I agree… certain cadets with the right maturity level to have a CTC and attend a SAAI or ARD Cse.
I seem to remember reading that you couldn’t be an RCO until you were 20 though, I think this was in an ACF document though.
Lengthly thoughts from myself…
1, 2 & 3…
As others,
[ul]
[li]Air Rifle - Second Class Cadet – I’d definitely invest the time in this where possible. Establishing this as an activity which cadets can do in the first few months of service can really help build long term shooting interest.[/li]
[li]Number 8 - First Class Cadet – if no air rifle available, then No 8 as soon as a cadet has passed first class. We try and deliver this over a weekend on Squadron including 1 or 2 practices to round the weekend off[/li]
[/ul]I’d aim for the following as well – although if they hit the prerequist marksmanship requirements before the appropriate classification, then I wouldn’t prohibit them from enjoy themselves!
[ul]
[li]L98A2 - Leading Cadet[/li]
[li]L81A2 - Senior Cadet[/li]
[/ul]I can only really talk for the next bit about what we do – and we don’t have air rifles, so it’s No 8 focused to start with!
In terms of a “syllabus”, I’d develop marksmanship principles on the No 8. We try and ensure the range is open once a week and cadets take it in turns to shoot. We select 4/6 cadets per night who’ll go over to the range with appropriate staff and spend the whole night developing their shooting skills. Generally with 4 cadets, they’ll get 4 practices each in during the course of the evening – certainly enough to show improvement. These evenings are generally useful for getting Sqn Marksmans – other practices (Snaps, rapids etc) are shot to give cadets (particularly those who have achieved their Sqn Marksman) an idea of what’s to come to get Wg/Rg/Corps Marksmans.
Due to access to BCC for staff cadets we could, historically, use them to coach – which helped greatly in improving their retention post-cadet service, improve their level of personal performance, but also helped them continue to be engaged/interested in the shooting arena. I fear the ever increasing controls being placed on this (and the difficulty/delays/weekend commitments in “breaking in” to shooting as a staff member, might deter many from attempting it!). However, we’re still in a good position with a number of excellent coaches available on Squadron – so cadets all get 1:1 coaching to encourage development.
If cadets show potential/want to progress, then they are encouraged to attend an additional evenings shooting (on a non-parade night) or a Sat/Sun shoot. These will have a training peak of 6 cadets and will be 3-4 hours of shooting – and will include the opportunity to do Wg/Rg/Corps as required. Generally we’ll see a different bunch of cadets each night, rather than the same ones over and over.
As per the book, only when the kids start achieving Sqn/Wg/Rg marksmans are they eligible to progress on to the other systems. We’re lucky in our access to L98s. Training for these is delivered over a weekend and generally is rolled out to 4 or 5 squadrons – although the others rarely show interest. Training for L81 is done over a day. We try to schedule each of these at least once a quarter as this seems to be the trickle rate we’re getting at the moment of cadets getting the relevant marksmans.
We had an excellent system of monthly shoots in the past – 1 day Wg sponsored events. Normally L98 in the morning and L81 in the afternoon. These have fallen by the wayside of late – which is a terrible shame – however, the interest level across the Wg was poor to say the least. Often there were more staff than cadets present. We don’t know why – and until we can find out, we won’t be able to address the issue! I suspect it’s a combination of things – paramount, I fear, is the lack of No 8/Air Rifle action across the Wg – which means cadets are not getting the opportunity to shoot, not getting marksman (or even first class shot) so not getting to progress!
Long term, and it’s something I’ve discussed before on here, I feel the best route for us as a Sector/Wing is to look at the “shooting camp” model used by some Wings & some ACF Counties. A weekend in which cadets are split into streams according to their experience, ability or qualifications. 8-12 cadets per stream. Not necessarily all systems available every weekend – but giving EVERYBODY in the Wg equal access to Air Rifles/No 8’s has got to be a step in the right direction in developing cadets up to having fun with the L98/L81!
My thoughts would be 1 stream for No 8 training, spending Sat training and Sun shooting. Steam 2 would be improvers – offering Sat & Sun shooting (for Sun co-located with Steam 1). A similar model could be applied to Air Rifle, or, indeed, with access to some LR/Gallery, L98/L81. Try and get SATT along so as any accompanying staff could start accumulating their “tickets” and/or use SATT to help encourage the staff members, explained routes into training etc. The range access issue, for us, is the crucial bit for the L81 in particular – see my post in the L81 thread.
Long term, I’d enter as many shooting comps as ever. I would avoid doing postal shoots on parade nights – yes it’s an extra night for the little darlings/shooting types to give up – but, by doing postal shoot on parade night, it can reduce access to shooting for everybody else on the squadron. I’ve seen this happen and it can quickly ruin shooting on squadrons/develop favouritism/cliquiness/eliteness.
I would certainly aim for Wing shooting comps, Regional ones (if they happen!), as well as ISCRM/CISSAM as a development/progression for all. I would, however, ensure fair and open competition to the “team” – and if it means taking a team of Newbies because the older cadets sat on their laurels and expected to be in the team, then so be it!
4. How would you handle the cadets that have achieved “the top” ie corps marksman, how can you develop them post ISCRM/CISSAM Comps?
Encourage attendance at Corps Coaching course/shooting camp – start developing their coaching. If they’ve done ISCRM previously, then get them in the Shooting Camp aspect. If they’re about to time out for ISCRM entry/adult service, then send them on the coaching element. Look at athelings. Look at other shooting comps. Admin in support of shooting comps. Could you make them Sqn Dep Shooting Officer? Get them to use their experience to help encourage, develop and administer shooting on Squadron? Even if it’s doing the bone stuff like marking targets for those who have just shot – they will start developing that little kick of breaking the news to a cadet they’ve just got a 25/25. Even updating SMS shooting logs needs doing!!! Strike whilst the iron is hot and start developing them now – long term it’ll pay dividends – and if not for your squadron, then whichever squadron they return to as a staff member in the future!
5 Would you consider separate nights/days only open to “the elite” to develop shooting teams/better individuals?
Yes – but I wouldn’t only permit them to attend – I’d open it to all – although I would certainly encourage somebody who’s “not quite there”, or somebody who’s clearly enjoying themself to attend!