For years Benson were crap at checking at checking anyones paperwork.
Trying to be constructive and I don’t know the exact mechanics of it.
But could the software be adapted to generate an electronic pass valid for a specific time period. A CFAV could then save these passes on their device, even in Apple Wallet or the android equivalent, as you can with a boarding pass or EventBrite tickets etc.
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Or allow a printed paper at sqn with name, photo, qr code etc.
Cadet carries this
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As we’ve had some major Corps-level camps over the past couple of months (RIAT, D&C, Music and Aerospace), I wonder if even one cadet has been asked for ID and been unable to provide 
Have any been refused access
I Like this idea. If you get a label printer you could then print directly onto a bit of card like a temp pass. The rest is on Bader so should need no further access so yep that works.
Ooo I like that idea of having a label maker, at the moment I write on the back what event its for but I like the idea of it being firmer. We use a thick paper at the moment but as you can imagine by the end of the day it’s a bit crumpled!
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Thanks everyone, never had such a good response before 
Benson is varied, some people on the gate ask to see every bit of ID and others don’t even check for any. I just read the JI’s 6 AEF give out and, to be fair, they ask for one member of staff to have a MOD90 or to contact them at least 24 hours before hand to organise an escort. No mention of cadet ID anywhere but they do have their own AV Med 1 which is different from the normal.
So for Benson this looks like a non issue, easy if you have a MOD90 and bit more admin if not.
I think the idea of a time locked ID to store on a google, apple wallet or being able to print has legs but the reality here is the app was rushed out with grand ideas that can’t be implemented properly. Nobody thought about the possibility of not having a phone or, God forbid one that was not new enough to run the app.
Just in the short time of this post we have some good ideas and its a pity the organisation doesn’t present the challenges of what they are doing and let people suggest ways to address them.
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Categorically not true - and why from your CivCom?
Because theyre making it up to try and avoid change…probably.
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And the parent’s reaction to this especially when they don’t want their child to have a smartphone, and what happens with a dropped and smashed phone, battery failure?
Which were the precise reasons and examples given for why there would be a non-digital backup.
Reaction to which part?
A lot of it is our interaction with the parents, and the communication we have with them. We’ve made it clear there’s no pressure to buy a smartphone if they don’t own one, or don’t want their child to own one. I think the biggest query we get is Cadet Portal Vs MyRAFAC and the confusion there.
Technology solutions aren’t just new to the Air Cadets, and is seen throughout schools and other places.
It’s certainly not 100% but my cadets are more interested in MyRAFAC (all have access to it at the Sqn just have to remember to logout as it’s only the one at the moment!) than they ever did the 3822.
Volunteers were not used to deliver MyRAFAC. RAFAC Perm Staff were not used to deliver MyRAFAC.
RAF Personnel developed MyRAFAC.
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I stand corrected - sorry I was under that impression:)
People with even less of a clue about the air cadets than our perm staff!
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Well in fairness, because of that they did workshops with cadets to work out what they wanted.
I’m still surprised the RAF is doing any in-house app development at all, you feel like that’d be something that would just be outsourced.
It seems that MyRAFAC is a technical solution to a problem that only existed when the decision was made to ditch the 3822 and save 35p per cadet for their life in the corps (unless the logbook gets washed) was made. A solution that requires a smart phone and access to the Interweb. Many younger cadets don’t have either and some don’t have both. Also, some parents make the decision that their offspring should not have unfettered access to the internet.
Solution, get civcom to spend hundreds of ££££££s on tech so cadets can access there MyRAFAC in a bit to save 35p per cadet. Was there a cost benefit analysis done on this? Did the corps need My RAFAC? Do the cadets need MyRAFAC? Does MyRAFAC improve the cadet offer? Does MyRAFAC reduce the admin burden for staff? If you can say yet to all of the above then it is a benefit. If no then it isn’t.
There is also a financial cost of MyRAFAC. If a cadet get a new logbook every year for every cadet will only costs £12,500. I wonder what are the support and development costs of MyRAFAC. I for one cannot see any financial benefit to the corps of MyRAFAC.
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It might well have been a way of getting interest & funding for the Mod90 replacement but using the cadets to demonstrate the principle.
Same process but different budgets & less political blockers. If my RAFAC fails then it won’t be an embarrassment for the MoD (cause kids & volunteers eh)
But if the MoD90 replacement fails it will be expensive & highly embarrassingly. Let the cadets take the risks & we get a back door pilot.
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