Thanks all for your advice.
A simple email will certainly do. Thatâs more then weâll get from some who just slowly disappear. Remember that theyâll need to bring back their uniform and anything else that has ben lent out.
I would say though that they could also speak to their staff about a reduction in time commitment. So they can still attend, but also focus their time elsewhere as needed.
That really shouldnât be happening, especially if the reason if because they need to focus on exams.
Our personnel regs specifically state to give leave for exams. We also allow this, for example, for mock exams.
Might maybe be worth you having a chat before they fully commit to leaving?
Allowing cadets some time off during busy periods of education is pretty standard. So long as they keep in touch, and appear at least a couple of times a month, then I have no problem with it!
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It depends on what conversations, if any, have gone before.
âYouâve not been attending and we havenât heard from youâ is a very different starting point to âCan I reduce my time commitment over the coming exam periodsâ.
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OCs donât have the authority to remove rank by themselves just for lack of attendance. If they were to do so, theyâd be subject to disciplinaries themselves. On this matter, Iâm speaking from experience.
If the OC is suggesting this, then either theyâre not familiar with the regulations or thereâs something more going on that you may or may not be aware of.
They do. It is still an acceptable option in our regulations.
Someone needs to let the CoC know that then.
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They do. They wrote it, and specifically included it when they wrote a new document removing it from our personnel regulations.
My point is that, seemingly as always, certain members of CoC have made clear that they see the ability of an OC to demote a cadet as non-existant (they view the rules differently to what the rules say). The last time an OC I was working with did this, they were investigated and came close to being removed from post.
Whilst the Wing Commander claims he saved this individual from what HQAC wanted to do, weâll never know the truth.
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I think the rule says an OC must inform a WSO, but they donât need a consult. They are free to remove rank as they think is fit. That has been in ACP 20 for years. But now moved and reinforced within ACP 25.
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I really hate this (modern?) mindset from (certainly our cadets) parents that itâs all study (work) and no play! Then again I know the pressure on the student from the schools is unreal (and frankly IMHO wrong) - including going straight into exams in Jan.
Surely itâs beneficial to have some form of escape for 2 hours a week (drop down to one parade night) (* Have the night off before an exam) and minimise the amount of weekend activities that one participates in.
Is it worth completely dropping out with circa 2-3 years left in the organisation depending where they are in the school curriculum? Still lots of opportunity to be had.
If, as you say the investment doesnât match the return, surely thereâs more to it than just education being forced as a priority? Is your cadet actually making the most of all the opportunities or just mindlessly attending without any real drive to be the best version of themself?
What courses are they interested in going on and what steps have they taken to get on that course. If there arent any course theyâre interested in, perhaps youâre right its time for them to quit, but not due to education being a priority.
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A few different things being brought up here - most of which Iâm certain staff see every yearâŚ
Letâs start with basicsâŚ
Does the cadet HAVE to leave� No. They could simply ask for a period of extended leave for study purposes.
Letâs remember that first of all, this is a voluntary organisation.
Next letâs remember that the purpose of this organisation is for the betterment, education, training and development of young people, to give them an insight into all matters relating to the RAFâŚ, etc blah blahâŚ
Itâs about helping young peopleâŚ.
In an ideal world, cadets would have no problem balancing their commitments to their education and to their extracurricular activities.
But not all cadets find it as easy to do so.
If itâs an âall or nothingâ thing, then both as a parent of a former NCO, and as a former CFAV, I would say that education should always come first - because it will have the biggest impact on their life.
That being said, I would urge them to consider all the upsides to staying with cadets, but reducing their attendance / commitments.
Firstly, the mindfulness of routine and socialising in a structured environment, provides not only normality, but a break from academia.
Cadets is best described as âeducation by other meansâ or âeducation behind the classroomâ.
So much of what is learned or developed at cadets simply isnât touched on in schools.
You donât mention which exams - but Iâm going to assume GCSEs.
It is easy to argue that your GCSEs are probably the hardest exams that youâll prepare for, because you have SO many different subjects to coverâŚ
School life would be so much easier if you studied 5 one year / then the other five the next year!
Whichever exams are on the horizon, it ultimately comes down to the individual - to put it simply, do you want to stay at cadets� And, would you like to be able to return to cadets after the exams�
If youâre happy to leave, then a simple, polite email or letter should suffice. Personally, I would recommend including a comment thanking the staff, possibly highlighting any that have made a particular impression.
You might then consider mentioning any particular high points during your time as a cadet.
A brief explanation of what youâre leaving is all that is needed.
Be polite and remember to say thank you for the opportunitiesâŚ.
Donât forget to return all kit that was issued to you, including your 3822, if you still have it, so it be be signed off.
You might also want to make a list of any kit that you have bought privately, and ask if you can advertise it at the Sqn.
But⌠what if you donât WANT to have to leaveâŚ?
Exams are stressful - and you should be doing your best to prepare for them.
Is there a member of staff that you feel comfortable chatting with to discuss your concerns?
Many cadets, each year will do exactly this. Whatâs more - I would expect any well run Sqn to be only too well aware which cadets have exams loomingâŚ
Exact details may vary from unit to unit, but I would expect units to be able to handle a significantly reduced attendance - provided the cadet does still TRY to honour whatever minimum commitment is requestedâŚ
This minimum commitment should be agreed by the cadet, the staff and to an extent - the cadetâs family, so that everyone is treated fairly and no one is being forced to handle any undue pressure.
For some cadets, this might mean only being able to attend the Sqn one evening per week,⌠others may attend once per fortnight, or even less!
But what should be considered is the planned approach. âLetâs TRY thisâŚ?â One of the core principles is to foster teamwork and support⌠if cadets are not being supported when they need it most, then shame on us.
I know of units that have run study sessions in the first half of the evening - then break - then cadet stuff afterwardsâŚ
The tricky bitsâŚ,
This is going to build up during the spring and into the summer term, when all sorts of activities are going to be happening. One could ask, âis it fair that XX gets a flying slot, when theyâve only been here 1:4 nightsâŚ?â
It might mean that this has to be discussed between the staff and the cadet⌠that perhaps of their attendance drops below that which was agreed, their selection for activities maybe jeopardised.
It might also attract attention, if you use studying as a means to avoid less enjoyable activities⌠or you ask to know what activities are when, so you can âpickâ.
Without knowing how large your unit is, we canât comment as to how intrinsic you are, to the planning & delivery of activities and training to other cadets.
If you are one of two Flight Sgts and you would be expected to be conducting a classroom activity at least once per week - then I can understand the OC not wanting to be short staffed - but this is THEIR problem.
All work and no joy makes Jack a dull boy and all that - wouldnât it be better if you had something to look forward to each week.
You donât mention if you have any other extracurricular activities such as sports, hobbies or part time work.
Failing to include fun activities, and better yet sporty / social activities only has a very short term benefit.
Being able to talk over whatâs on your mind away from the problem, is infinitely more valuable than being stuck at home!
Imagine what the corps would be like, if everyone left, because of their exams⌠and never came backâŚ
What about attending both nights one week, but either none or just one the next weekâŚ
What about taking a sabbatical until after the exams - but returning afterwards�
You donât mention what level of attendance you have had to date, and whether attendance has been a previous difficulty.
Youâve mentioned ârank reductionâ. What a terrific way of disincentivising young people!
Rank Reduction should only be used as a punishment - for it will only be perceived as such.
If there has been an established pattern of absence without prior notification, then I can empathise with your staff - as they are trying to organise the training and welfare of the entire Sqn⌠and you may be central to those plans.
Ultimately - I think a little conversation needs to be had first, before making your mind up completely.
Personally - I would want you to have your cake and eat itâŚ
Agree to a reduced attendance, but agree to a pattern that can be planned around and a level that you CAN adhere to.
If you find yourself able to attend when not expected, then thatâs a wonderful bonus.
If you need to reduce your attendance further - then try to discuss this with staff at the earliest opportunity.
I would love to know that you are studying and that your grades will be better as a result⌠because you will undoubtedly be more confident yetâŚ
Best of luck with whatever you decide!
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Cadets leaving due to education commitments is not a new thing. That doesnât mean it isnât a shame, but itâs part of our natural attrition rate.
It also sounds the squadron arenât even offering flexibility for completing RAFAC related work, so getting study leave out of them is probably a stretch. For the record, there should be no requirement for a cadet to complete work outside of a parade evening (apart from uniform prep and longer weekend courses).
If this is true, then thatâs a big concern. Thatâs obviously not the way to motivate anyone, let alone teenagers trying to enjoy a hobby. Someone might need to go and have words.
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See further to my above, context is key, certainly where i volunteer we encourage/allow/donât punish those who take time off for studies.
I would say that something needs to be said to the CO or Sector Commander if this is the case, on both counts the general threat of demotion (evidently not just to your cadet) but also the lack of focus/opportunity to the event that is offered to your cadet but then not given the appropriate resources for them to achieve.
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You (as a parent) are in the perfect position to raise this.
Without the parents on side, we have no cadets!
Perhaps the OC doesnât have kids (or certainly kids currently in the education system) and thus doesnât realise how much things have changed.
Doesnât mean i still donât believe that
a) young people need some time away from studies each week to enable them to be more well rounded and as you say allow them to focus on their time management.
b) the current education system which places an unfair onus on going to university is right
100% something needs to be said. We go as far as providing study nights sometimes. Allows cadets to come in, still socialise in a cadet enviromental but slay crack on with some GCSE/A-Level study with their peers.
Yes, exactly.
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I said schools, not you!
My comments (certainly initially) were quite generalised at a situation i see every year.
This should also be something that is doable.
In terms of feeding back any concerns, it sounds like youâre probably right in that it might makes things more difficult for the cadet if they were to stay. However, it sounds like theyâve already made up their mind so it could be something you feed back in the email you send?
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