If this was the announcement that we are now ready to move over to a new learning platform and that what the plan will be for moving ~50000 users over, then yes I’d agree that it should be internal comms via email etc first, then via social media later.
Indeed - this is simply a development update like we have done for other platforms like Cadet Portal. If you read the article on Bader SharePoint that both the post on here and on social media link to, that will be clear.
When it comes to the full release, believe me, you will know about it through all of the internal communications channels, the CoC and anyone else that will listen!
7 Likes
Likely to be in 2021 though?
That would be good enough!
Likely to be in the 2020s?
That would be good enough.
2 Likes
And not Dec 2020 as Wg Cdr TG was promising 
2 Likes
Can we have this available to the AEF Cadre as well?
As it stands there is no way of them being able to complete any form of mandatory training required for CFAVs. When I mentioned it formally to HQ RAFAC I was told that we could access it once a CFAV is added to SMS. AEFs do not use SMS and are unable to be added (response from the Bader team) so are unable to use Ultilearn.
Drop me an email 
Do not under any circumstance hurry this. We’ve ended up in all sorts of mess with IT projects being rushed.
6 Likes
This is part of a bigger problem - when I started helping a particular AEF with their flying allocations about 2/3 years ago, alongside my ATC colleague, it became clear just how much stuff they couldn’t do because they had no access to BADER and particularly SMS (but also Sharepoint); equally, they had MOSS, which had information that I needed and wasn’t on RAFAC Sharepoint. Frustrating.
I don’t know if there’s a way to provide them with a separate BADER login experience - I know from experience at work that Office 365 doesn’t cope at all with logging into separate accounts unless you use Incognito Mode or similar, which is a major faff. But it might be sufficient for their needs.
Ok stupid question maybe…
But why dont AEFs use SMS?
They should operate admin wise identically to a normal Sqn. Just ‘on their books’ they would have zero cadets showing.
They should list all their staff, attendances, registers, qualifications etc etc.
This would enable them to complete mandatory training, access sharepoint etc.
Surely this is a very simple easy win.
Just create x1 new entry for each AEF and VGS.
I.e.
Oc.9aef@rafac.mod.gov.uk
Adj.9aef…
Etc
Etc
Etc
One set for each AEF and vgs.
Am I talking nonsense or is that not the most obvious thing to do?
I am genuinely flabbergasted that this isnt the case.
Moreover that it apparently is the case that the staff on AEFs arent being monitored to the same extent as all are for their mandatory training.!
All CFAVs whether CI, padre, officer, nco or even SKYGOD supreme at an aef/vgs should be completing this training and have full access to bader.
3 Likes
Especially as they are actually going to be one on one with the cadets in close proximity.
1 Like
I think this goes some way to explaining why flying and gliding doesn’t come with a designated SMS activity too, which I always found odd given that we use it for everything else.
Would also make sense if they did this as wing could put flying out for bids and then add the cadets/staff attending onto SMS - The VGS/AEF then know who is coming and have contact details for if they need to get in touch… Without having an email stream/spreadsheets etc…
1 Like
i can see the argument for an AEF having a “unit” on SMS but…
…are they CFAVs?
given that the pilots only have access to each individual passenger for 20-30 minutes is there much chance to get to discuss anything around the flying experience to need much of the mandatory training a CFAV requires? (ie the safeguarding elements…)
Security, Prevent and the like will be covered by their fulltime job as RAF pilots.
but the likes of first aid training and climatic injuries is that relevant or required given the exposure with Cadets is limited to the cockpit of an aircraft/the briefing room?
I accept that EHS, information and fire training is relevant but would this need to be AEF specific when, at least at our AEF, the pilots cover this elements in the 9-5 jobs on RAF Squadrons as RAF pilots?
(are there any/many AEF pilots nowadays that don’t also fly full time for the RAF?)
perhaps i am ignorant but from what i can see much of what SMS would include would be a repeat of what is already covered for the RAF or simply not relevant to a pilot who only see the Cadets for 20-30 minutes in a cockpit or for a welcome brief in the crew room…
AEF Staff belong to the RAF and 6FTS and they are effectively a supplier to the RAFAC.
Other suppliers (AT Centres (not NACATCs)) do not have access to SMS so it makes sense from that perspective.
2 Likes
Yes, that’s the explanation, but I think we need to be more flexible here.
As @themajor has said, 6FTS CFAVs are in the RAF Air Cadets and governed by our rules and regulations, but they don’t have access to Bader directly (as far as I know). Their permanent staff do, however, but I appreciate this isn’t very helpful.
I suspect this comes down to licensing etc but I will enquire.
@james_elliott I may be wishing too far ahead but…
Will there be linkage between SMS/Staff Portal/LMS, like the DBS warnings, for ACTO99 Mandatory Training
Would make life so much easier if the Trg was listed in Portal and when out of date/incomplete a link took you straight to the course/exam and results fed into SMS/Portal (assuming single sign on I s’pose)
Ever hopeful for an integrated world - but I worked on the integrated NHS in the 90s and see how that is progressing 
So my question is why do they need access?
If they need to do RAFAC Mandatory training then it makes sense to me, but I would assume they do the training as required by 6FTS and it’s managed in there usual way rather than the RAFAC way 
Yes 
…eventually
Yes, indeed.
@james_elliott you have contradicted @themajor…
I’m now utterly confused.
6fts isin the RAF. Yes. BUT…
Are their staff CFAVs. I.e. are the pilots who volunteer fly the tutors CFAVs?
If so, surely they must complete the same mandatory training, modules and requirements as all of us.
Have they all done Heart Start, protecting information, fire training etc etc etc safeguarding…?
Also 2FTS… is based in the RAF.
But ALL the VGSs are definitely run and manned by CFAVs… have the done all that mandatory training?
Have they all got access to bader?
I know for a fact my local vgs, doesn’t use sharepoint, sms or ultilearn so I’m not sure exactly how they record anything like attendance, training etc…
Considering all these volunteers are alone with cadets, it should be even more critical.
If you dont know that’s fine.
But it needs following up and I will ask the question formally elsewhere.