We try and be as ‘military’ as is practical. The cadets refer to staff as ‘sir’, ‘ma’am’ etc. We refer to them by surname, or occasionally Mr. … or Miss … (something that will cause issues soon I’m sure!).
A nearby unit refers to their cadets by first name - which I think could send out mixed messages.
We try and keep a good standard of uniform.
A unit very easily slip down to a youth club if things slacken off too much.
Yes, the ‘real’ RAF are more relaxed, but then it’s their job - no don’t really expect them to be bulling shoes every day etc.
Remembering always that we’re a funny sort of half-way house between recruit training and real world.
The standards required during RAF recruit training are very different to those required once actually “on the job”.
The RAF have recruits for mere weeks; we have cadets for 5-7 years.
If we go too far towards the “real world” approach, eg calling subordinates by their first name, referring to seniors as “boss”, “flight”, &c are we properly preparing them for service? They’ll have a hell of a surprise when they get to recruit training (those who do). Not to mention that one of the things which sets us apart from other youth groups is the military influence.
On the other hand we shouldn’t confuse the ATC with Bad Lads Army. 7 years of solid recruit training standards would be tough for anyone and isn’t reflective of life actually in the service.
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It is interesting that staff in uniform are stuck in this “recruit training” bubble for as long as they are in uniform and it gets extremely wearing and doesn’t replicate in any way the real life job experience, for staff or even cadets at school.
Thee is a ramble about lack of discipline, but does how we go about things improve discipline. I don’t care really how staff refer to me, fist name or some other moniker as suggested. I tend to refer to them by first name, as that’s what happens at work.
You know what else gets really wearing?.. I think everybody else does.
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Probably for the best 
but I don’t think you’re special by using first names for staff.
Pretty sure most of us play the game - formal when cadets are around, whatever goes when they aren’t.
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Good thing the cadets aren’t employed the RAF AC.
We aren’t a workplace and neither are we the real RAF, however we have a standard to uphold when wearing their uniform and being part of a youth military organisation.
I use first names with all staff I know, doesn’t matter if Cadets are there or not. The only difference between us is one chap or lass likes to wear a uniform and get saluted. I’ve had CI’s who joined after me go into uniform and turn in to (add a suitable word that would get censored) I never refer to uniformed volunteers as sir or Maaaaa’am but I like to be a rebel 
One of the mainstays of militaryness is IMO footdrill, however we as squadrons are not “scaled” for somewhere to do it, some may be lucky and have sufficient space in their compound… We used to use a primary school playground but that school became part of an academy chain 4 years ago, they knocked down the caretakers house which now means the caretaker lives off-site, which now means the gates are locked. So now we use a council run car park if there is enough space, so maybe once every 2-3 weeks, weather dependent.
We have permission to use the back of the our local supermarket which is fenced in. We had half our old parade ground built on and it was a case of what now?! One of our staff went to google maps and starting from the Sqn looked for big, safe open spaces and 3 or 4 calls later got in contact with the supermarket and they said yes not a problem and gave us the key code. When I was a cadet we used a school grounds and had a spare key to the padlock. I doubt all these academy’s as the majority are would still allow that now.
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The arrangement we had at the school was a loose long term historic one and the caretaker had been living there for years. We did ask for a key, but told no. I think we could have gone on their keyholder list which would have had ramifications.
We don’t have a supermarket large enough to have its own car park and the car park we use is the shops and railway car park, hence it is hit and miss as to when we do it.
I have seen the irony that we are supposedly providing training useful in service and civilian life and drill is the mainstay IMO of the service training, yet we have to go to all manner lengths to find our own solutions.