New volunteer straight into Commission?
Given the current retention problems, we are rapidly moving towards an ‘anyone will do’ position.
I was an ex CWO when I joined as a CI after some 20+ years since leaving the ATC. Luckily I had my old JNCO and SNCO course reports and my Cadet Warrant certificate. But never needed to prove anything as the WSC who interviewed me had been a CWO with me back in the day.
However I decided to learn the new ATC and bring myself up to speed as a CI instead of pushing the issue and trying to go into uniform asap.
Now as a commissioned officer and adj on Sqn my time as a CI was invaluable as now I’m expected to be the font of all knowledge and spinner of many plates.
There’s no need to rush in my experience, even a year or two as a CI to learn with ‘potentially’ no expectations is always good.
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This might be a controversial opinion, but generally speaking there isn’t much difference between CIs and uniformed staff. This will be squadron dependent, and there will more likely be a difference on certain activities, like annual camps, but day to day it shouldn’t limit what you can do.
The main difference is the ability to claim volunteer allowance, which is less easy than it used to be (there’s also an argument about whether that should be someone’s main reason to go into uniform but let’s not get into that).
Edit: I guess I’m trying to say don’t rush it if you don’t need to 
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Mines still going from 1993 which is stuck in a drawer. I’d be gutted if I lost it.
And on topic of straight into commission.
If I’d have given in to my old OC who became Wing commander and gone down the uniform route, I think I’d have struggled as I was out of this mish mash Organisation for near 20yrs.
Having been a CI for near 10yrs, I could possibly go into uniform but I don’t see the point personally as I can do all I need to do as a CI, wearing a uniform wouldn’t change me much, if at all.
Now if CI’s had to wear some sort of uniform, I’d probably have to have a think about that.
The other Cadet units we share with are always puzzled that the majority of our staff aren’t wearing a uniform!
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Not all heroes wear uniform 
to a degree i agree.
@SacraQuercus has it right when saying
as a CI there is less of an expectation to be a font of knowledge, even though in many cases the CIs tend to be longer serving members of a unit than some uniformed staff!
in terms of what can be done there is little than a Uniform can do that a CI cannot. the main being claiming remuneration (volunteer allowance) and to march on a formal parade.
the rest i have seen or heard of everyone doing, and typically comes down to confidence and competence (either through experience or qualification) that determines is someone is the right person for a role.
taking the lead for a DofE Exped, taking a bus load of Cadets to an airshow, teaching them pilot navigation or demonstrating the skills of a good leader is not determined by the clothes someone chooses to “commit to” as part of the organisation.
to get back on topic.
i am all for a brief spell as CI. be that as a Cadet moving into a CFAV role or someone coming off the street with or without prior RAF/ATC experience.
how “brief” that time is up for discussion. for me it was ~9 months as a CI between aging out as a Cadet (immediate appointment as a CI) and getting through the hoops of becoming a uniformed CFAV
this was enough time for me to separate my Cadet life and circle and understand the new life as a CFAV.
for others they may require 2 years.
for those coming off the street, with prior experience, they too might feel 9-12 months is suitable to “get a feel for the role” while others choose to wait longer. those with no prior experience may choose to get into uniform straightaway, but as is typical in the organisation, as the paperwork takes time that time is best spent as a CI to understand the CFAV role.
I used it recently to confirm my over18 cadet service with MODMO
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Personally, I think CI should be a starting point for all cadets transferring from cadet to CFAV.
I have always thought this, even when I was a cadet and CWO’s went on until they were 22. In many of the units in our Wing, the transition didnt work well, it just fell into place as those older cadets who were close to the ex-CWO left the organisation, which then allowed the new VRT or AWO to spread their wings, but in many cases that was 2-3 years down the road.
By allowing them chance to become a CI initially, it gives the individual a chance to step back slightly away from the cadets (except when instructing) to learn all the wonderful things about being a CFAV without any expectations. Yes, some will be disappointed as they want to stay in uniform but I have always felt that the right candidates will spend a minimum of 12 months as a CI, learning the role of a CFAV, completing the mandatory training etc. The only addition that I would want to see is the ability to have a catered training programme for new CFAV that ran for the 12 month period to ensure the required insight was given, rather than relying on individual units.
We have this desperate need to push everyone into uniform asap because we are short on volunteers and think this is the only way we can keep them engaged. We are short on volunteers because for many the offering isn’t good enough to stick it out. What we need to do is look at the problem, find a solution and create a transition process from cadet to CFAV that is effective for everyone (the unit and the individual themselves).
Yes, we would initially have a large number of CIs but the hope would be that many would move into uniform after the 12 months once they have a better understanding of the organisation (from a CFAV perspective) which in turn will aide them in their CFAV career.
My concern would be commissioned at 18, OC Sqn at 19, burnt out by 22 and even if they did stay, 47 years as commissioned officer if they ever made 65 years old in RAFAC 
How beneficial is that to RAFAC, and more importantly, the individual
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Edge case - not many will do that - but maybe some will and will do it well?
What we do need is a more flexible approach to a volunteer’s career. Or at least make it easier to rejoin after a break, maternity/paternity, a move etc.
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Personally, I found the civilian label so off putting that I joined the ACF as a sergeant instructor instead.
Given that (with the exception of regular SIs and HQ staff) we are all civilians, why must some roles (CI, CivCom, etc.) be labelled as such, when those filling them may be veterans or formerly uniformed CFAVs?