They don’t specify*, just says they are to be worn indoors for all cadet activity.
4.4 Face coverings are to be worn indoors for all cadet activity, regardless of government regulations. Personnel are to supply their own face coverings; there is no prescribed style. Additional guidance is provided in Box 4.
And then each of the Jurisdiction Specific Guidance has a ‘Face Coverings’ box which states:
Face Coverings
All indoor RAFAC activity including transport.
The only mention to an exception for this is in the ‘Example Parents Letter’ which says:
• RAFAC requires that face coverings are to be worn indoors; this includes all cadets and adult staff. Face coverings are to be supplied by individuals and are an additional measure, not an alternative to other COVID-19 secure measures. Exemptions are listed on the applicable Government website but must be brought to the attention of the staff so that appropriate support can be implemented. Additionally, cadets taking part in indoor sport and physical activity, in accordance with national governing body (NGB) guidelines, will not be required to wear face coverings while exercising, unless these are part of the NGB requirements.
This however isn’t policy as it’s just in the example letter to send out when re-opening the unit.
*By don’t specify I mean there is no mention of it being okay if you are over 2m away, therefore the answer (in reply to Daws) is they must be worn no matter the distancing whilst inside.
To be fair I’m on the fence WRT if I agree with it or not. The Commandants letter made very clear that cadets education and health must come above anything else, and if wearing a mask indoors helps protect this, then so be it. And also the cases amongst those in Y7-11 is going up a lot. But at the same time, it’s not required any where else so not convinced it reduces the overall risk by any meaningful percentage if you look at their risk of catching something overall. If they were also wearing them at school then I’d fully agree.
What grinds my gears though is that the rule is not being ‘enforced’* equally. There are constant social media posts as discussed a couple of posts above this showing complete disregard for the rule that is in place. Even posts from WHQ and RHQ accounts showing complete disregard for it. That is what annoys me as my cadets see those photos, yet at the squadron each night they’re told they must wear a mask.
*(maybe not the word I’m looking for, but it’s certainly being blatantly ignored by those in senior positions who should know better.)
So it would seem unless there are those with greater insight the Air Cadets is in the minority of organisations in its rules at least to wearing masks as compulsory when the majority say it is personal preference. This is the stance I’ve taken, as you could see staff and cadets struggling with the notion of compulsory masks.
As for enforcing all bets are off when the CAC can’t play by the rules he as supposedly written and endorsed. If he can’t be bothered it makes it bloody difficult to say you have to sqn staff and cadets. There’d be no point him and his acolytes suddenly wearing masks for photos as you know as soon as the “shutter’s clicked” they take them off. I do find it amusing how people get constantly tripped up by SM. Will they never learn.
I’ve been very easy going in fairness with what they wear on a normal Squadron night, as you say better to wear than not.
Anything outside the Squadron I’d probably just go and buy a few packs of the ‘standard issue’ blue and white masks from Screwfix and issue them all one to ensure uniformity and compliance!
Face-coverings. RAF branded reusable face coverings (FC) are not scaled for RAFAC personnel however may be issued to those attending RAF events and may be worn on subsequent RAFAC duties.The RAF branded FC is not to be worn with civilian dress unless directed by chain of command. Personnel who privately source FC are requested as far as possible to ensure that these are of a plain dark single colour with only RAFAC approved logos, no additional logos or other patterns, and that they meet the appropriate level of protection and fit.NHS supplied disposable FC are also acceptable and, in some instances, may be requested as the standard FC by some events or activities.
Given that no one seems bothered about wearing them, it is entirely to be expected we are mandating what style they are.
We stopped social distancing outdoors just in time for winter.
We’ve mandated specific face masks at a time when the rest of the country stopped using them.
What next?
Cadet lockdown and units forced to close in November when cases get high again? Or kept open through huge case rate and then closed in time for the levelling off?
But the return to face to face guide says no prescribed style. White and blue disposable coverings are far easier to obtain than a ‘dark colour’. I prefer disposable to cloth for hygiene and fit reasons.
Just do what everywhere else does … personal preference and if people are jumpy about adverse comments do not engage in SM activity, even then there can be no criticism from the CoC, as they completely disregard their rules.
