Hi, I aged out of the corps fairly recently (within the last year) and am considering coming back as staff, but don’t know whether the ATC is still the right option for me.
I was a cadet for a few years, and got to CWO, so I have some idea of what I’m signing up for. I’m still on good terms with my sqn staff, and of course only left recently, so have an idea of how both the sqn and the corps operate.
That being said, I do have some concerns, and am questioning whether it’d be best to use my time somewhere else (maybe SCC). I’m very aware of the many issues that the corps faces today (The Beginning of the End - The Capitulation of SW Region - #260 by pEp ← this post sums it up incredibly, I’m not SW but a lot of it is still relevant, as is the entire thread), and my time with one foot in both the “cadet” and “staff” camps gave me a good perspective on the effect it’s had on the cadets. The corps today is not the corps I joined half a decade ago, and I worry that things are only going to keep going south - at that point, why bother giving up my time if it’s not going to benefit the kids?
For what it’s worth, I joined as a teenager and was really into planes. I grew out of it, but stayed around, as it was just part of my routine. I enjoyed the environment and the things we got up to, especially early on, but probably wouldn’t’ve joined later if I hadn’t when I did.
We still have issues, but I’m less pessimistic under new leadership and with movement seen or planned in some areas.
This part makes me think that it would be a good idea to explore options and get different opinions. If where you derive your passion isn’t from the organisation itself or something unique to us, but from the mission in general, then there are other places you can feel the same effect that might inspire something new in/for you.
The main thing is what are you going to do in the future as employment or education, as that will determine your pathway in life. There is also the impact that becoming a CFAV has on family and interpersonal relationships. If you have decided what you are going to do, you have to calculate how the Corps fits in around your future life.
If you have the university option, there is the UAS to consider, if not that the reserve forces as well.
I’m not trying to discourage you, but you have a lot of things to consider before taking the plunge.
Appreciate this - without giving away too much about myself, I’m pretty confident that CFAV is the way forward for me, it works with my career and UAS/reserves aren’t options for me. Is the interpersonal relationship aspect much different to being a cadet?
I was thinking relationships outside the Corps, such as colleagues or partners who are not involved in the organisation, or even a partner within the organisation, the staff/cadet boundaries.
Also you mention you have a good relationship with current squadron staff. I imagine there will be cadets who will see you as former CWO rather than current staff. Have you considered viewing a new Squadron with your time out period it would be as a CI either way initially. Also have a think about what you want to get out as well as put in, if it’s running parade nights fair enough or do you prefer the AT side of the corps.
The organisation is fantastic and no matter any issues that may have bothered you previously, never underestimate your ability to make a cadet’s experience of the organisation excellent.
Most of the big, contentious stuff I’ve seen isn’t the stuff that affects a cadet’s daily experience in the organisation. I’d certainly love more flying and more camps, but squadron level and working with local units can have a huge impact. Whether it’s first aid, leadership, DofE, flight sim or band — these are all things that cadets seem to really enjoy doing together.
All I’d say is for you to be clear what you want out of it, and then make sure you deliver for yourself and the cadets in equal measure.
Sharing a passion, developing young adults, a regular social engagement with your friends that has the benefit of the two previous points — all that matters is that it genuinely sparks your interest and will sustain you.
This - and from a recent update to the University of Northampton study into the benefits of the cadets ‘Adult volunteers benefit from being in the cadet forces and can gain qualifications that can generate a total increase in potential earnings of around £50 million’. Obviously that’s all CFAV across the cadet forces, but I put my promotion at work directly down to the skills and confidence I have gained by being part of this fantastic organisation!
Similarly, I’m interviewing at the moment and the experience and skills gained whilst a cadet and CFAV I think have positively impacted my ability to do such interviews. If I had not been involved in the RAFAC I’d have 0 interview experience.
Also, although I am now a manager at work so have experience there, before I managed anyone at work I gained valuable management experience as a CFAV/CWO first.
What we do as an organisation is fantastic, in spite of policy and structural problems.
Yes, the organisation has issues, but any large organisation does.
What the organisation doesn’t have… is you.
You bring a set of skills, personality, and drive to any unit.
As a CFAV, you have the ability to directly influence the futures of cadets on a unit. Without you, and many like you, the organisation folds, and the cadets miss out.
My drive to become a staff member, was because of the fantastic opportunities that staff on my unit supported me in. UK and Overseas camps, leadership courses, a wealth of shooting opportunities. I wanted to (and still do) want to put back into that opportunities pot.
The fact that you’re asking these types of questions shows that you are exactly the right sort of person we need as CFAV. Yes there’s issues and yes we love a moan on here but actually the role is fantastic and the reward of seeing young people grow in confidence and skills is incomparable. You can also be a part of fixing those problems , or at least making them not as bad! Go for it, maybe as a CI to start with to give yourself a break from the uniform (both literally and metaphorically)
I’m sure we’ve covered this before but, even though it isn’t apparent from the website, there is supposed to be a direct entry route as sgt (RAFAC). As a uniformed organisation, you don’t want to be turning off potential staff by telling them they have to be CIs.
Very true I guess it’s on the individual if they are looking at SNCO or Officer route as only 3 months as a CI and you can apply down the officer route
There shouldn’t be any mandated time as a CI. Candidates from certain backgrounds (including former CWOs) can commission, everyone else can join as a SNCO/WO (with starting rank dependant on previous service).
Agree with all the comments above. Just be aware at a local Squadron, a former cadet has just tried to join as a CFAV after University and after going through all the online applications including DBS and BPSS. Was proptly switched off because he was an ex cadet and hadn’t filled in a manual application. Bonkers. He’s now gone to the Scouts.
I kept botching ex-RAFAC applications because I was confusing myself and my early mistakes are only just about to be completely wrapped up . Thankfully I haven’t lost anyone, even though my errors added significant time and faff to their joining process.
I understand it’s on the list, but we obviously have a lot of things on that volunteer team’s list, so it could take time for them to get to it.
I think it’s an issue with retrospectively linking to the existing accounts, as the digital join process gives you a new profile.
I’m assuming for a current cadet to CFAV or ex cadet to CFAV, they just turn the cadet profile into a staff profile? Would be my assumption.
You’d think we could just add a bit to join that asks if you are a current/ex cadet, then ask for current/ex sqn and take all the same info the current paper form does. It’d still need perm staff to sort the profile, but would remove the form and allow a single place for people to join as CFAV.
. Thankfully I haven’t lost anyone, even though my errors added significant time and faff to their joining process.