Why not make tagging along on a private course as the way forward as the rule?
Does it not occur to people sitting in the ivory towers that so few want to do things, due to the timing and location of the courses? We have a number of archery instructors around the country who all do the appropriate courses privately and the one on our squadron I have had it paid by the CWC and they run shoots once a month for 9 months of the year.
The 4 I know who do paddling and 3 climbing are all members of clubs do it as a hobby and acquire qualifications etc that way. Not one of them has been on an Air Cadet course. They have their own kit and the paddlers have at least 3 kayaks each. I’m not entirely sure, but I think you need licences to paddle on rivers and lakes, so you could do an Air Cadet course but to retain the skills there needs to be lots of personal practice/water time.
Because if what Baldrick has just said. The cost.
If people aren’t willing to travel then you have to pay the premium for a more local course.
The same way that the scouts run internal course to maintain a set level of quality, and the course being massaged to be focused on working with young people.
Here’s a novel idea. Those who want to do it cheaply through the cadets can, but that means less choice on location /date. Those who want to go private for whatever reason can, but don’t expect HQ to foot the difference in price. It’s open to CWC to help if the finances allow
The main issue is one of the same as every sepcialism in the Corps.
Shooting, AT, radio, etc etc.
As soon as you want to get qualified, the time required is extensive and often preventative. Unless of coure you are a 20 year old with no real job pressure, no partner, no kids who is able to give every weekend or often entire weeks to a training course.
Same problem for a Sqn OC. The real bread and butter of this organisation yet often treated like poo.
Then you have no time or support to do quals. Lose interest in why you first stayed om and leave.
They need to spread the opportunities around, not just hold them centrally.
I know a unit who provide First Aid to their Staff at the Squadron’s convenience and gets everyone done in one hit rather than rely on Wing courses which are few and far between and have had dates moved or even cancelled.
D1 is a prime example.
one location, which although central is far from convenient for the majority.
No cost to the individual (save the time) as it can all be claimed back, but requires driving to Hull. or use one of the local D1 schools who will also offer +E and makes the course worthwhile!
We can of course, in theory, use our limited MODnet access to sign up for the RAFs own courses.
However, there are some problems, with Paddlesports for instance, the RAF/MOD have their own courses and Quals, which are not automatically British Canoeing equivalent. They also require a proper RAF swim test, which can be difficult to arrange.
I would say that the new management do recognise there is a spatial issue involved with AT centres being awkward to access - and there’s a broad unwillingness to travel for a 2 day round trip for 3 day course - especially when stringent budget holders are refusing to cover transport for “staff development”.
Last year - and this year - I’ve seen HQAC AT pool staff being deployed South (and North!) To run local courses in peoples local environment. Specifically paddlesport, HML and LLA courses - but later this year there are also region based climbing courses occuring.
This certainly gets over the staff training issue - but does rely on other DTEs to host. Its still a cheaper option - far cheaper than commercial NGB courses, even club sponsored courses.
What the immersion of Fairbourn will see a lose is a pretty sound training facility with a generous kit store (although id like to think theyll move the kit out before it floods).
HOWEVER, its not the end of the world. We’ve been doing independent Sqn and Wg AT camps for some years. Our 1 weeks allocation at an NACATC - often in term time - isnt enough to deliver a quality AT experience to those who need it. So we beg and borrow kit and equipment, book a DTE and do it ourselves.
Its undoubtedly harder work for the staff than rocking up and having a centre manager to support you, to bounce ideas off, or to lend their knowledge or experience to your camp. But it is doable and very achievable. We’ve even managed to get a budget to buy in external staff to deliver AT where staff experience/NGBs are not available.
Dont get me wrong, i will be sad about Fairbourn floating away - especially if its not replaced with an equally good centre. But its not the end of the world. What would be close to it, would be removal of access to courses for staff development which go on to enable AT to happen locally at Sqn and Wg level.
TBH HQAC need to wake up and realise with the drawdown over the last 30 years, that MoD/RAF is not the way to go anymore. At one time they would have been the only option, but the world has moved on and now there is a lot more provision for training etc for AT and other activities, that is closer to people. Being potentially more local it can enable a rapport to be established and lead to other things. While some like to do the mates bit with people at cadet establishments, they are too remote for the majority to be of any real use.
However the idea of getting CWCs to foot the bill fits with HQAC’s MO for the last couple of decades.
Who’s going to pay the extra costs? Are you going to get it out of your magical £350 million promised to the NHS?
We have a system where if you want the taxpayer to fund you then you are limited as to where and when you go. If you want complete freedom then you may need to pay the extra.
You love prattling on about how cadets isn’t run as marvelously as your company but I can almost guarantee that if you want your company to fund training, even for career development which will help them, they will put limitations on the costs which may mean you can’t do it at the nearest location with the most convenient time.
No one is saying you can’t do off and get the relevant NGB qualification yourself.
