SCIC is an instructor qualification, not a fieldcraft course.
2 Likes
It might be off on a slight tangent however with fieldcraft for me although it is on the Corps activities and is something that is able to be done like shooting or sports not everyone in RAFAC has an interest in it. Some Squadrons are massive on it and are very inclusive i.e. not willing to open opportunities for other cadet squadrons to get involved for the greater good of the corps/cadet experience. It also harbours the question especially for the more urban squadrons of where without incurring too much cost can fieldcraft be done on Squadron nights.
Coming from a corporate background a lot of planning of events whether on Squadron parade nights or weekends are based around a model of Cost, Time and Scope to deliver a quality “product” (event/activity). With fieldcraft due to our squadron not having space for fieldcraft on site, you have to look at other places, certain scout centres are available at a cost but then you have to factor in the time of travel and ultimately the reward.
Official Badges I would agree should be there as it brings a natural want to train and grab the experience plus a reward/incentive otherwise what is in it for the Squadron, currently I would have to draft in a Fieldcraft trained SME probably from Sector/Wing to deliver 1 hours worth of training at a cost of £100 (hire of the scout area) without transport on a parade evening. For me that’s not good value for money or resources, which is why I always push for sector/ Wing fieldcraft and leave it to those who know what they are doing.
Most of the blue syllabus that can be completed on unit in the new syllabus would require someone to sit through an online training session in order to be able to instruct and then be delivered with very little requirement for space or resource.
This then equips Cadets to get out and about on training estate when possible.
2 Likes
Wrong attitude, imv.
Sqn’s simply have to go with what they have.
A Sqn in Newquay or St Davids will probably have cheap access to watersports, a Sqn in Kendal or Sheffield
cheap access to AT, a Sqn in Norwich or Lincoln cheap access to a fast jet station, a Sqn in Brecon, or Richmond cheap access to fieldcraft.
Unless you’ve a travel and training budget like Saudi Arabias’ sports washing fund, you simply can’t fight geography. You do what you can with what you can - but I’d also say that it means doing what we can to help those units who don’t have access to AT and Fieldcraft to get it - for me, binning overseas trips, JL, and all the ‘special’ stuff that costs a fortune and benefits a tiny minority, so we can afford transport to get kids in London to Cornwall or the Lakes.
I’d chop us down to one night a week and bin off most of the academic stuff as well - we can’t do what we used to do, so we should stop throwing ourselves against a wall trying. New plan required.
3 Likes
Whilst I agree with most of your post one night a week is a step too far imo. Whilst Mrs Biggles_Lovechild would be delighted to have me at home an extra night of the week
I don’t think I would get any extra days at weekends.
Therefore, we are still relying on the small pool of specialist staff who can/do give up their weekends for these activities and the social mobility abilities of the cadets and families.
I believe we need to concentrate on the maximum we can deliver to the highest level on the Sqn - even if that means Sqns specialise in the areas where they have the expertise.
At the end of the day - a busy cadet doing things they would not normally do tends to be a happy cadet - even if they don’t get to tick all the boxes on the old ‘Roundel of Dreams’
1 Like
That is said about every volunteer, thats why it is done as a team, the organisation cannot revolve around individuals. That said it shouldnt take the credit away from them, they just require more support.
1 Like
Well. April came and went…
I’m still not.
We are now targeting Friday as no one at HQ will make a decision seemingly without it being checked by everyone and their dog over a 4 day period.
1 Like
My question would be “why has a decision been left this late?”
We didn’t believe it would require review as everything has been available for review for weeks and everything is approved via the strat board.
Slopey shoulders decision makers want the final draft of the IBN reviewing before we can release.
Absolutely pathetic. Let’s big up the new reveal. Send numerous sound bites to whet everyone’s appetite over the last few weeks/months. Get the Region and Wing field craft teams to organise training to launch off the back of the new kick start. Give the date of said reveal. Then… drum roll… nothing, silence, nada.
But what have I come to expect.
Yet again the RAFAC shooting itself in the foot (albeit with a notional blank round)
So someone missed the fact that there is a 4 day release policy now, and just thought it could be published straight away? And when they went to do that were told it needs to go though the 4 day process?
I kind of like the 4 day process. Share big announcements with all senior HQ staff and any stakeholders before release to allow for any silly mistakes to be fixed, and save embarrassment.
The issue here doesn’t seem to be that process, rather the fact that it was initiated too late to allow for release when the team wanted.
1 Like
We were told it wouldn’t apply as everything had been vetted and passed the strat board already.
2 Likes
I agree, it’s embarrassing and highlights just how disjointed the whole HQ is.
Immediately it has ruined the perception of months of work from volunteers.
4 Likes
I do the goretex bit for fun
Well its quietly been published:
ACP 16 Volume 1
ACP 16 Volume 2
With reference to AC71966 - Army Cadet Training - Fieldcraft Tactics Manual - 2021
1 Like
Acronym overload syndrome strikes again. I’m on my second readthrough and I still don’t understand half of it…
1 Like
And since when does ‘SMS’, or indeed ‘Bader SMS’ stand for Safety Management System? I always thought it was Sqn Management System?!
I won’t have time to look at it properly until the weekend but it looks comprehensive and hopefully gives us a solid foundation to build on.
(And keeps the people who say we shouldn’t do fieldcraft / we are a ‘blue’ organisation) on side.
Good effort by @dazizian and team. I know it’s been a long journey.
6 Likes
Agreed. Only just skimming it right now on my phone, but generally looks really well laid out/presented and well written.
2 Likes