the instructor. Hardcopy and digital versions of the Logbook are available.
And all the subject information can be found here.