I couldn’t agree more by being open and honest from day one it means you don’t have to worry about it in the future - if they accept you with the problem in the first place then they cant argue later on! Obviously this doesn’t cover all conditions that develop after going into uniform…
I too have problems with my legs that I have t walk with a stick and slowly due to excessive pain from 2 inoperable slipped discs.
Exactly my point no reason no rhyme, simple phone call would have done, no argument! But some discussion.
Ok for how long short term, then Ok long term I could understand. That’s my point where are you getting the info from? How long is short term sick to last for, I have had ranges from 3 months in our wing to 6 months in my mates wing (the other side the country)
This I do understand.
Purey a personal way for OC wing to have a go back (original discussion), knowing that the sqn I am at is hard to get to, despite 3 requests to move all ignored, They are desperate for staff at my old sqn.
And yes walking is a real issue now for me, awaiting lumbar injections to see if it alleviates it a bit 
I would normally agree, but the mere mention of me being ill and not getting to sqn on every parade night promoted OC wing to remove me from OC sqn position, and without my prior knowledge, I was told the night of the AGM, cadets and staff where told the day before and they thought that I knew – how wrong they were!
Thanks again for the help B)
I too have problems with my legs that I have t walk with a stick and slowly due to excessive pain from 2 inoperable slipped discs.
b] Well I don’t know what current policy would be regarding that but I do know years ago when I was a cadet our Adjutant had severe mobility issues and walked with sticks.[/b]
Exactly my point no reason no rhyme, simple phone call would have done, no argument! But some discussion.
Yes indeed that would be the decent thing to do.
Ok for how long short term, then Ok long term I could understand. That’s my point where are you getting the info from? How long is short term sick to last for, I have had ranges from 3 months in our wing to 6 months in my mates wing (the other side the country)
Short term probably varies from wing to Wing - I know of no official line - there was a sickness policy document but that appears to have vanished. I personally would feel anything over a month should involve the NEP where there is a high likely hood of it continuing - but just my personal opinion.
This I do understand.
Purey a personal way for OC wing to have a go back (original discussion), knowing that the sqn I am at is hard to get to, despite 3 requests to move all ignored, They are desperate for staff at my old sqn.
And yes walking is a real issue now for me, awaiting lumbar injections to see if it alleviates it a bit
I would normally agree, but the mere mention of me being ill and not getting to sqn on every parade night promoted OC wing to remove me from OC sqn position, and without my prior knowledge, I was told the night of the AGM, cadets and staff where told the day before and they thought that I knew – how wrong they were!
I have just been made OC of my squadron, and the Wing Co knows due to work I can only attend every other week (two week rota). Personally time spent there is not the point - if you make use of your time there effectively is a different matter.I do a lot of my work at home so that when there I can commit myself to the cadets and staff and I go in an hour earlier than everyone else to get anything else out of the way first. I am not going to comment on the other issues as that’s a matter for you and your chain of command to resolve as there is always two sides to a story, but you have my sympathy. My personal progress has been by mutual agreement between myself, the outgoing OC and the Wing Co so I have been fortunate.
Thanks again for the help B)[/quote]
My Bold.
Regarding your original questions I have always been the one to purchase approved items on my squadron and I expect reimbursement at all times. Sometimes it takes time - and I have run up a bill for over £1000 in buying kit in some cases and its not fair to expect anyone to sub that kind of amount. My Civ Com will pay me back for any office items used at home as they know that I personally prefer to do a lot of my work at home - but I don’t always submit a claim only when I have done an exceptional amount of printing at home.
However on the flip side of the coin there has been plenty of times I have bought things and not submitted a bill. As for phone calls as many have said most have contracts with inclusive minutes - and even if I didn’t I would never bill phone calls as it is your choice whether to make phone calls that are billable or not. If you don’t want to do that get a contract phone or use the squadrons. Claims should be submitted immediately after being paid for really. At the end of the day the sqn funds are for the benefit of the cadets not the staff.
Also I wish you every success with your treatment - my problems involve my left leg being two inches shorter than my right due to being hit by a car when I was 11 - two broken legs (tibia left and fema right) and the right leg went into traction - because I was not fully grown my legs grew at different rates resulting in the discrepancy. I also got a rotator cuff injury in my right shoulder two years ago and standing at ease for longer than ten minutes aggravates it!
I can walk around 50 yards before I get shooting pain in my left knee both hips and lower back; I then suffer for days with an immense amount of pain, but I have to live with it as raised shoes make me more unstable due to years of adapting to it, I was on Tramadol but because of other health issues they affected them too and it was felt it was counter productive. So now I live with the pain. I also regularly lose my balance and have popped my left knee out of joint 10 times! And they do not want to give me a walking stick as they feel I am too young and it would exacerbate the issues.
In basic terms though unless a disability prevents you from doing the basic things we do in the Corps which is instructing and filling in forms by hand or electronically, what difference does it make?
Is this one of the grey (ATC when it suits and RAF when it suits) areas, when it comes to how people are treated by the higher organisation?
Referring back to one of my previous posts:
[quote]ACP300 - Instruction 318 lists those appointments entitled to claim such expenses. Sqn CO is not on the list - but perhaps there was dispensation based on the 'phone situation? However, the Instruction states what has to be done for such expenses, namely time element (quarterly or half yearly) with control of expenditure limit. For 'phone expenses, a log should be submitted too. Equally, for each claim, the counter-signing person has significant obligations concerning verification…/quote]
I fail to see how such instructions can be over-ruled by Wg - & this is excluding any separate aspects querying Wg’s authority over a sqn fund too. Were there specific dispensation “orders” issued? Otherwise, late submission of 'phone calls “en-masse” would seem to be a breach of ACP300. Equally, how on earth can a counter-signing officer be able to satisfy the requirements for accuracy/verification of the claim, etc?
One extra thought:
Why not re-installed? What were the previous costs? What did anyone else (including CivComm) suggest? What expense/expenditure plan was confirmed AT THE TIME? Would the reinstallation (+ cost of calls) have been cheaper than personal claims?
I would have said that as long as you can properly supervise your cadets and staff when they are undertaking activities and you do not become a burden on them, and that you can react as required to an emergency situation, then your disability should be irrelevant.
Thanks goes to those who have made suggestions and quoted relevant ACP’s etc.
This forum is well worth the effort and support from anyone who has or is in the Air Cadets Organisation. It also should get support from its users so it continues for years to come as its a very valid tool helping people with ideas and suggestions.
In relation to my thoughts and also my requests to sort these matters out, I have now written to HQAC to see if they are able or willing to clarify some of the points made. Watch this space for updates
thanks again to all and may I be the first to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and and Happy New Year 2014, yes I know its early! B)
Wg Cdrs are allowed to grant, at their discretion, up to 3 months leave of absence before invoking NEP. Sorry I can’t give you the reference, but this was quoted to me by a WSO only last month.
You weren’t a certain person who raised this problem to HQAC via a facebook message were you 
Sounds interesting and I’m all for modern forms of communication, but sad to say not me!!
This is exactly the point, no-one can find anything written down?? Someone informed me it was 6 months leave of absence!
Besides which I had not been on sick leave before hand anyway! B)
Thanks for the info, this is what I want, how many variations are there and why.
See ACP 20, Pers 202 - Wg CO may grant 3 month’s leave of absence (up to 6 months - requires Regional Commandant’s approval).
Best link I can find quickly:
Pers 111 relates to NEP - but 404 Not Found via SharePoint ACP 20 link!
Thanks for all the input I have received, just to update B) . Finally had some major discussions and agreed a way to resolve issue previously mentioned. On another note though anyone entering the NEP should be made aware that your DBS becomes invalidated automatically. Done me with HQAC on HTD claims and length of service, awaiting to see if intervention my OC Wing and Wing Wexo turns up anything. :? :?
Err, no it doesn’t. ( DBS) you are still bound by the T&Cs and are still required to report the usual changes or charges.
[quote=“lippylion” post=21314]On another note though anyone entering the NEP should be made aware that your DBS becomes invalidated automatically. [quote].
Sound like an excuse not to allow you onto your unit. Your DBS clearance is valid for 5 years unless you do something that will invalidate it. If that is true then you will need a new clearance on return from NEP. For the DBS clearance to be suspended then HQAC would have to inform the DBS to suspend the clearance. What would happen if your day job requires DBS clearance?