We have published the first information on the MyRAFAC mobile app which is being developed in conjunction with the RAF Appivate Team. The purpose of the app is to provide an identity document, demonstrate currency of qualification (think WHTs etc) and parental consent for events and activities for cadets.
App will eventually be available to all cadets via Apple iOS and Android.
You can read all about it and get a glimpse of some screenshots from the initial development at the link below:
This project also provided an opportunity to develop a MOD-approved unescorted pass for cadets - something that the 3822 doesnāt currently provide formally.
Anything for CIs? Those membership cards are completely ignored anywhere Iāve been to.
Also, my biggest question here, if this app is done correctly could it not do everything that cadet portal can currently do, and more? Thus removing the need for cadet portal. Or indeed just calling the app cadet portal?
Not at the moment but it could be done in the future - the app has been built with expansion in mind.
MyRAFAC will compliment CP, not replace. In the future, we would like to integrate some aspects of CP, but that will be later on after the initial launch.
The article states that a cadet will sign in using their current Cadet Portal details, (great, single sign-on) but that they will not ābe required to sign in every timeā. How are we then keeping the data held within the app secure?
Will the app periodically prompt the cadet to re-authenticate with their Cadet Portal login, or are we tying in with a phoneās built in security & identity features such as fingerprint and pin lock?
All of the above - regular time outs and making use of phone security features.
The app will sync the data when the cadet is logged in - so offline access is available. Currency āup-to-date-nessā will be visually displayed.
Digital where possible - but appreciating that not all cadets have access to a device. We are working closely with the defence security apparatus to ensure that cadets who do not have a smartphone still have a way of entering an establishment with a suitable pass mechanism.
I like the idea of this - so please donāt think Iām anti. But I do have a few concerns regarding the app being ID. Obviously youāve covered off the āif cadets donāt have a smart phoneā. But what about when you go places where phones canāt be taken, phone screens are smashed beyond recognition, parents confiscate it or (as is regularly the case) the phone goes flat. Do we just get all cadets the alternative option as well, to cover all bases? Just have visions of a cadet getting challenged by RAF police in the middle of a camp, going to show ID and the phone is flat. My last camp to Odiham the 30+ cadets had access to about 4 sockets to charge phones, so most were left flat in their bags.
Lets be realistic, the vast morjority of the time they will be directly supervised by a CFAV anyway. Cadets donāt require an ID currently. Even with a digital āunescorted passā whoās going to allow cadets to wander freely around an military site?
On camps they might go off to the shop in the evening, or another similar facility. Also, at Odiham the toilets and showers were away from the main camp site - I certainly didnāt escort them there each time!
You also have to remember some Sqns are based on stations - Iāve been on two. Cadets always made their own way on base and didnāt get let on without their 3822.
People keep saying this, but every time Iāve taken cadets to an RAF station they have been required to show their 3822. So although everyone seems to be saying itās not an ID, it seems those manning gates on military establishments see it differently Last trip to Brize at the end of last year, one had forgotten his 3822 and we had to queue in the guardroom to get a pass.
I guess - but will get a bit boring constantly returning to the guardroom each time another phone goes flat. Or queueing half a coach load up on arrival - the speed guardroom IT works, could take all day just to get passes sorted.
As I said, just concerns based on situations Iāve been in. I very much like the idea of an app and had wondered why portal wasnāt an app in the first place.
I have quite a few external battery packs that you plug into your devices to recharge. Maybe ask those that have them to bring them? Nothing worse for a cadet than having a flat battery, especially for long days.
But CCF are already required to enter their cadets onto Bader. I know itās hit and miss as to whether that actually generates an ultilearn account but if youāre not putting them onto Bader how are you doing the classification assessments?
I find Bader takes a fraction of the time to add the qualifications to compared to Westminster as the UI is a lot better so itās not that much more work.
Those membership cards are completely ignored anywhere Iāve been to.
Last trip to Brize at the end of last year, one had forgotten his 3822 and we had to queue in the guardroom to get a pass.