So in my squadron about 4 cadets have now been promoted to corporal (promoted tonight), I can’t say I wasn’t jealous so I really want to be a cpl but the problem is they are around the same age as I am so I’ll probably leave when they do, how do I get promoted or noticed? I’m always in the sqn I have only missed around 3 nights, I know it’s about leadership and things but we don’t do much things that requires someone to act as a leader… any tips what so ever is appreciated
Yeah.
Ask the moderator to give you a new username. You have cunningly told the world exactly who you are.
Some degree of discretion is one of the requirements of being a cadet NCO - would you like your OC to read this thread with your name attached to it?
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Don’t worry about using your own name too much. You’ve not said anything that comes across as a grievance, just a willingness to develop, although generally, it’s good to minimise information about yourself on a forum just for your own safety.
Re your actual question, I would have a chat to your OC first, express your interest in being promoted and ask for guidance what he/she thinks you need to do. Although you may not have leadership-specific activities, you can demonstrate leadership in anything you do, on and off the squadron. You should make sure you get involved in anything you can outside of parade nights, not just the fun stuff like flying/shooting etc. For example, If you have the chance to help out at fundraising events like bag packing, do it. When you’re on any activities, set a good example with you behaviour and maturity. Be supportive to more junior cadets, but avoid bossing them around (e.g. you may be good at bulling your shoes, so you could offer to help a younger cadet who may struggle in that area) Be visible in whatever you do but don’t overdo it (it’s a fine line and sometimes difficult to judge).
Finally, be patient. I bimbled along for my first few years as a cadet and didn’t get my first promotion until I was 16, but they came quickly after that and I left as a CWO (albeit appointed the day before my 20th birthday at a time you could stay as a CWO till 22)
1 - ask yourself what do they do you don’t?
copy their example. being promoted shows there is an element of being a good role model, this isn’t just attendance and uniform standards, but attitude, approach, teamwork and leadership qualities, and also maturity…
consider also their experiences. have you been on the same/similar courses? have you had a very sheltered experience only showing interest in Shooting, or road marching…?
2 - was the decision generally agreed with by the Squadron? (ie was everyone happy those were the four that got promoted?) were there questions why you DIDN’T get promoted?? if so sounds like you just missed out. if not sounds like you’re missing some of those boxes to tick.
3 - there doesn’t need to be leadership examples to show you can lead - maturity within the team will do you well. support the NCO team, encourage others to follow their lead is leadership enough in some cases
I agree with Sierra Tango’s advice. I promoted 4 cpls in my sqn on Tues and I hope that if any of my cadets are in this position that they would come and speak to me
Thanks everyone, 4 people were promoted to cpl on Tuesday at my squadron so I’ll ask my OC about what I can do better etc in a month or something to let them get settled in
I had a recent set of Sgt promotions. One of the candidates asked to see me and asked the reason why he wasn’t promoted.
We sat down and discussed the reasons. He left and has stepped up his game, and is on course for the next set of promotions next month.
His was mostly attendance on events. Be seen by ALL the squadron staff on every event, not just the fun ones.
He’s just wondering if there’s anything he can do to be promoted. If I said something similar I’d be fine with my OC seeing it. Shows hes interested in being promoted.
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You’re assuming that all of his future posts will be fairly anodyne, that if he doesn’t get promoted, but some utter chod does, he’ll not have a very public and very attributable rant about why his OC is blind/deaf/drunk//incompetent/abuses small animals…
Annonimity is a great deal easier to have when you start with it rather than try to introduce it half way through a conversation.
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Uniform Uniform Uniform
Why do you think uniform is so important?
Would an arrogant cadet who refuses to listen to his seniors be a good NCO simply because he has good uniform?
Would a cadet who constantly berates other cadets for their perceived infractions be a good NCO simply because his shoes are shinier than his contemporaries?
Or would the cadet who tries his hardest every evening, volunteers for all the events that need them, strives to help junior cadets, accepts when they are wrong yet can’t quite seem to not get the tram tracks out of their shirt?
this is a key one. Being able to take feedback without getting offended is really important as an NCO because you normally get the brute force of the punishment if your lower ranks are misbehaving; you should be able to take this on the noggin and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
I agree to an extent, however having a decent standard of uniform is essential. How do you tell other cadets their uniform isn’t good enough if yours isn’t? Surely a cadet who is seeking promotion (and has potential) would ask for help to fix their tram tracks?
I think his point is more that there’s more to a good NCO than perfect uniform. It’s a fact that some NCOs specialise in different areas, not all of them are the same, though I do agree with you on the discipline area, and that it’d be hypocritical to comment on a cadet when their own uniform isn’t up to standard.
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Maybe because I work in the uniform every day, and the fact that half my working blues are covered in some form of sealant or grease. I don’t place much value on how pristine standard working dress is. The only things I will concern myself with on an evening are missed belt loops, excess jewellery. Stuff that is readily fixable. If uniform isn’t great I don’t see the point of berating. You can’t address it there and then.
Parades, certainly, are a different matter. Rocking up looking like a sack of plop is not appropriate. But being a techie I try to avoid those events like the plague. But if you are representing in public you should do so well.
NCOs should be an example, correct, but there are more important traits to embody.
My main concern is why would you promote someone who is wholly inappropriate for the role, simply because they look good.
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OK have read a few threads about promotions.
IS there any actual hard and fast rules within the organisation,
What are the actual criteria for promotion.
Just asking as we have some potential promotions coming up and a cadet that would put most NCO’s even some SNCO’s to shame with knowledge, discipline, uniform standards, attitudes skill, dedication etc etc to shame. even the other NCO’s on sqn agree with this, however this cadet is potentially being passed over by 2 other cadets that are well not ready in any way for a promotion, however they are in line because they have “been there longer” we have a cpl, that is in line for sgt even though they again struggle with being a cpl, over another cpl that has what it takes for sgt, but the first has been a cpl longer.
Everything else within the RAFAC seems to have hard and fast written rules that everyone must abide to, so…?
No detailed set criteria AFAIK. But we really shouldn’t be promoting based on gubbins turn.
must be the only thing within the RAFAC that doesn’t have a 500 page document outlining what must be done for each new badge. and this is the badge I think most cadets actually want to achieve rather than be handed on a plate because they joined before others.
hhhhhmmmmmmmm.
NCO promotional criteria are formed by the nature of their Sqn - we are a pretty relaxed, not particularly academic Sqn that focuses heavily on AT and fieldcraft, we promote cadets based on the needs of the Sqn: if you can’t map read, or you take 25 minutes to complete a 10 minute snack/water/map/clothing/toilet break on a hillwalking, or you cry when it rains, or you fail to notice that one of the cadets in your group is limping, or indeed has wandered off, then you won’t be promoted…
For us it’s a simple test - can you cope with being I/c of half a dozen younger cadets who are cold, wet, tired, demoralised, and 4 miles from where they need to be? Do you fall apart when stuff goes wrong - a map reading error, a check point not being there, a cadet twisting an ankle or the weather turning much worse than expected?
Obviously things like a basic level of uniform and understanding of the ATC is important, but it’s the above stuff, and the cadets commitment to the Sqn that swings it.
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This is the policy we have adopted at my squadron, so that we have a standard and also to drive certain behaviours from our cadets.
Promotion to Cadet Corporal
• Minimum of 12 Months Cadet Service
• Leading Cadet Classification Completed
• Enrolled in Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
• Completed Blue Leadership
• Completed 1 further element of the Progressive Training Syllabus to Blue standard or higher
Promotion to Cadet Sergeant
• Minimum of 6 Months as a Cadet Corporal
• Senior Cadet Classification Completed
• Completed Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
• Completed Bronze Leadership
• Completed 1 further element of the Progressive Training Syllabus to Bronze standard or higher
Promotion to Cadet Flight Sergeant
• Minimum of 6 Months as a Cadet Sergeant
• Senior Cadet Classification Completed
• Completed Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
• Enrolled on the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
• Completed Bronze Leadership
• Completed 2 further elements of the Progressive Training Syllabus to Bronze Standard or higher