RAF Reserves Service Instructors

Yes it does, thanks. Albeit we can already do this and an SI only needs to provide proof of their competency (DLE Certificate or otherwise) and that can be added to Bader relatively easily. Mapping automatically from DLE to Bader and JPA etc would be nice, but suspect that as this effects a relatively few people in the great scheme of things, this won’t be a high priority for the development list. But a list of comparable quals and their period of validity, would be extremely useful.

There needs a proper mapping of DLE training across the Bader Learn training!

At present it’s difficult and there is no consistent approach to how DLE is recorded on SMS.

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So, there’s some good news.

Well, everything is relative!

The version 23.1 of ACP 20 I was using from BADER SharePoint read that Service Instructor (SI) had “replaced” our JSP 814 Service Helper (SH). However version 24.0 published on 28 August 2024 now reads that SIs were “previously” SHs.

Of course, that subtle change is lost forever because BADER SharePoint only retains Major versions ie version X.0. So, I guess someone was paying attention after all. My offer of help - which still stands - hasn’t attracted interest. Yet.

As they say in the vicinity of 723 Sqn, but suitably corrected for EDI purposes, it’s not over until the ample physique binary gender person capable of childbirth sings :hugs:

@Dacre1987 further to my comment about 2-year IRT competences, I have recently noticed that my ‘annual’ fire training lasts for 2 years on JPA, but volunteer portal claims it expires one year from the completion date.

I won’t be attending fire training again until the 2-year point, as it necessitates a visit to my parent station (as opposed to my normal duty station) which I only do for full IRT weekends.

For anyone from the Service Instructor community of interest that may be following this thread, I am now strongly advising all RAF Reserves to include time spent on RAFAC activities in their monthly Attendance Based Pay (ABP) submissions. With the - very rare - exception of instances when both the relevant Chain of Command and the unit Budget Holder for the Reservist’s UIN have authorised otherwise, I am recommending that these inclusions should all be made against Code C2 ie “Training of Restricted Value (Voluntarily unpaid)” with a corresponding entry of “0%” against Proportion of Day’s Pay %. The full explanation of Codes can be found at JSP 754, Chapter 3, Section 1 Para 03.01.0111. The deadline for the next submission for ABP, for payment on 31 October 2024, is 10 October 2024.

This is a good initiative. Essential for understanding how much our reservists give.

I assume this should always have been happening?

I have been unable to find any policy that requires it and, whilst I 100% agree with your sentiment, there are, potentially, more legally-orientated reasons behind my advice. My intent is to hand down more formal guidance via the Inspectorate should it, unfortunately, become necessary.

ACP 20 updated this morning.

These individuals are known as “Service Instructors” (SIs) (also known as “Service Helpers” iaw Reference B).

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Sir, did you get anywhere with this? I recently uploaded my Annual Military Security Training certificate to SMS as proof for the ‘Security Advice Brief’ competency, but this has not ticked it off on the VP dashboard.

I’m not sure if this is something that causes you problems? But me and another service instructor are unable to carry out Cold and Hot Injury training on RAFAC Learn while it doesn’t map across our evidence from the RAF. Certain Wings don’t seem to allow items from MOD One and make you do FAW instead.

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You for sure can carry it across from DLE

ACTO 099 - Annex A

Service Instructors/Civil Servants are required to complete HIP training via DLE and upload proof of currency to SMS.

I can’t find the reference for it atm but I’m pretty sure MOD1 also covers you for the mandatory training element of First Aid. If that’s what you’re trying to achieve there’s no need to do AFA/FAW. ACTO 008 details the First Aid training requirements.

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Thankyou for that, I will do some digging later on today! I’m sure after some of my experiences as an SI (Not the only one) trying to get things done in the organisation, it would shock some people.

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Yes, you can definately do The Heat & Cold on DLE and manually enter it on SMS. However, you must upload your evidence - if there is no file attached to the SMS record, it ignores it on the Volunteer Portal Dashboard.

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Sorry for being a bit late to the thread - I’ve been enjoying a break from my Service Helper (Service Instructor) volunteering.

So, my experience with this was quite positive. Where I completed courses outside of BADER Learn and on DLE, I just sent my certifications across to the WExO - who is now a Regional person - and they appeared on my BADER record. The BADER dashboard was a bit tricky in some areas and, as a Service Helper (Service Instructor), I definitely didn’t sign the Adult Volunteer agreement on BADER. That is because the agreement directly contradicted the commitments I’d taken-on when I joined/extended in the RAF Reserves.

You’ll also note that I use the nomenclature Service Helper (Service Instructor). That’s because the governing JSP that lets you volunteer for the role does not recognise/use the term “Service Instructor” nor, indeed, did the 1-Star for Cadets in MOD People when I spoke with him. “Service Instructor” is a RAFAC term and so, in the strictest legal sense, does not apply outside of the RAF eg to Sailors, Marines and Soldiers. Accordingly, when I signed my most recent set of Pers Form 6-01 paperwork last year, I plastered it on every page with a text box in red ink containing the “This application is made in reservist rank in accordance with JSP 814: Policy and Regulations for Ministry of Defence Sponsored Cadet Forces Part 1 V3.0 Jan 2022 Para 4.1.9”. This is, of course, a personal choice.

Regarding the detail on 1st Aid training, the Corps First Aid Officer - then Wg Cdr Steve Molloy, was kind enough to provide me with an e-mail that stated, categorically, that the First Aid element within RAF IRT Mod 1 met the requirement. As it was, I undertook the RAFAC Advanced First Aid training so that I could assess DofE at Bronze/Silver, so didn’t need to use that dispensation.

I’m no longer MOD People SO1 Reserves (RAF), but am still serving. So, let me know via MODNet if you need anything more and thanks for all the help that you give to the cadets!

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[Thread drift]
still is isn’t he? I was under the impression he simply stepped down from his OC Wg Post, If there’s been another change do you mind PMing me?
[/Thread drift]

Interesting on the title difference, although from an army perspective the RAFAC term makes more sense in regarding to what SIs actually do, and “helper” sounds a tad condesending

Do the other cadet forces even have Service Instructors / Helpers? A friend of mine was an Army SI (JNCO) with an ATC Sqn who approached the ACF after moving to another area; they said he had to apply to be a Sergeant Instructor (as it still was at the time) and then rejected his application on grounds of the difference in rank

The ACF near me are telling me I can be an OCdt for the duration of my DofE commitment, but might have to go AUO or Sgt after, I need to make contact with my new local ATC Sqn about if/how they’d take me

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Hi Rusty - As I said, I’m enjoying a break from RAFAC, so can neither confirm nor deny Steve’s current status. However, he was an RAFVR(T) officer when I was a cadet in the 1980s and, in my book, has always been friendly forces :slightly_smiling_face:

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My interpretation would be that JSP 814 allows for any person subject to the Armed Forces Act as a Regular or Reservist to volunteer as a Service Helper with the Cadet Forces. However, I have no experience/knowledge of Service Helpers with the ACF, CCF, SCC and/or VCC.

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I wrote to my local MP today about seeing if we could get you guys the CFM.

Didn’t work out when I submitted an Astra a while ago, though everyone did like the idea.

Seems like a solid way to support the 30 by 30 initiative.

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