In the Beginning there was Common Sense. And all thought it was good.
But then some turned away from Common Sense and the sky turned black.
So it came to pass that the MOD sent forth Policy to bring all back together.
And Policy was good.
But the roots of Policy began to spread and consume all in its way and soon Common Sense had become entangled and strangled until it was dead…
And Policy now ruled the world.
Here Endeth the Lesson
FWIW, I actually agree with the policy especially on residentials.
You’re never truly fully off-duty on a residential activity, even if on a rest period. If the excrement hits the fan, you could be called upon quite quickly to get stuff organised and keep cadets safe.
I’ve worked several years of a programme that has multiple, week-long residentials with teenage participants. We were all banned from drinking whilst on these programmes; and I quite liked a drink at the time. But, not being an alcoholic, I sucked it up and got on with the task at hand because I had ultimately chosen to be there.
As it transpired, there were several occasions where I was not on duty but had to step up to attend incidents and, had I been drinking, my ability to do so would have been greatly diminished.
Several good reasons given above for having a zero tolerance to drunkenness policy and / or a ‘two can’ rule for those on duty. Absolutely no justification for the current policy, with all the problems it’s causing finding venues, preventing cadets from attending certain prestigious events (e.g. Gala dinner at RIAT, garden parties with royalty, civic engagements with Lord Lieutenants, mayors, etc.)
The current policy doesn’t prevent this. It only prevents us hosting events where alcohol is served.
By all means attack the policy if you believe it to be wrong for us, but let’s ensure accuracy in those attacks.
I stand corrected. This was based on the cadets who are normally on the doors at Patrons Pavilion being replaced with UAS cadets last year.
I disagree: on a residential course, it should be perfectly possible to designate duty staff and for non-duty staff to go for a beer or two.
That said, on summer camp last year the definition of the supervision ratio required plus the need for male and female duty staff didn’t give much time off in the mess. But I did manage a couple of beers during the week by creating and publishing a duty rota. It required a duty officer, duty driver and duty ‘other gender’ officer, IIRC, plus one more for ratios as we had >30 cadets.
(I don’t know why 1:10 still applies during non-working hours: in fact, I suspect it doesn’t. For comparison boarding schools run over night on about a much higher ratio perfectly safely and legally.)
It was indicated but not specifically mentioned that the supervisions ratios apply 24 hours a day.
I work in a school and know that no extended trips would happen is the RAFAC rules were applied in the education sector.
Interesting aside to those points, are we also required to allow anyone who is driving to have time ‘off duty’ for hours reasons?
Yes; and this was a bit of an issue on camps. MT issued us with a form where those who might drive were required to complete working and driving hours every day, and this did need some careful management. Most camp programmes are copy/paste from previous years but some will need revision if they are going to be feasible in future. If I am ever camp comdt again then I may have to push back at the ACLO if the programme doesn’t allow time off for drivers.
(If, because if the VA restrictions rumoured do come to pass, I’m not going to accept nomination as CC in future.)
yes and i had a “heated discussion” about this regarding an air show visit.
As the activity IC and SOV driver I was told I would need additional staff to attend the make the event happen as i had not allowed “off duty” time for the Driver (me) between the drive to the show and the RTU drive.
I questioned how this was determined, and the WSO suggested that I had no allowed for any “rest period”
to which i questioned what he thought i was doing once the Cadets had been “released” to enjoy the air show and the RV at the end of the day - clue, it was sitting down watching the air show
he backed down, accepting that the Cadets were not in my direct supervision, but only reluctantly
(we had 1:10 staff:cadet ratio but he seemed insistent a driver could not be “resting” if watching the airshow, to which I suggested what else should a driver be doing to “rest” at an air show other than sitting down doing nothing between the driving elements?)
Pretty much exactly what all the coach drivers are doing, and I bet they are clocking it as rest time!
Stare at the wall?
Depends if the driver is part of that 1:10, if not he’s talking out of his hoop.
You should have enough staff on duty that this isn’t an issue, although with the current changes to VA that may well create a situation where nok E has any off duty time at all. (As a Camp Com I’ve always limited myself to 2 cans anyway, but everyone else who is off duty is off duty.)
he (i) was - it was me and one other with a SOV full of cadets. 15 Cadets: 2 Staff. but suggested that I needed a third Staff member as 1 of the Staff was the driver
In which case I’d argue he was correct. If you are part of the supervisory ratio then you are ‘on duty’ (‘work’ in MT-speak) regardless of the light-touch nature of the supervision.
I don’t entirely disagree with that, if you are part of the 1:10 you aren’t resting.
but i was sat, on the grass, watching the air show. the Cadets, dispersed in their groups “no smaller than 3” were not under supervision.
if the 
the fan then yes things would develop, but that wouldn’t change the situation if there were three staff if the driver cannot count towards the 1:10 ratio as any incident would take at least 1 CFAV out of the equation leaving the ratios out of kilter whether there was 2 + a driver or 1+driver
If a Cadet needed to go to hospital then they would need two staff to escort them, then the remaining staff member (on their own now) would now leave a ratio of 14:1…so you would need 4 staff in total to start with. But then you wouldn’t have a driver with sufficient rest for the RTU or transit to/from hospital.
May just as well take a minibus full of staff and use the photos taken for Air Rec back in the zero-risk environment of the Sqn HQ. You can then stop off at the pub on the way home (with a designated driver or course!).
But, if you did the CACE then you won’t be able to get VA, claim fuel or even have an MT bus in the first place so the activity had/will never happen.
May just as well start collecting stamps or join the Air Scouts.
precisely my point. his argument was for one more staff, but it made no difference as we’d need two additional to account for the worse case
only if you claim it - the Acct4 is a Squadron issue, if they can’t afford it the OC can tell me not to bother.
and as for VA, it was a day at an airshow, i was going along anyway, so it didn’t matter if i went with a bus full of cadets in an SOV claiming VA or on my own with all the associated costs, i was going to attend anyway.
have you considered the paper cuts?
The Armed Forces (Alcohol Limits for Prescribed Safety-Critical Duties) Regulations 2013 detail what those in the real RAF have to abide by; 35mg for a safety critical role, as low as 5mg if a regulation 5 (such as pilot, aircraft passenger, Driver or in possession/supervision of firearm).
Soooo…it could be argued by the CoC that RAFAC are to abide by the same rules (we can’t pick and choose, especially if using RAF/MOD equipment).
5mg is VERY low but could anyone argue that driving, shooting and being a passenger in an aircraft or Glider pilot is worth a more relaxed limit!? Hence saying activities are Dry is easier and more accountable on the CoC than saying “with moderation” or “a few is ok”.
The press would jump all over it if an incident were to happen and it be found anyone involved was under any level of alcohol, let alone any criminal implications. You could be prosecuted for Driving under the Influence even if you blew under 35mg if it is believed alcohol was a contributing factor, harsh but if you are driving sixteen cadets around in a minibus, I would say that is fair!?
Typically, a person having 2-3 pints the night before would probably blow about 12mg at 07:00 the following morning and be below 5mg about 09:00.