I’ve now had a bit of a new spark. I do go on holiday quite a bit which doesn’t help my position , especially over the summer but in some ways that shouldn’t really impact whether I’m seen as committed. It does ruin my attendance record though sadly to something like 60% at the end of summer holidays.
I haven’t been taught how to take a squad and get the impression that there’s not a convenient time to teach me properly and not just throw me in after some words being said to me about what to do!
The music startup which I have been seeing the OC a few times over the last few months should hopefully help my position but I don’t feel like I can do that until I can take a squad and therefore that’s a priority.
Another (pretty junior) cadet I feel is taking squads all the time and when I was falling in the other day literally humiliated me about how I was marching to fall in , by saying “I don’t know what on earth that was but never mind” when I feel I did it very well (but that is a biased opinion!!).
The competition just keeps getting tighter so I am really hoping that this music group in the winter months will get me somewhere. This part is a long way off but I’m hoping I can get us playing Christmas carols by December and hopefully we can get into a care home or somewhere similar to bring people joy and play (&sing) for them.
Anyway- I’m feeling good and it’s not all promotion but I’d like to do this music startup cause music is my passion
If a fairly junior cadet made a comment like that to, it would probably have resulted in a tilted head and a bit of a stare… or if I wanted to be really menacing, a raised eyebrow… all the while probably trying to think of something witty to put them back in their box…
Alas… sounds like someone trying to be the big I AM and make out that they’re something special - you don’t mention if they hold rank, so I’m assuming they don’t…
Have you noticed that generally the more senior the SNCO, generally the less of a power trip they’re on…? While corporals and aspiring corporals (sorry, potentially including you here) “try” the hardest to be seen to make an impact?
It’s brilliant that you’re rolling with the music idea - best of luck!
I know you l’ve said that you’re not particularly confident about coming forward, but why not make a point of asking your SNCOs to teach you…? That’s one of their key roles, is to help train, coach and support junior cadets… and it is a duty they can carry out without involving staff…
Thanks once again for your advice! I am scared of making mistakes but I am at a stage where I just need to go in and do it, and I think I might have a chance.
The worry is that as I am only a couple of years off 18 and don’t want to leave the RAFAC having only achieved the cadet rank!
Anyway I am pushing forward with music stuff and hopefully my character will be noticed.
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; we all do. What sets you apart is what you learn from those mistakes. As long as you learn from them, you’re on the path to success.
“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” Oscar Wilde
Holding a rank offers no real advantage once you leave the organization. As an employer, cadet experience of any type stands out to me on a CV. I’m not concerned if you timed out as a CWO or were only part of the organization for a couple of years and left as a cadet. Cadet NCOs vary from one unit to another; a Cpl in one unit could be handling roles and responsibilities equivalent to a FS in another. Therefore, from an employment perspective, it doesn’t provide a clear grading ability for a candidate.
What matters to me (and arguably the real world) is how you seized the opportunities the organization offered, how you maximized your experiences, and what you learned along the way.
Lastly, make the most of your time. We’re only teenagers for such a short period, and once we step into the ‘real world,’ life changes rapidly. Take all you can from the organization and immerse yourself in everything it offers. Try not to equate success solely with holding a rank.
FYI, I employ a couple of ex-air cadets, and they’ve been some of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I hope you don’t mind me giving you updates - but your support (even though I don’t know you) has gotten me to where I am going.
Last night a miracle happened . There were No JNCOs so I was asked to be the Duty NCO for the night (despite being a cadet!) . I took first and final for the first time and was busy throughout the night and I got told by the cadet sgt that it was all perfect (apart from losing my balance on first parade as our grounds are on an incline! That was embarassing but not the end of the world).
ik I’m new here but your story definitely stood out to me:-
This is a good sign, but also don’t take it too seriously. A version of this happened to me and one other cadet a month before my promotion, not enough NCOs so we were both asked to form up a flight for first parade. I thought ok we’re definitely both getting promoted next but what ended up happening is I got it but the other cadet didn’t. Every cadet and NCO in the sqn thought the other cadet should have got it but they didn’t, turns out it’s the staff who don’t think they were ready. So just make sure you make yourself noticed to staff as well as NCOs.
Some advice I’d give is honestly be a role model good uni giving respect etc but honestly from what you have been doing you seem to be on the right path just do what you doing and keep it up!
When we look at promotions (cdt - cpl or higher) it is things like is their uniform good, kit squared away, do they follow instructions, are they punctual and is their attendance good.
That’s before we get into things like are they mature enough or are they ready, as these are measurable standards.
TL:DR be the best cadet you can be and promotion will come.
Thank you. My current concern is the fact that over the summer my attendance can drop to 60% because I go on holiday quite often (and throughout the year).
I attended the dining in night for Sqn tonight and promotions were given… to 2 people not including myself. I had worked hard - had a night planned - taken squad a couple of times , starting a music club on Sqn on weekends , polite to everyone , played the last post solo in a football stadium as a cadet . It all accounted to nothing . I’m also the one who is quiet when someone is speaking and I take notes in lessons which no one else does . I support new cadets and I’m kind to all cadets and I try to be approachable always for any new people.
I’m at the point where I’m seriously considering leaving . The cadets are supportive but everyone and everything else forgets about me and I’m invisible . Like when I got completely forgotten at awards night yet that managed to remember every single other person - and I got no apology for that afterwards . I was humiliated. I Sqn posted on socials about “what’s been going on over the last 2 weeks” mentioning all the other activities but me playing the Last Post .
I feel very undervalued and it does nothing to help my self esteem . I’m not saying I haven’t enjoyed anything in the cadets but it’s at the stage where there’s no point in me staying.
Very awkwardly it’s my night on Tuesday and I’ve got to just go through with it . I’m in a mess band which I love doing but I’d rather be doing something where I actually feel wanted .
I’ll be going to the office next Friday to talk to boss and be totally honest , politely .
Many thanks for your support throughout the last year or so . Your comments have helped me .
I can’t speak for your Sqn’s way of thinking when it comes to promotions etc. I understand that many cadets put so much in and feel they aren’t being noticed.
If the attendance and sqn commitment were decent then it sounds like you would have been in the promotion running.
Normally when promotions are awarded, our OC will say, if you were not chosen this time round that you can knock on his door and get some feedback.
I’m sorry you are feeling so disheartened by not being promoted, but just as in life, you can put your heart and soul into something and be passed over. I wouldn’t suggest leaving something that you seem to be enjoying.
Until you speak to staff, you wont know. It sounds like you have enjoyed what you have done and hopefully you continue to be the cadet we all look for when it comes to helping the sqn.
So many things could be at play that we don’t know like the cadets that were chosen were top of the list, a certain age or classification. You could be in the next list of promotions in say 3 to 6 months. Depends on the number of cadets you have on the books and current number of NCO’s
As I say, and many usernames on here dislike when I say this but…“I’m just a CI” and if I left, they would then see how much I do for the Sqn. It would apply to you too, if you left, I’m pretty sure they would see how much you do for your sqn.
Don’t do anything rash, speak to your staff and have them give you their reasons and thinking. #NeverGiveUp
Thanks . It’s not the promotion that’s the issue for me , it’s the amount of times I’ve been forgotten and singled out like that. Doing GCSEs and missing more nights than preferable obviously disadvantaged me despite putting these absences on portal.
I’ve got my night tomorrow so I won’t manage to speak to anyone then , so it’ll be Friday I imagine .
From the subject of Promotion Dilemma and the promotions being given, excluding you…I thought it was about not getting the tapes.
I’m pretty sure your efforts have been noticed on sqn but being busy with GCSE’s and reduced attendance could be a reason you were not picked this time.
We have given tapes to cadets who have previously given so much to the sqn, but as their real life has gotten a little busy, we have had to make extra promotions to cadets as our sqn is growing and we need nco’s.
I doubt this has anything to do with you as a cadet, but it could be an attendance issue regardless if you record it on Cadet Portal (I wish more of our cadets would note their absences)
If you came to me and wanted my opinion, I would say; concentrate on your school life as that’s the most important thing here, as cadets will always be here should you find you have more time to commit with attendance. Stick to the activities you have started and when on sqn, keep being the cadet that you have been.
Do not let the promotion thing eat away at you and make sure you speak to who you need to as soon as possible.
What @DontCallMeSir said, but I would add that if you have recently had to reduce your attendance levels due to other commitments, especially career deciding stuff like GCSEs, then it would seem wholly inappropriate to burden you at such a time with the additional responsibilities and expectations associated with being a cadet NCO.
Absences due to GCSEs or A-Levels should not effect promotions. In fact, Sqns should be actively discussing with their cadets if they require some extra leave to help focus on their studies. For some, cadets is a good thing to help get away from it all, but others might need the extra time. Here’s what policy has to say about this:
I have in the past allowed cadets to attend, but spend their time at the unit studying for exams. Allows the work to still be done, but means they don’t feel like they’re missing out at the Sqn.
(apart from losing my balance on first parade 
as our grounds are on an incline! That was embarassing but not the end of the world).
