It depends on what attributes / characteristics you are looking for. The general principle of OASC was that everyone had to be able to become an officer first, with specialist trg following. If you are looking for a CFAV with broad-brush leadership qualities / abilities / team-managing skills, then no need to change anything.
I dont think the issue lies with doing OASC. I think itās gone along way to putting an actual benchmark in place - rather than 6 varying benchmarks entirely reliant on the need in the local area at the time. Or whether your face fits. Or how much you enjoyed pleasing the WgCdr and climbing a greasy pole. OASC gives a nice, well rounded benchmark against which candidates are assessed. Are the assessments necessarily appropriate for a youth worker in costume? I think they are better than they were.
I think the issue lies with the continuous shuffling around of OASC places and their availability. When OASC was first introduced to ACO (as it was) it was with much fanfare about standardising entry points and a fairer chance for all. The cynics recognised it also fell around the same time as a recruitment freeze in the RAF with very few pilots required due some rapid downsizing, airframe retirement and everything else the late noughties brought. It was as much about keeping OASC occupied - justifying the empty infrastructure, hangers, buildings and staffing - as it was ACO. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
But, as things have moved on, it does seem to have lost its symbiotic relationship and certainly feels more parasitic - with RAFAC being the cling ons. Iāve known a few course having been chopped, swapped, rescheduled etc. Some have been justified as ālack of applicantsā from the RAFAC end others ālack of staffā at their end.
Itās not RAFAC specific. I know real RAF candidates whoās OASC dates have also changed. The difference, of course, they are applying for an actual job, RAFAC are applying for a hobby. Different motivators, different environments, different problems.
Bottom line, the RAFAC is crying out for willing volunteers - but theyāll only be messed around so much before they walk. And we cant afford that to happen at the rate it is.
Should we switch from OASC to a more ATF centric route? One where there is a marginally better understanding of volunteers? Or should somebody get a grip of OASC and this issue of cancelling/rearranging and the impacts it has on the volunteer cadre??
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ATF route for sureā¦ although thier calander seems fairly full. Not quite sure how they qould pick up the selection
Theyll argue theyāve not got the capacity. Which is fair. And giving them capacity will cost. But do we get OASC for free? Is there a saving to be had there???
Hell, it could be argued that, in the spirit of CFC, should we not consolidate with ACF and SCC? Service knowledge will obviously differ. But the key āofficer qualitiesā would (should?) be broadly similar.
Sorry. I came over all Purple and DYER then. Normal service will resume shortly Iām sure.
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Well as uniform CFAV are no longer if they ever where members of the RAF with the CFC coming, going purple is the way to go.
To be fair i think between the 3 organisations we should have a unified training program with each branch being the āspecialistsā but thats another topic
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We got lumbered with OASC when the RAF reduced its officer recruitment and to justify keeping at its staffing levels we as I say got lumbered. As such if the OASC minions want a weekend off they bin the Air Cadets, mind you ATF arenāt much better, as such, not particularly volunteer friendly. This is especially so when you take into consideration time limits are imposed on going and then the only course you might be able to do gets cancelled. I also donāt think that if you cancel because real life kicks in, you should be penalised. After all people are giving their time for the organisation and not getting paid.
Why now we when we have been categorically told that we are not in the RAF, are the RAF included in the selection process at all? Forget the BS about standards and similar nonsense, you only have to look at those who seem to find there way into the Air Cadets management from the Air Force. Far too subservient to the RAF forgetting their actual role now.
The selection process should be more focused on being a youth group leader than anything else and not trying to be a pretend RAF officer, which all weāve ever been in reality.
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I think ATF is the way forward.
Thatās the first time anyone has ever said that I answer to any question!
I wouldnāt have an issue with it going to ATF but Iāve said for years that ATF needs a major overhaul, the courses arenāt particularly relevant and I donāt rate the Training Officer in her role. (I went through prior to the current OC taking up post so canāt comment on them).
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Yeap! Everybody who falls out of that place needs a period of resettlement, readjustment and retraining about how the real world actually works rather than the HQAC bubble!!!
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The best way to learn about being a member of staff in the Air Cadets is on the job.
The only things I came away from ATF from have been; they havenāt got much idea about the coal face and by speaking to the others, itās the same if not worse turdfest across the country.
I imagine that OASC have even less of a clue about the actual role and things officers in Air Cadets, as one it is hugely different from that of RAF officer and OASC isnāt just a stopping off point before embarking on a 24 week course and once through that, further training on the actual job being undertaken . For us itās 4 days being told things of limited value, by people who have no experience of what we do and training on the job or making it up as you go along.
Iāve posed the question on BADER.
Thatās the first response to be publicly private 
Trouble is you canāt share on here as your a marked man nowā¦
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Interesting, RC(N) isnāt putting the actual response public
Perhaps RC(N) is on hereā¦ just saying
Nuts Iāve been outed 
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RC(N) has been helpful, I must admit.
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His now public response is good (as per normal) and also proves that the powers that be do still read this forum!
FYI @Jankers, everyone in the forum who has Sharepoint access now know who you are (and the RC(N) certainly does) so you may want to watch what you say
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It was a very well rounded, honest and detailled responseā¦well thats my opinion
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