Hi. Would anyone know whether the allocation of cadet places for RIAT has been made? We still have had nothing through on cadet portal!
Today was the deadline for nominations up the chain from Wing to Region upwards. The JI’s are due to be issued by 1 May, so I would say the names should be coming out next week.
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Thank you. There’s been nothing at all on cadet Portal so my cadet hasn’t been able to apply. It’s a real shame.
The detailed instructions from our wg RIAT organiser - we should nominate 2 cadets from each sqn, with a stated cut-off date. Only 20 places for our wg, so that made the organiser’s job easier rather than sqns nominating say 10 cadets each.
For 2022, there was a master list on SMS, but specifically excluded from Cadet Portal - quote - " [MASTER DO NOT PUBLISH TO CADET PORTAL."
Same principle really, staff had to nominate for 2023, or bid via SMS for 2022.
We are expecting cadet names (subject to appropriate staff ratio) next week.
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Thank you, that’s useful. I’m not sure anything came through for our Wing, so maybe it’s the one mentioned above as not taking part. Hope everyone who does go has an amazing time!
Back in 2019, our wg was notified that RIAT would be come bi-annual across regions, we didn’t get an allocation that year. Haven’t had any further correspondence on that so don’t know if is still in effect - but considering recently, probably not. RIAT 2019 went ahead of course.
RIAT 2020 was Covid - cancelled in Mar 2020 & RIAT 2021 was cancelled in Feb 2021; we had wg allocations in 2022, & of course 2023.
Was that not meant to be something along the lines of 3 regions do RIAT and the other 3 do D&C, then they swap over each year? Or something similar to that… Or was that D&C and Aerospace? Honestly can’t remember. But I do know what ever it was it was sold as two camps where half the org does one and half does the other, then they swap…
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That was all of the national level Camps. The logic was that you give Wings double the allocations to make transport more financially viable, 18 full coaches instead of 36 half full.
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Yup, that was the deal.
Following up to this, we got 21 adult tickets with group discount by phoning the ticket line and 3 coaches are running from the wing so will have 168 pers total visiting on the day.
I’m chuffed with this, just the RA, JIs and water bottles to finalise now.
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Just hope it’s not too hot.
Doesn’t matter if it is. It’s RIAT so it gets a free pass even with a red weather warning for heat…
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At this point I don’t even know if my wings doing anything. No coach trips planned for day trips like for Cosford that we cadets have heard of, and we definitely aren’t doing the extended camp which is really gutting. We assumed we would have heard something by now, especially regarding bidding processes on cadet portalp/place allocation etc. Time to chase up wing staff.
So this exists online…
OCCURRENCE SAFETY INVESTIGATION - RIAT 22 - REPORTS OF AIR CADET HEAT RELATED
ILLNES
My god, there is some stuff to pick apart in here.
If you don’t fancy reading everything, you should just read the 15 observations. One of which needs discussing in another thread which I’ll link to here:
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Absolutely no mention of the fact all other Air Cadet activity was cancelled because of the heat risk. Yet this carried on.
Also no mention that there was a red heat warning. Only the amber one. AFAIK RIAT was right on the border between the two. But loads of cadets were traveling by coach through the red area. So it’s very relevant…
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Having read this, will cadets be participating at RIAT 2023? What change if any has been made?
The bit I find most disturbing is that for an event of this size that there is no medical officer at doctor level present. Whilst my paramedic colleagues are normally very competent are the ones present basic grade or those with advanced skill?
They should NOT have to provide any extra and may have to use their own equipment in any shape or form, this should and must be supplied from the RAFAC, preferably through TMW at Brize Norton, but that would probably require TMW personnel to be present.
I stated way up the thread that a WGBT and adult scales could lead to a day in the Coroners Court. RIAT is 5 weeks away, what now?
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Probably an overall better option. Good kit, good people, and attending purely on a medical front.
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The obvious thing here is that the RAF is discovering that using RAFAC is cheap labour in conditions that it would not use its own people is not risk free.
If the RAF provided medical/reporting/operations cover for the ACO at RIAT, and charged RIAT for it, would RIAT stump up, or look to others to do the unpaid, sweaty job?
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In the case of RIAT 22, it appears that the production of Risk Assessments fell
to one individual whose output, while approved by the CFAV Camp Commander, was not
underpinned by any evidence of mandatory ‘crown employee’ scrutiny in the form of 2nd
Party Assurance.
Prepares for requirement that all risk assessments be signed off by WExO.
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Prompt CFAV monitoring and treatment from RAFAC First Aid staff, ensured that interventions were timely, and no cadets were diagnosed as suffering from heat illness.
To me, this is key and in line with my experiences.
CFAV were aware of the risk, intervened, and handled the cases. Lots of cadets got hot, but any actual heat injury was prevented.
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