Yeah these are “illegal”
They’re a badge equivalent to a Wing Blue for sport and not to be worn on uniform. All cadets are made aware of that when they’re given them with a certificate and t-shirt for attending and completing the Wing weekends.
Not an official badge, more a keepsake for putting in a drawer, on a rucksack etc.
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There’s the problem, so many Wing blues, are they authorised or not…..
But if they are issued, they get out there; there’s always one….
If they’re not actually being worn, or if they are being put on a bush hat or rucksack, does it matter? It’s not as if they’re offensive or inappropriate (unless you’re from the wrong side of the hills)!
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Bush hats arent a terrible idea for this kind of thing, obviously the colours on these specific make it gash, but the London wing ones from a while ago would look quite good.
Correct, it’s not official, and if found being worn on uniform it’s removed with reinforcement of the rules with the individual.
There’s plenty of non official collectable unit zaps in all walks of military circles out there, this is just another one to add to the collection. Cadets like collecting these, you should see some of their bags after events like RIAT
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The flight tapes… my eyes!
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alright heres a vaguely relevant question.
Im a staff cadet with FTI(R), and am getting all sorts of pushback for running FC lessons on sqn or otherwise for effectively admin purposes, the reason being I’m not being allowed access to SMS (Or Units or whatever it wants to be called) to post events with RA and Lesson plans attached to be approved, but my OC doesn’t seem to think he’s able to create them himself with my documents attached because he’s not qualified (nor are any other staff on squadron).
The question: Is this a genuine issue or is someone here doing something wrong? and whats a sensible work around
TIA
O18 cadets can be added to the staff list on SMS, which means you can be added as an instructor even if you aren’t creating the event.
Because you don’t have SMS access, as long as it is clear that an FTI(R) is conducting the lessons, then it shouldn’t matter - Activity Commander isn’t necessarily the instructor.
However, it sounds like your OC needs to reflect on whether they’re happy to have blue FT events signed off by someone other than the instructor or whether they give that instructor the access to SMS that they are eligible for. Otherwise what’s the point in having a SQEP at all if they aren’t going to enable them performing their role?
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You should be allowed SMS access if you have a legitimate reason for it (which it sounds like you do). If you need to sell it to your OC you could offer to help with other SMS related admin, for example, inputting registers.
Do you know that the activity has to go on SMS? If it’s being delivered during parade night times and on your Sqn premises or your extended unit footprint, then it shouldn’t need to (someone correct me if I’m wrong).
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There is no need for an SMS event for Blue Fieldcraft on the Squadron, during parade nights. There needs to be a risk assessment in place and it should be on the training programme.
If the issue is with the risk assessment, then the Wing Fieldcraft officer / deputy will be able to advise.
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It is a pretty good way of recording everything in one place, though.
We previously had a CWO who was FCI(R), and when he ran the blue course, we created SMS apps for each of the nights. Not for approval, but it meant we had a record of which cadets attended each event. The CWO then had a record of it for CPD, and the Fieldcraft Officer could get eyes-on what we were doing and offer some input in the planning and delivery, if required.
That’s a good idea, but it shouldn’t become a blocker to delivery, which it might be in this case.
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My understanding is it does actually need to be on SMS though, but it’s the OC unit that can approve, rather than wing approval?
What would be the reason though? The only other on-Sqn activity I can think of that would require SMS approval is shooting, or anything else that’s RTL.
ACP 16 implies SMS approval needed even for basic lessons, but can be approved locally.
That was what we were told anyway.
We’ve been told as well that it can be date ranged, so not an app per night.
It’s to formally record the training and also prove instructor currency.
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And here’s us, thinking we want to reduce the admin burden…
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We recently got told the same applies to running EFA courses on drill nights.