Is there a RAFAC approx guide out of interest for split of NCO’s/CI’s to Officers. The ACF advises they have about 2/3rds AI’s (Adult instructors) to 1/3 Officers. It would be interesting to see if we have a similar balance or how if we are closer to 50/50.
Are you looking for what is recommended or what the stats actually are? The annual cadet forces stats on the gov website might have the actual numbers. And ACP 19 has what the recommended number should be.
what the stats actually are
Not split by rank but having taken a look - see here: MOD sponsored cadet forces statistics: 2024 - GOV.UK
the split by uniform versus non-uniform is as below
70/30 split in gender (male/female)
while the male split between uniform and non-uniform is almost 50% (47/53)
the female split is much more extreme, with a third of female CFAVs in uniform, with two thirds not (35/65)
edit to add:
filtering for ACF, the numbers are close split by gender (69/31) but single figures are non-uniform, males 2%, females 7%
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It will be interesting to see if they have a strategy ( 
) on how they are going to recruit CFAV for the “mass planned expansion” and where they see the resources. Where feasible, I think more sector work needs to be done, we are starting to get there with CFAV not being so sqn committed but either inviting other squadrons in the sector to run say a EFA weekend or blue fieldcraft where staff “skills” might not cover all squadrons or sending them to other squadrons. Although and this especially goes for the countryside/island squadrons that isn’t going to be a one fit all policy. It is trying to get some of the “oldies” on board of we are in it together, especially when they might be a “shooting squadron” but don’t seem to do anything else.
So based on the SDR 2025 strategy of a 30% increase by 2030, if we are to increase cadet numbers, there should be a retrospective increase in CFAVs.
Do HQAC honestly think they will see a 2500 increase in staff over the next 5 years, taking the CFAV totals up to almost 11,000.
If they don’t look at staff recruitment and retention, there is no/limited changes of hitting the 30% target!!
you are spot on to identify an “increase of 2500” and not simply “recruitment of 2500”.
2500 over 5 years is “only” 500 a year, across the whole organisaton that is 1 new Staff member every other Squadron. While I cannot put figures to this claim, I would suggest on the half a dozen Squadron’s I have been on, most years a new CFAV was introduced to the team.
but that doesn’t take into account anyone leaving - which is far from one a year in my experience, although the last 5 years has seen that rate increase.
it is as much about retention of the existing 8500 CFAVs as it is recruiting 2500+ more (the + to account for some of those 8500 leaving for various reasons)
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It does, though it raises issues of location / facilities. The only sites in my sector that can support sector working space wise are those in Reserve centres (we have none in JCCs) and those sites are in heavy demand from other users too.
Yes, totally understand it’s not a one size fits all.
I was chatting with my OC and apparently they are struggling to get adult NCOs. Not sure if this is similar across all regions
I can’t say I’m surprised. From what I’ve heard from people doing PU courses and SNCO boards, they either put you off uniform altogether or try to push you down the CFC route.
My DepOC wing is trying to push NCOs in Officer roles down the CFC route (we had a lot of possible officers not want to do OASC) so that they can stop clogging up NCO positions
It’s a bit silly really. There’s no limit to the number of SNCOs or officers there can be. While there aren’t any benefits to one vs the other, you can’t blame people for not wanting to move to a CFC.
You still have sectors? Locally these have fallen away to a purely administrative feature if that.
I would suggest it needs to be more. That only really accounts for the losses in recent years and when we were at a higher level, without increasing cadet numbers, I would describe it as “just about manageable, but more would be helpful”.
I’d agree.
I did pretty well as a new officer in the ATC, but there was definitely a lack of available support in many areas that made the roles I undertook much more difficult than necessary.
This experience means that, should my return to the UK be permanent, I might still get involved with the cadet forces but I’d give RAFAC a miss.
ACP 19(?) lays out Max allowed Uniformed staff per Sqn, so If you’ve got a WO as your OC, and/or they have a position at wing which is scaled for an Officer,
By not comissioning, They are Clogging the pipe, stopping someone coming up as an A/Sgt
I’ve never really seen that stop anyone moving up. They might be asked to move units but it’s not really enforceable. If they turn people down because they won’t move then they’ll just leave.
We are certainly seeing this, hardly anyone coming through as a Sgt now.
Most of the ex cadets seem to be remustering as CIs, some with a view of commissioning at a later date.
(But also very little interest in staying on post 18 as staff cadets so the pipeline for new adult SNCOs is breaking down)