BBC News - King’s coronation: Thousands from armed forces to take part
Really hard to understand why there won’t be a sizeable component of cadet forces being involved if the intention is to have “thousands” of uniforms in London.
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The press release that story is based on does talk about a cadet involvement admittedly not a marching component but something. I do hope at least the ATC banner is Paraded along with the other cadet force banners if there is no other marching involvement. “ Around 3,800 seats have been offered in a specially-built grandstand in front of Buckingham Palace which will host veterans, NHS and social care workers, and representatives of charitable organisations with links to The Royal Family. Additionally 354 uniformed cadet forces will be offered the opportunity to watch the Procession at Admiralty Arch.”
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I rather take the view that if OC’s, Cadets and Parents don’t yet know about a trip to London a mere 3 weeks before it needs to happen, then there probably isn’t a trip to London…
We’ve got holiday providers for neighbours, and we supply other holiday businesses - they all report that demand for accommodation and camping pitches for the coronation weekend is off the scale.
Good luck with a rush job for that weekend…
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As said further up I have 1 cadet attending Admiralty Arch, I understand there are 30 ATC cadets to be part of the 354 listed in this press release.
As mentioned above, Regions DO know, and have contacted Wings to select cadets. My Cadet Warrant is going, very well deserved opportunity for her.
And I don’t begrudge those few going. But the emphasis is on the few.
I find it staggering how the King himself has said he wants to emphasise community and have tens of thousands of uniforms on display, but nobody’s thought of having the tens of thousands of community uniforms involved…
Members of the armed forces will do this parade, some reluctant (“giving up another weekend…” I’ve heard those grumbles first hand often enough), cadet forces would gleefully choose to be involved.
The difference is that the military are easily accommodated, at my old unit whenever something ceremonial came round they put Squaddies on the floor of the TA Centre, you can’t do that with Cadets.
You also know exactly what you are going to get in terms of dress and standards, they are already doing regular rehearsals in the middle of the night you won’t be getting a mass of Cadets who can/will do that.
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@daws1159 puts his finger on where the ‘footprint’ idea comes unstuck - if a load of Scouts turn up to the coronation parade/whatever, and some look a bit scruffy, and they don’t march in time, no one will care, because it’s the Scouts, and that’s not what they are about.
If the ACO turn up - kids the same age - and they look smarter than the Scouts, but like a bag of spuds next to the RAF, then people (the RAF, London District Sergeant Major, tedious people on the internet etc…) will notice, and they’ll get a right monk-,on - so the RAF don’t push the ACO to the fore.
It’s Schrödingers’ Footprint: to be the ‘seen’ element of the RAF, but not seen because they can’t be managed in the same way.
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This is my new favourite phrase to describe the approach to managing the RAFAC.
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Won’t deny that’s a factor, but introducing a qualifier like “cadet must have taken part in a D&C Camp” would negate that.
And I’ve seen plenty of regulars who are utterly gash at drill…
Guess I’m just saying it would have been nice to be involved. Don’t even need to parade, we could route line easily enough.
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Which is why they are marching up and down the Mall every night.
Doesn’t solve the accommodation issue though, unless you just you London and Middlesex Wings but you all whinge when Lord Mayors Parade happens every year.
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Well, we’ve got a load of tents… Oh no wait.
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Funny how it is an issue in a reserve centre, but on a training area it’s “yeah whatever, fine”.
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Surely there’s a private school in the area with a CCF(RAF) section who would be happy to help out?
Accommodation might just be rollmats in classrooms but they will have ablutions, etc…
But as stated, far too late now. Disappointing.
I would hazard a guess that no one ever offered us to the Earl Marshal. I can understand there are logistical challenges but not anything that couldn’t be overcome.
Maybe this is a lesson for next time that cadet 1*s (or possibly the LASER ceremonial officer/their equivalent) should be included in the committee for the ongoing funeral/coronation planning
Too be fair, I would have expected all the Lord Lt cadets to form a contingent to represent the cadet forces rather than a specific ATC contingent.
I can also see a slight complication with having UK cadet forces March is that you then need representation from the cadet forces of the other nations which would be a massive logistical nightmare.
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But does every county have a LLC or even active LLC position 
It is 1 per cadet force per Lord Lieutenant usually. Obviously some might not have one from a specific cadet force at present due to them leaving or something, but if you invited all Lord Lieutenant’s cadets from the ACF, ATC, SCC and CCF, you could have a decent representation.
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Some Lord Ltd also have cadets from St Johns , Police & Fire so that would be a nice inclusive representation as well.
Oh well perhaps for the next one.
Well since it’s a London Event it would surely be for the LL of London and the 32 DL’s Cadets to get first dibs.
The local LL’s will all get their chance later in the year when he does his national tour.
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