We’ve probably lost and discharged about a third of our cadets during COVID. Fortunately we’ve also managed to have a recruit intake this year, so numbers haven’t dropped too far overall.
Some good senior cadets and NCOs have left though, so we’ve got a bit of an experience/age gap of 16 year olds.
We went from 63 to 23 including a whole NCO Team… But to be honest it’s almost a blessing, we simply didn’t have the infra to support 63 cadets so it’s now back to a level playing field with 9 planned for an intake on Monday
That’s good news on the intake. Was that just from word of mouth or advertising?
We’ve sometimes struggled during the winter to fit everyone in the building as it’s not very big. Not sure how we’ll manage this winter if there’s any social distancing and we have a good intake in September.
We’ve lost 10 cadets out of 35 with realistically another 5 to follow, only added 2 on the last intake.
But it’s making room so hopefully we’ll keep more of the next intake!
35 approximately.
Just happened to be honest. I think the plan is to hit the reset button put accountabilities and processes in place to operate more effectively including CFAV recruitment and uniform boards between now and end of year then hit the schools in Jan
65 down to 45 now, recruited more recently and another 5 waiting to enter year 8 so they can join.
High 40s down to 19 but probably a couple more of them to go too
Had a big top end that has made room and a waiting list of between 25-30 to join
Problem is with a limit of 15 a night i cant do an intake as I would have to choose or split over 2 nights and not have any of the remaining cadets back
65 down to 40 currently.
Got about 20 on various waiting lists though, including some who were on an intake one week before lockdown hit last year.
We won’t do an intake until bubbles have been removed, though.
When do you reckon Windermere or Fairbourne will open for a cadet camp?
Windermere is good to go now.
Fairbourne is currently stymied by the different rules in Wales meaning residential is more difficult to do there.
Out of curiosity did anyone see the recent FB post on the RAFAC page about the Puma flight? I noticed one of the comments was quick to point out the lack of social distancing in the photos and the fact they were published on the national FB page. (Just to add I think its great that the squadron got this opportunity for their cadets)
How does everyone find social distancing works on squadron? For us it’s quite difficult as I personally feel it doesn’t really exist as it once did earlier in the pandemic.
We keep trying to encourage it and remind cadets and staff, but it does feel like the ATC is the last place in the country that’s still trying. We can’t stop COVID measures yet though, despite all the positive progress being made.
It looked like an awesome opportunity for the squadron, made me smile for sure!
Puma looked like a great PR and morale boost, and with a great aviation link and training aim.
We’ve got a local sqn who have had to close, due to a large outbreak in the local area. They aren’t the spreading factor, but cadets are there from those affected schools. So don’t want it to spread to other areas.
We’ve lost 50%. At the moment its a good thing because we can’t fit any more into the sqn and adhere to social distancing. Long-term…not good!
There’s a good one from the Cyprus Overseas Squadron on the QNLZ next to a F35!
potentially 80%, and 50% of staff. Basically going to be a new Sqn…
We are enforcing it strictly still.
It doesn’t help that plenty of other places, including people who have lettings on our site, don’t seem to care.
I got bored of this “covid shaming” about a year ago. Glad to see cadets doing something fun and exciting…! And any support with experience flying from our parent service we should be thankful of.
Very tricky. Inside we have all markings, distance between seats etc, but the reality is as soon as you turn your back they are all huddled in their groups. We keep reminding them on parade nights but I’m as sick of going on about it as the cadets are hearing it!
Until we can officially we just have to do our best. Calmly keep reminding staff and cadets of our rules. I for one won’t be getting too animated about it. Just keep calm and keep reminding.
Not helpful that they spend all day together without masks etc then we ask them to come to squadron masked up etc. It just makes enforcing our rules tricky.
I’ve heard anywhere between 30% and 60%. We’ve lost about 30%… so far.