I was just reading a JSP today and saw this…
8.10.4. Field training is a valuable and attractive part of cadet training. It should be conducted with cadets carrying GP rifles whenever possible. This will add to the realism and seriousness of the training, and thus enhance its value.
I was always told were are not allowed?
We aren’t allowed.
ACP 16 section 15 pg 5
“During FT the use of any form of weapon, which includes all types of replica weapons, inclusive of any that have been brought privately, BB Guns, water pistols and simulated weapons is prohibited. Blank Ammunition of any nature and Pyrotechnics from any source is also prohibited. Any violation of this directive will be dealt with severely”
Interesting that a current and valid JSP for Policy and Regulations for Ministry Of Defence Sponsored Cadet Forces is over ruled by an ACP?
Organisation-specific regulations can impose greater restrictions; they cannot lessen them.
(now look at the bit about the use of radio equipment 
)
Never seen the problem with DP’s myself, I mean, what is the danger? Considering what they add in terms of enjoyment for the cadets, I really don’t see the issue…Heard rumours that the Cadet Fieldcraft manual currently on SharePoint and used by CCF and ACF will be coming into the ATC…things may change? …
The issue has tended to be the as we’ve never normally had rifles available, the ATC tend to conduct fieldcraft training in local parks and the like. As such the ATC culture is more likely to have instances of members of the public seeing a bunch of camouflaged bods carry weapons and calling the local police firearms. Also the DP rifles are exactly that - drill purpose not deactivated, so you have a whole host of issues kicking in if you use them in public.
The ACF tend to use purely MOD land and the CCF often or not tend to use the school fields (so if the golfers have issues with section attacks going across the green its the school’s problem not MODs). If we are going to use the CCF fieldcraft manual I can see that we would need approval for each fieldcraft session in advance (& permission won’t be granted if we are disturbing the local dog walkers)
I’m not for a second suggesting that using them in public is appropriate, we obviously can’t carry DP’s in parks etc.
However I personally don’t see what the issue would be carrying DP weapons on a DTE.
Speaking coming from the ACF in a former life, carrying GP’s or DP’s is a pain the seating area.
First you have transport which is a bit of pain as you need 4 adults and two vehicles (a transport vehicle and an escort). Then you have to do declarations “I have no rounds or empty in my possession”, strip and clean the things, regardless of whether you have fired them or not. If you DO get blanks then you need an ECO to run it, every cadet needs to have an in date weapon handling test along with every supervising adult.
It’s a lot easier to shout Bang!
[quote=“Smith” post=22240]Speaking coming from the ACF in a former life, carrying GP’s or DP’s is a pain the seating area.
First you have transport which is a bit of pain as you need 4 adults and two vehicles (a transport vehicle and an escort). Then you have to do declarations “I have no rounds or empty in my possession”, strip and clean the things, regardless of whether you have fired them or not. If you DO get blanks then you need an ECO to run it, every cadet needs to have an in date weapon handling test along with every supervising adult.
It’s a lot easier to shout Bang![/quote]
It is a lot more enjoyable for the cadets though, which is the point!
It is more enjoyable, but the whole exercise becomes so impossible to organise it doesn’t happen. It’s much better to run several easy to organise field exercises without weapons than keep banging your head against a wall planning but never executing one with blank. Just my personal experience.
[quote=“Smith” post=22240]Speaking coming from the ACF in a former life, carrying GP’s or DP’s is a pain the seating area.
First you have transport which is a bit of pain as you need 4 adults and two vehicles (a transport vehicle and an escort). Then you have to do declarations “I have no rounds or empty in my possession”, strip and clean the things, regardless of whether you have fired them or not. If you DO get blanks then you need an ECO to run it, every cadet needs to have an in date weapon handling test along with every supervising adult.
It’s a lot easier to shout Bang![/quote]I am beginning to get the impression that you joined the ATC because you wanted an easy life, and doing a bit of work, planning and training was a bit too much for you.
Still, you can sit indoors in the warm now, can’t you.
[quote=“Smith” post=22240]Speaking coming from the ACF in a former life, carrying GP’s or DP’s is a pain the seating area.
First you have transport which is a bit of pain as you need 4 adults and two vehicles (a transport vehicle and an escort). Then you have to do declarations “I have no rounds or empty in my possession”, strip and clean the things, regardless of whether you have fired them or not. If you DO get blanks then you need an ECO to run it, every cadet needs to have an in date weapon handling test along with every supervising adult.
It’s a lot easier to shout Bang![/quote]
Surely you only need 2 adults just to transport weapons. Four for weapons AND ammo.
I’m guessing the transport of the blank Ammo?
[quote=“Baldrick” post=22592]
Surely you only need 2 adults just to transport weapons. Four for weapons AND ammo.[/quote]
Correct, you do not need a separate vehicle if you are not transporting ammunition at the same time. Also, given that you are already transporting kit and personnel to the training area, transporting weapons or ammunition there as well isn’t a great hardship.
So long as you have the requisite number of people with the requisite clearances and (if necessary) qualifications to do so of course
Hardly an obstacle to anything is it? It takes no more than a few minutes.
Besides, if you’ve been on a training area then you should be conducting a declaration anyway. Regardless of whether you’ve brought your own ammunition with you, everyone will have had the opportunity to pick things up.
So long as you have the requisite number of people with the requisite clearances and (if necessary) qualifications to do so of course[/quote]
and not forgetting a F/MT600 to be driving the vehicle because of course the weapons and/or ammo cannot be transported in just anything!
& Haz Goods qual? Fire extinguisher too…
If you can’t be bothered to sit through the lecture for that qualification then you don’t deserve the ammunition! Ammunition is easy.
I am so qualified, & also “stores” qualified…
However, if you haven’t got anyone qualified in your area to give the lecture(s) & qualify personnel, then ammunition is not easy, it is difficult…