This sounds like it could be the result of the direction of CAC in relation to the RAFAC Footprint at a Squadron Level, which has been discussed - Strategic Footprint
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What is meant by “colocation” in this scenario?
Are the squadrons sharing a building but on different nights, or will they be parading together?
Parading together, if neccesary using one CO.
And which squadron do you recruit into A or B, eventually both squadrons will be absorbed into each other under one numberplate. This just cuts down on work for the ACO and saves a lot of money.
CCF are supported by the schools in terms of facilities and staffing so far less for wing HQs to do therefore saving money for HQAC to fritter away.
They have to be close enough to make this viable though.
Too far ie more than 5 miles by road and it starts to become less attractive.
Could you recruit as effectively into the one that’s moved?
You need excellent (by British standards) public transport and ample parking as well.
Things like this while appealing to the number watchers, have no sight on the effect in the community.
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Got it one.
If you have RAFCA establishing CCF units nearby that removes recruitment from the area for the ATC.
This is a generalisation of CCFs and not true to all.
My school has a shared Contingent Commander and SSI office, another office and 1 classroom plus stores.
Staffing is a real problem for us too!
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I would never expect any joined up thinking …
Secondary School - "we want to form a cadet unit"
RFCA - “not viable as there are already x ACF, y ATC and z SCC units within 3 miles”, speak to them to get you pupils involved.
I doubt that conversation never happens.
Conversation happening, no it doesn’t. I know a squadron who went into a school that was plannig a CCF unit, the school kept very quiet about it. Does not even appear on their website. Remember CCF money comes from a different pot and central government also supports this system with money as well.
I say to all squadrons keep an eye on your local schools as this may come to your squadron, and you may never realise it’s happening until it’s too late and your squadron is affected.
It does sometimes!
There is no/little consultation.
In my locality, within a 10 mile radius of home, there are 2 ATC, 1 SCC, 6 ACF, 1 Private School CCF, 4 CEP CCF and 2 proposed CEP CCF units. The pool of recruits come from 16 secondary schools, of which 6 contain (or proposed) CCF units.
Both ATC units are starting to struggle as schools don’t want to lose their pool of recruits!!
You can discount the Private School CCF as they are a closed shop.
But the other CEP units is a nonsense with so many community options.
it would interesting to know if cadets from an open squadron would move into a school unit if the open one was shut?
They can’t as it’s only for the pupils of the school.
They could if they go to that school…
I was suggesting it from the perspective that they went to the school.
I thought CEP was meant to be funded from the money for kids from struggling families and or kids with problems and not ‘normal’ kids. Whatever normal is.
So you have kids who just don’t want to be associated with the school, think of things like bullying and general disenchantment with the people running the schools. If you have the situation where the CCF have established units in the local area and the ATC has been moved out what about those and other kids outside the that school. ATC Squadrons have civilian committee’s whose function is to help these ‘struggling’ families to engage with the ATC.
CCF units are responsible to the school governing body and HQ CCF and as such unlike the ATC whose civilian committee have their activites overseen from the wing civilian committee and the squadron as a whole to the Wing then Region then the disfunctional HQAC.
Thread revival:
has anybody here expierence of co-location and how it is working. Have you gone to one parade night a week per Squadron and maybe a combined day at a weekend a couple of time a month? Any problems between staff or cadets following the co-location and how did you handle them.
Any comments or other points appreciated.
see here
Not good news at all.