Due to life and Covid etc, I have not managed to attend a blue camp since I was a cadet myself.
HQ have benighted me as CC for Summer Camp regardless - so my question is… what duties and admin can I expect other than the obvious ones of return cadets alive, with all limbs attached to parents and to keep the Cadets from getting too familiar with one another?
No one has told me nuffink - just ‘tag Sir, you’re it!’. 
You’ll probably be expected to get there the Thursday before camp starts to get a handover from the outgoing bunch and meet a couple of people on the station, ingratiate yourself to them to get them on board.
Then go to stores and hand over biscuits and beer and, crucially, don’t ask for any favours straightaway!
Admin side, lots. It’s the air cadets after all.
I’ve always thoroughly enjoy being a camp comm, it is hard work but highly rewarding. What station are you heading to?
Getting a good team of people around you is key and early engagement with the station ACLO so that you know what you’re walking in to.
ACP237 covers all of the administrative requirements, responsibilities etc. so is definitely worth a read.
Historically a WExO would be tasked to do a pre camp visit to the station, it’s worth finding out if that is happening and preloading them with any questions you might have.
I always try and get to the station as early as possible on the day before, maximising my chance to get around and see people that can influence the camp, drop in to SHQ, meet the ACLO/DACLO, check in with the mess manager at the JRM, leave your contact details with the guard room, check accommodation as early as possible, getting accommodation issues sorted on the weekend is likely to be unsuccessful.
Camp funds are always an important issue, I usually task this to the adj, collection of funds, recording of receipts for expenditure etc, your wing treasurer should have some guidance on how they want to receive those records.
Small gestures such as biscuits always go a long way when building those relationships, I tend to do a bit of a “thank you” drop off towards the end of the week to the people that have really helped make it a good week.
Hopefully a few useful tips in there, but no doubt you’ll have a great time and the cadets will have a great experience!
Make sure you confirm with the Sections/POC on the Friday morning that whatever is on the programme for the following Monday is still on and they are expecting you!!!
If you’re not running week 1, then make nice to the previous Camp Comdt even if they are from the CCF.
A few years back I ran a camp at Odiham and the incoming CC arrived on the Thursday night. He spent the whole of Friday being offensively supercilious, criticising the CCF, and generally making a tit of himself. He declined to join us for a drink in the mess, which might have normalised relations.
I mean, he did arrive to find the office tent featuring two fridges (one for drinks for the cadets, one for the staff), a carpet and a chandelier. But we could have told him all sorts of useful things if only he’d asked.
Can you give me the NSN for that please?
Afraid that’s only released to people at Headmasters Conference meetings.
But back on topic I would say first task is find yourself a good adj who has been on a camp before and make contact with the ACLO to introduce yourself.
This is essential.
A good experienced camp adj is worth weight in gold.
Other top tips, if you get a chnce and they arent roo far away from.camp. pre visit the off site activities to get the lay of the land.
The key to an easy camp - like an easy Sqn - is having an Adj and a WO / SNCO Discip who know what they’re up to.
You’ll garner all the pertinent local info as part of the handover (messing, locations, rough programme, &c) and then they’ll be able to do most of the hard work for you.
My experience says: Be prepared for the programme to be very idealistic. You’d certainly be wise to ensure that sections are contacted at least the day before any planned section visits. Just because the ACLO has put it on the programme doesn’t mean a thing! If I had £1 for every time we’ve spoken to a section and they hadn’t been told we were coming…
Also be prepared for some serious hurry up and wait. Camp seems to be a constant battle not to be late for scheduled visits.
Section visits…
Yawn…
1 in 15 are AMAZING all the kit, very approachable, keen, get the kids involved.
The rest, just see it as it is. Another blocker to getting home on time.
So true, I did Waddington a few years back and all of the Squadron visits were a waste of time as they had no aircraft. Could’ve all been squeezed into one joint video/PowerPoint rather than one for each type of aircraft that the Cadets didn’t get to see!
I suppose it depends on the enthusiasm of the Staish and the ACLO. Some go all out to give the cadets an amazing week - Odiham, Lossiemouth, and Kinloss were always good weeks.
On the other hand, Ive been on some stations that spend longer on the H&S brief than on the section visit…
We’ve had some really great ones at Lossie.
Squippers had the cadets inflating life vests which was a great laugh.
This is bonkers.
I’ve done one as a CI and will be a Dep CC this year for my first in uniform, but this (and the from Thursday) was the reason I didn’t put myself forward for CC.
Good luck 
Yeah is a big step up!!
Flight or fight and all that.
I think it all comes down to a great team, great comms and great networking.
Also. Might be worth reaching out to the local. Wing to the station, if you dont have saai etc they may be able to support
I’ve been CC a few times and all the previous comments are good.
It’s essential to have a read of the pre camp visit report so you have an idea what to expect, but make sure you go through things with the ACLO and outgoing CC to get ‘reality’. I always made a point of checking dress regs with the two messes beforehand to find out whether they’ve got any VIP visitors planned to the messes just in case you need to warn people about possible jackets and ties. They may have a formal dinner planned and it’s not unheard of for messes to invite CFAVs who are there at the time.
These days, the Stn Cdr is unlikely to meet you on arrival and departure, but OC Admin/Base Wg probably will. Don’t hold back with any points during any departure debrief with the big cheeses either. I think they really do want to give the cdts the best they can and if things haven’t worked, say so; it’ll be to the benefit of those following you too, but best tell the ACLO of any issues first though!
Overall, enjoy the experience, get a good team around you (Adj, WO as mentioned) and keep all of your CFAVs busy, there’s nothing worse than going to camp and not feeling you’ve contributed.
Forgot to add that it’s a good idea to do a detailed check of the cadet’s allocated accommodation on takeover to make sure that any damages or faults are logged and ideally reported. That way, you won’t end up possibly being billed for someone else’s high spirits!
I’ve also found it worth popping into SHQ on the Friday to make the acquaintance of the SWO, and give him/her your mobile number. (Just NB SHQ can be a Hats On area - check signs on the way in…)
It takes guts to do that, and the SWO will be impressed; more to the point, if you say ‘any issues with my cadets, get straight onto me and I will sort it’ then an awful lot of problems can be headed off at the pass and the SWO will be on your side from day one.
In my experience, anyway. I’ve never yet had one say anything other than ‘thanks for popping in Sir, I really appreciate it, have a great camp’. One of them asked to inspect the cadets on Monday morning at 0900 which scared the bejesus out of them (and got them ironing/polishing on Sunday night!) but all he actually did was chat to them about what a great camp he hoped they would have.
Don’t forget to visit the SWO and drop off your contact details, and make sure your senior SNCO does the same. Having the SWO onside is gold dust. Can open so many doors.
If you are on a station with a Wing / Region HQ I would also touch base with them - they can have a lot of useful knowledge and also help with things like missing uniform items (but don’t rely on this). IN the past they have helped me with printing and other bits of admin tasks.