As it’s the holy month of Ramadan how do you guys deal with cadets who are fasting? I can’t imagine it’s a massive problem on day to day squadron life but suspect it could be quite challenging if you’re on camp trying to fit their requirements in around the other activities. The reason I ask is we had a cadet on the weekend who hadn’t eaten all day and subsequently felt faint on the final parade, WFTD in case anyone was wondering, thankfully he agreed to break his fast and we got some food and water in him.
not a cadet, but we had a lad in the Battery who fasted for Ramadan - he was pretty switched on about it, if we were in barracks doing the normal 9-5 he would fast (and some people joined in), if the climate/activity merited it he would drink water during the day, and when we went to Afghanistan he got a full dispensation from his Iman to eat and drink as much as he felt was need in order to carry out his duties to be best of his abilities.
conversation with parents required i think…
I had a couple of lads do this a while back. It’s not really an issue - i used to let them off the Sqn to go to he local take-away once it was time to eat and let them eat on the unit. They were fine with all the activities, if not a little cranky at times. If they looked off all the staff used to be switched on to take them aside for a sit down. This cycle is supposed to be worse as the daylight is longer so you might need to pay more attention!
Drinking water is allowed during fasting for Ramadan.
The Quran states that if one is on a journey or ill or cannot partake then the number of days shall be made up later.
“Exemptions: Allaah has exempted the old, sick person, traveler, pregnant woman, breastfeeding woman, menstruating woman and the old person from fasting in this month. As for the old person, pregnant woman and the breastfeeding woman, they should feed a poor person for each day. Allaah says; “And as for those who can fast with difficulty, e.g. [old man], they have [a choice either to fast or to feed miskin [poor person [for every day]].” [Q 2: 184]. The sick, the traveler and the menstruating woman, must pay back as soon as they can. Allaah says:”……And whosoever is ill or on journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum [fasts must be made up] from other days.” [Q 2: 185]. ."
I do beleive it starts from Puberty.
'Start them young: Though the young are not required to fast, it is proper for their guardians to encourage them to fast so they will become accustomed to it at an early age. They may fast as long as they are able to and then may break it."
Could be argued some Cadets are too young. But thats a parental choice.
And apparently a big thing is people not taking medication because they think it will make their fast void. Not true! Take correct medication.
I’ve only come across this once. Parade nights were not an issue, and when it came to camp, we looked at the options available. The Mess were prepared to support us with plated meals etc, but in the end the lad decided that a week at camp counted as travelling, and he could make up the days later.
The fact that we were able to offer him a choice, and support his decision was I think very important.
MW