To the best of my knowledge, QAIC exists to teach senior cadets how to lead and instruct. If a QAIC graduate chooses to do neither, then s/he is little more than a badge-collecting oxygen thief and a waste of a place on the course.
The objectives of the course are defined as follows:
[i][b][i]“To deliver an aerospace course to senior cadets of the ACO that combines academic and synthetic training in aerospace based subjects combined with personal development training.
The course aims to produce qualified individuals who are competent to instruct in squadron, activity centre and ACE Platform environments and who can actively contribute towards aerospace development within the ACO”[/i][/b][/i]
I hope that helps to answer the question.
Well now, should I have my two’pennuth in this ‘discussion’? After all I am just a CI albeit an ex Cadet, oh! and a retired RAF pilot with 37 years service on aircraft as diverse as the Vulcan, Phantom and Hawk.
So, let me tell you what you get out of QAIC - you get a cadet who has had to work harder than they ever imagined, work a long way outside their comfort zone and have to understand subjects that many (if not all of their piers) haven’t a clue about. Their subjects include everything already mentioned and, on the face of it, it is all easy-peasy stuff. I can, and do, challenge you to try what these youngsters go through to achieve their coveted ‘Blue lanyard’. But that still hasn’t told you what YOU get. QAIC takes an ordinary cadet, albeit with aspirations, and develops confidence and knowledge that you as a Sqn Cdr can use on your Sqn; your newly qualified QAI has the knowledge and has demonstrated the ability to run at a RAC - the Wind Tunnel (and prove some of that PofF ‘stuff’, set-up and use the Flight Sim, the ATC sim at the Sqn teach PofF, Pilot Nav. But more than that, your cadet has qualified for his/her MOI, has given a presentation on an Air Power theme to a room full of fellow students and staff, Regional Commandants and for the lucky (sic) top syndicates the Commandant and invited Air Officer(s). That the most recent Air Officer was totally bowled over by the extraordinary quality of presentations (he was the lead engineer in the both fields of one particular syndicates presentation!) gave his admiration added credibility.
Reflect then, if you will, on just who gets what out of this. Your cadet has gone through the mill - particularly challenging if he/she is doing A-levels etc! - your cadet will have come out the other side with much they have benefitted from and much you can benefit from. QAIC requires dedicated staff, is has status with The Royal Aeronautical Society, a prize is Sponsored by The Honourable Company of Air Pilots (previously known as GAPAN), British Aerospace and others. Negativity towards this course has no place and, on the contrary, you should be embracing something that puts some light blue back into the ACO.
Now you might ask … what the heck does an ex-RAF pilot know about all this - well I’ll let you hazard a guess!!!
I’m assuming this rant is in response to something on here?
[quote=“878jetjock” post=17644]Well now, should I have my two’pennuth in this ‘discussion’? After all I am just a CI albeit an ex Cadet, oh! and a retired RAF pilot with 37 years service on aircraft as diverse as the Vulcan, Phantom and Hawk.
So, let me tell you what you get out of QAIC - you get a cadet who has had to work harder than they ever imagined, work a long way outside their comfort zone and have to understand subjects that many (if not all of their piers) haven’t a clue about. Their subjects include everything already mentioned and, on the face of it, it is all easy-peasy stuff. I can, and do, challenge you to try what these youngsters go through to achieve their coveted ‘Blue lanyard’. But that still hasn’t told you what YOU get. QAIC takes an ordinary cadet, albeit with aspirations, and develops confidence and knowledge that you as a Sqn Cdr can use on your Sqn; your newly qualified QAI has the knowledge and has demonstrated the ability to run at a RAC - the Wind Tunnel (and prove some of that PofF ‘stuff’, set-up and use the Flight Sim, the ATC sim at the Sqn teach PofF, Pilot Nav. But more than that, your cadet has qualified for his/her MOI, has given a presentation on an Air Power theme to a room full of fellow students and staff, Regional Commandants and for the lucky (sic) top syndicates the Commandant and invited Air Officer(s). That the most recent Air Officer was totally bowled over by the extraordinary quality of presentations (he was the lead engineer in the both fields of one particular syndicates presentation!) gave his admiration added credibility.
Reflect then, if you will, on just who gets what out of this. Your cadet has gone through the mill - particularly challenging if he/she is doing A-levels etc! - your cadet will have come out the other side with much they have benefitted from and much you can benefit from. QAIC requires dedicated staff, is has status with The Royal Aeronautical Society, a prize is Sponsored by The Honourable Company of Air Pilots (previously known as GAPAN), British Aerospace and others. Negativity towards this course has no place and, on the contrary, you should be embracing something that puts some light blue back into the ACO.
Now you might ask … what the heck does an ex-RAF pilot know about all this - well I’ll let you hazard a guess!!![/quote]
Well, as you’ve put yourself on offer…
Firstly, I don’t think many on here are ‘dissing’ the QAIC course per se but are wondering what they as Sqns and the Corps, actually DO get from the cadets who’ve completed the course.
For example, in my humble experience, the slack handful of QAIC’s who I’ve seen return with lovely blue lanyards, haven’t done a great deal but swan around in grow-bags. I’ve yet to see them put something back into the very organization that offered them the opportunity in the first place. StevenHawkingsTennisRacquet and I don’t always see eye-to-eye but his post on the previous page (Jul 13) is spot-on as I’ve yet to see anything that will change my mind.
Some QAI’s (but I’m sure not all) appear to feel that they’ve reached the pinnacle of blue training so now is the time to sit back and stroke their own egos. A little like some (if not most) JL’s I’ve met.
Secondly, as an ex-member of the two-winged master race, no doubt educated to at least A Level standard, your English is a bit ropey. You need to work on your spelling, punctuation and layout.
Why not get yourself on a QAIC course? :evil:
[quote=“878jetjock” post=17644]Well now, should I have my two’pennuth in this ‘discussion’? After all I am just a CI albeit an ex Cadet, oh! and a retired RAF pilot with 37 years service on aircraft as diverse as the Vulcan, Phantom and Hawk.
So, let me tell you what you get out of QAIC - you get a cadet who has had to work harder than they ever imagined, work a long way outside their comfort zone and have to understand subjects that many (if not all of their piers) haven’t a clue about. Their subjects include everything already mentioned and, on the face of it, it is all easy-peasy stuff. I can, and do, challenge you to try what these youngsters go through to achieve their coveted ‘Blue lanyard’. But that still hasn’t told you what YOU get. QAIC takes an ordinary cadet, albeit with aspirations, and develops confidence and knowledge that you as a Sqn Cdr can use on your Sqn; your newly qualified QAI has the knowledge and has demonstrated the ability to run at a RAC - the Wind Tunnel (and prove some of that PofF ‘stuff’, set-up and use the Flight Sim, the ATC sim at the Sqn teach PofF, Pilot Nav. But more than that, your cadet has qualified for his/her MOI, has given a presentation on an Air Power theme to a room full of fellow students and staff, Regional Commandants and for the lucky (sic) top syndicates the Commandant and invited Air Officer(s). That the most recent Air Officer was totally bowled over by the extraordinary quality of presentations (he was the lead engineer in the both fields of one particular syndicates presentation!) gave his admiration added credibility.
Reflect then, if you will, on just who gets what out of this. Your cadet has gone through the mill - particularly challenging if he/she is doing A-levels etc! - your cadet will have come out the other side with much they have benefitted from and much you can benefit from. QAIC requires dedicated staff, is has status with The Royal Aeronautical Society, a prize is Sponsored by The Honourable Company of Air Pilots (previously known as GAPAN), British Aerospace and others. Negativity towards this course has no place and, on the contrary, you should be embracing something that puts some light blue back into the ACO.
Now you might ask … what the heck does an ex-RAF pilot know about all this - well I’ll let you hazard a guess!!![/quote]
You are ex-RC(N) AICMFP
[quote=“Plt Off Prune” post=17651]You are ex-RC(N) AICMFP[/quote]Which one? I thought the previous incumbent was merely FJ ballast…
At the risk of putting my neck on the line here I’m a recent graduate of the Qualified Aerospace Instructors Course so I thought I’d share my views.
This course is without a doubt the best thing I’ve ever done with the corps. Before attending the course I thought I was a fairly competent and effective NCO but over the 8 months of the course I feel that I’ve developed into a far more knowledgeable and rounded cadet. Much like the cadre of QJLs you’re going to come across some QAIs who think rather highly of themselves and that they’re above everyone else but of the students on my course I can’t think of any that this would apply to. The graduates of these courses are rightly proud of their achievements and unfortunately this may come across as arrogance to some but unless you’ve actually completed the course you aren’t really in a position to understand.
However I deviate from the point of this thread, what does a squadron commander get out of a QAI? Simply put a highly trained and knowledgeable individual capable of teaching a wide variety of aerospace related topics to a high level. The training we receive on the course is second to none in the ACO, the staff are all experts in their respective fields indeed listening to some you wouldn’t be surprised to learn they’d learned to fly on the Wright Flyer! Their experience and knowledge is passed on to the QAIs who are then expected to cascade it down to Wing and Squadron level, be that through standard lectures or aerospace camps, and encourage aerospace at a grass roots level. At the start of the course we are clearly told what is expected of us as graduates but like any group of people there are going to be those who are more proactive than others, how many CWOs of questionable use do you know? Although we are provided with the skills we need to do this the support isn’t always there, for whatever reason there seems to be something of a prejudice against selective courses like QAIC and JL which can make it challenging to get support from staff, especially those who don’t know a QAI or QJL personally or have had bad experiences in the past.
In addition to being an educational asset to any squadron a QAI can also be useful for recruitment. As tmmorris puts it we get ‘a nice flying suit and badge to pounce around in’, although issued flying suits are to be returned at the end of the course, which can look rather interesting stood next to a recruitment stand. The majority of cadets join the ACO because of the ‘air’ connotations and seeing a chap in a flying suit is going to attract people to take a closer look, which may have something to do with why we’re expected to help on the ACE platforms in addition to our instructional duties.
The pressures put on a QAI(T) during the course are enormous, in addition to the weekends and assessment/grad week we’re also expected to put in a considerable amount of work at home. On top of school work, especially A levels, this can prove challenging, I for one struggled considerably, but the benefits are many and myriad. As 878jetjock says we are expected to give a 40 minute presentation on challenging topics to very senior officers, how many cadets and indeed staff do you know who have presented to a two star officer?
Should a QAI place in the top 3 at either centre he/she will be asked to sit on the committee of their local RAeS branch as a ‘Youth Ambassador’ encouraging connections between the RAeS and the youth. I’d hope that any squadron commander can see the benefit of having close ties with the RAeS in addition to the personal benefit to the QAI. The graduation dinner is also an incredible opportunity for the graduates to network and develop contacts that may be useful in the future, as well as getting selfie’s with the Commandant and AVM!
In short a QAI will be a massive asset but as anything only by correctly supporting them can a squadron commander expect to benefit from the QAI’s true potential and abilities. Unfortunately there will always be those lazy arrogant individuals who give the course a bad name but it is vital that the staff cadre as a whole understand what QAIC is and what being a QAI means and don’t judge the blue lanyard by some unworthy individuals who wear it.
Sorry for the long post but I thought it was necessary, if you have any questions about the course I’ll do my best to answer them. MRAR
You weren’t there, man! You can’t know! 
It does sound to me like an interesting and useful course (so long as they now have their facts right - I believe early courses were a bit iffy) but I’m saddened to hear that is not managing to stifle the potential for arrogance amongst some of its graduates. The JL course used to be utterly infamous for producing throbbers and that was down to the attitude of the instructors and the ethos of the course itself breeding an air of superiority. I would hope that QAIC was far more grounded (ehem) and sensible in its approach but you will always get some who slip through the net 
AICs, like JLs, are a rare beast up here due to the prohibitive travel requirements so I’ve no first-hand experience of either.
As I say I think it’s very much a case of personal perception, some people may have a tainted view because of unfortunate experiences in the past, and I don’t recognise those arrogant traits in any of my fellow students. We are actively told to not be, excuse my French, an ■■■■ after we’ve graduated and the course staff go to great lengths to discourage us from falling into the same hole as those infamous QJLs.
[quote=“MRAR” post=17658]We are actively told to not be, excuse my French, an ■■■■ after we’ve graduated and the course staff go to great lengths to discourage us from falling into the same hole as those infamous QJLs.[/quote]Glad to hear it 
I wonder why they don’t run something like this for adult staff? You could cut out the lanyard and grow bag nonsense.
Adult staff qualifications seem to be concentrated in the “green side” and outdoorsy stuff and nothing as tangible on the “blue side”.
I could see a lot more mileage in having staff “qualified” in these areas, than cadets, given the potential service from both groups. Eighteen months maybe from a cadet and eighteen years from adult staff.
You mean like the instructor courses that Cranwell and Cosford ran, but then cancelled (partly) because no one used them?
Well yes … it would offer something tangible to staff not particularly interested in AT, FMS, weapons, but with an interest in flight/flying. The only option they currently have is CGI, but how realistic is that.
Unlike the things mentioned, there doesn’t need to be a must be in uniform or a particular uniform branch, given that FMS and weapons seems to have an SNCO skew.
I checked and then checked again - this is supposed to be the ‘Staff’ > ‘Execs’ forum where I thought information presented might be appreciated by adults. But no, it seems that responders prefer to make fatuous comment about ‘rant - assumed to be about this topic’ (so try checking rather than assuming) and others pick apart the syntax rather than read, absorb and consider the information presented. Yes I have my bad days with the English language - caste stones if you are so perfect.
If you think a QAI swans around in a flying suit and blue lanyard then your Sqn has some pretty strange uniform codes and if you can’t get your QAI to do any instruction then perhaps it is your poor leadership that is in question. So, I shall leave you all grumbling and whingeing and get on with preparing for QAIC 7.
PoF and Nav still run at Cranwell, but are as well publicised as the date of the milk in the spare fridge at HQAC.
You can’t come on here banging on about how great this cadet course is and espousing (look it up if you don’t know what it means) its values when - as you tell us - you were a RAF pilot for 37 years and can’t even get your words right! Expect some flak (no pun intended) and grow a sense of humour!
Well, I haven’t been on a Sqn for nearly 6 years so I wouldn’t know, I’m afraid.
Good man.
You came on here and had a rant. Someone picks you up on a point or two and you get all bent out of shape. Typical aircrew.
Gunner,
Such a pity, you were doing quite well up until that point.
exmpa
Well spotted! :lol: