Yes and I would agree that a wing check in may be appropriate for those sorts of people.
For those with demonstrable skills; Pilots/Air Traffic Controllers/Amateur Radio Club qualifications etc - where CAA/Association exams have been passed, to a point of being as qualified (or more) it is simply ridiculous.
Yes agreed.
Problem however, is often the wing sme, is not that qualld and / or has a personality complex which means they certainly won’t want to recognise anyone ‘beneath them’ as more qualified.
Easiest solution.
Take aviation for example.
If you have a pilots license you should be able to record that with scans of it on to SMS.
Then the acto should simply say, if X has a ppl they can do these things without check. If a Cpl these things…
No wing interference, all authorised by automatic right.
Absolutely.
As it stands all that happens is squadron staff treat the SME with contempt (3 squadrons in our sector alone that all just get their own badges in and ignore them).
Unfortunately the wing bod seems to be very well in the clique (plus likely no one else would want to take the role up if they weren’t in it), and so any attempts of complaint are thrown back as the squadrons and staff told to behave themselves…
The daft thing is, although these blue radio awards are logged on SMS and awarded locally, they allow them to progress onto the bronze courses - so the only real “punishment” for ignoring the wing bod is having to source our own badges - which we have to do for other areas anyway.
And any potential issues with Blue radio delivery would be fixed in Bronze radio, which covers largely the same material again (if the cadets stay until they’re old enough!)
Wow. I think we’re in the same sector! Exactly the same happens here! 
You still need some way to make sure they know the cadet syllabus. Being a pilot means you know aviation radio procedures and the technical side of it, but the cadet procedures is a massive part of it. If you’ve ever seen a radio amateur try to teach cadet procedures, you’d understand exactly why it’s an issue. They confuse cadets because they don’t get the procedures correct. Same would happen with any of these other qualifications if we don’t check they know what they’re doing.
How patronising to our instructors! I of course completely agree that they would need to know the cadet syllabus, I’m not suggesting that an instructor go in and blunder their way through it.
But I think most competent adults that are used to teaching within the RAFAC would be able to deliver the blue radio course upon review of the materials and reading the notes, especially if they feel confident - especially those that have an understanding of how radio works with external quals…
Also, it doesn’t address how you need to be checked out to teach our internal PTS, but not to teach a subject going towards a recognised qualification.
Years ago HQAC used to offer subject specific training on some of the senior/master cadet subjects. I could see it working quite well now via Teams. A good way to have a unified approach to subjects perhaps?
I know you’re not, but we let people do that with the classification syllabus and it’s a mess.
I agree. Same could be said for classifications but, again, people often don’t review the material.
That’s a different matter really. If an instructor has no real interest in the subject and not even a slight background knowledge then they probably shouldn’t be forced into teaching it, especially without any preparation. But I know this does happen as needs must etc, but I’m not talking about this sort of instructor.
Anyone wanting to actively teach a subject (not be pushed into it) and has a relevant qual in that area I think is enough to be deemed competent, especially at blue level.
It’s not a different matter sadly. Currently any CFAV can teach blue radio and (from experience) we need to teach the blue course all over again on bronze because it’s been taught poorly. I suppose there’s a number of issues there: poor teaching methods, improper assessment (by authorised assessors!), skipping bits to get them first class etc.
However, we should be trying to improve the training we deliver. Realistically if we had a proper VLE we could set up a quick quiz at blue/bronze to determine if you know the procedures. 10 mins of a CFAV’s time = better cadet experience. I’m very much focusing on instruction here; assessors should be able to assess from a guide/cheat sheet type of thing.
2nd word is the key part.
Amateur.
To hold a pilots licence you need a state issued radiotelepheony LICENCE.
Some Wgs/Rgs have already delivered some TTT type courses via Teams for the more specific classification areas. Feedback I’ve heard has been positive. Upskilling staff in this way is really positive and engaging - but only to those who can cope/deal/learn with education in a VLE. It doesn’t necessarily work for those who need F2F input or those who learn by doing. So, whilst it hits one cohort of learners, I wouldn’t like it to replace actual training - once we’re permitted to.
However, I’d also like to overhaul classification training on mass. Not rewrite syllabuses etc, but to entirely remove everything above Leading. Give it to specialist, passionate staff who have the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to deliver it.
Stop expecting generalists to deliver these higher level courses at Sqn level when they have no interest in the subject.
Make them weekend courses for cadets (or VLE courses at the moment) which can be delivered on a Wg/Rg level by those few and far between specialist staff. We do it with other subjects with far less technical content. Why not do it with higher level classification training too.
Amateurs all hold OFCOM issued radio licences, so exactly the same ‘state issued’ status. Their technical understanding of radio is well above a pilot or air traffic controller, so can be very useful as part of a radio team.
The Ofcom licence relates to the authority to operate a radio on a certain spectrum.
Although I do know amateur radio operators who also have a radiotelephany licence.
The radiotelephany licence relates to compenteancy in using the radio for communications.
I dont disagree that radio hams have excellent technical knowledge.
Using aviation procedures. Just need to transfer that over somehow
Why do we have a Cadet radio syllabus that’s so different from the real world anyway? Why not adjust the Cadet syllabus so that it aligns with what everyone is doing outside?
I see what you’re saying, which makes complete sense. RAFAC procedures are certainly very simple compared to those in aviation!
Any of RT licence, amateur licence, yachting licence etc should be sufficient to teach Blue and Bronze I think. I’d add to that list professional operator experience e.g. emergency services.
Totally agree. The syllabus needs a complete refresh, with simplified procedures (no formal messages!), removal of the age limits and more relevant material on how to set up radios and antennas.
Bronze courses are running online in some regions/Wgs. No reason in principle why a WRCO can’t sign off someone to assess Blue based on sitting in on a Bronze course and taking the written test.