Hiya, I need some ideas for squadron nights to keep the cadets interested. We are currently low on numbers and the reason being is because our old NCOS always used to enforce drill on the parade nights.
Yes, i know drill is important but the cadets shouldnt be doing it constantly whenever theres a break between activities for example.
We will be recruiting soon so i need some ideas on nights to plan for the next two months to keep the cadets interested and the NCO’s stress free.
Welcome to the forums, thanks for the question.
It is a question of how far forward you are looking. Do you want to entertain them for a single night, is it a long term solution aimed at supporting an achievement further down the line - DofE stuff for example. You need to be a bit more specific with things like that, and then the ideas will come.
Are you a cadet and if so do you have the TO’s and or CO’s permission to plan the evenings?
You need to be aware (if you’re not) that there is a training programme of some sort, which the NCOs are advised to follow.
In my experience the majority of cadets don’t give the real reason why they are leaving and drill might just be an easy thing to say, just like the old chestnut of exams and schoolwork.
If you have concerns about things, raise it through your CoC, which may mean talking to the Adult SNCO or the CO directly. As a CO I’d sooner cadets tell me if something’s not right, in their eyes, rather than leave. But very few do.
