So had an email saying all cadets aged 16+ have been sent a survey asking about their time and experiences in the organisation, as part of an overall review of activities and ACTO 11.
OC wings and Sqns will get one soon too.
Anyone know what the questions of the cadet version are? And the purpose?
Could be linked to the discussion on “Valuing our Volunteers” - CFAV Attitudes
Some examples my NCO team have shared with me.
Uploading: 8C686E42-D4C4-4C82-A9AD-2B3714319115.jpeg…That’s one for a new thread. This is about the survey please.
Like all Air Cadet surveys; stilted towards a response, giving a false report.
Where in the survey is the “not really interested” option. This is valid as a response. It enables a better idea at what the cadets enjoy. I’ve set up questionnaires at work used as part of studies we do and we always include a negative, as it gives us a better idea for improvements.
Throughout my time in the Air Cadets there have been many who have not been interested one little bit in some things.
If I’d got a question say on Cross Country, I loathed it at school and I never did it as a cadet and nothing would make me do it for that exact reason. So I’d have to leave that question unanswered, which means nothing. There are a lot of cadets not interested in some of the things we do. I’ve found out there are several cadets who play badminton at school, but no interest in anything else ‘organised’ sport wise. I’ve got cadets who don’t like and won’t go camping and I know several adults who don’t like it either.
This survey does seem a bit flawed. Hit/miss/maybe questions are okay for feedback. The “not taking part in” response is telling but only when linked to another factor - “why” have they not taken part?
The cadet may not want to - which is quite different to not having the opportunity to take part.
The absence of narrative also means some of the context will be lost in favour of a bland “it was okay” response.
But bless them for trying!
You need comments to give it context, but this requires a detailed analysis and I’m not sure this is what this is about.
Without the “don’t want to / not interested” option, given these will give a not taken part means being told we’re not giving cadets opportunities.
It seems to imply that everyone who joins wants to do everything on offer.
The OC survey is quite poor, I appreciate that question only enables them to grab a snapshot but context is everything
Given the surveys we’ve done and the lack of any action, if it’s not the expected results, (which stems from DYER) is there any point, having seen the poor question setting for the cadet one.
Why can’t we have an all adult staff survey, rather than just OCs.
I’d agree with that - there’s a “have not yet taken part” field, but no way of the survey collators knowing whether that’s through interest or opportunity.
Given that it’s supposed to be an overall view of activities, at the very worst case we could end up with activities that people aren’t doing (through unavailability) curtailed as they think it’s a lack of interest, or activities that people don’t want to do pushed because HQAC think that there’s not enough availability.
That’s my fear.
I’m with a unit of ~60, of them, about 7 like and are interested in air recce. Because 90% of the squadron aren’t interested in it, does that mean we shouldn’t bother anymore?
Not necessarily - if you can offer it to those cadets without unduly impacting on more popular activities then crack on.
But if it’s down to a straight choice between something that 50% are going to want to do or 15%, then a fairly easy choice.
I assume that’s what the OC survey is due to “counteract” my Cadets wil be aksed have yo been Gliding did you like it and I’m asked have your Cadets been and should we have more less or none.
Another iffy survey? Surely not?..
Nobody learned from the 18+ cadet survey then, where they asked the cadets whether they thought they should leave at 18 or stay on until 20, but gave them no explanation that “leaving” at 18 would allow them to become staff and stay on in that role…
Good work team!
In order for a cadet survey to have any worth you need to do one, every couple of years, given that cadets change and their likes and dislikes change.
The 18+ one ignored this and unless you do these every couple of years policy is flawed, but you could never make policy etc as the goalposts move all the time.
Best thing, don’t bother unless you get a full picture and this survey won’t give that.
back in my days as a Cadet, my CWO had done most things, but had only been flying once, didn’t enjoy it and never tried it again!
I did the same with Gliding, went up in a Vigilant once and refused to step near one again. I had an argument with the pilot that unless you turn off the engine, its only a Tutor flight with big wings and no aerobatics.
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it is hard to argue against - a typical GIC saw us fly around for ~20 minutes demonstrating the “effect of the controls” which was remarkably similar to my first experience in a Tutor.
I remember being briefed that the Vigilant engine could be switched off, and the big black handled was used to feather the prop but in all my years yet to hear of anyone who actually did switch of the engine to “glide in anger”
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I switched the engine off in my GS but I was anyway solo on civvy gliders so didn’t know if it was part of the GS or not
