But the whole point which triggered the conversation was that we will lose that with if no longer being an “out unless recommended”
Thoughts?
Choose to stay o/18 in a cadet role and be treated as a cadet (no more DBS or Staff Cadet).
Other option is CFAV at 18, either CFC or SNCO. o/18 will remain as cadets until that process is complete.
No option to go CI at 18 is mentioned.
All aspiring CFAVs from above are by recommendation of CoC.
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I just can’t see how this would work. We must safeguard children. As part of that, any adult who has regular, unsupervised access to children must hold a DBS. It doesn’t matter what we call then, if they’re over 18, then they’re an adult.
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Except schools manage it fine all the time with 18 year old sixth formers sharing changing rooms, dorms, showers etc with younger people
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Is that not because there is a ‘peer exemption’ which would not apply to us?
Nothing stopping it from being applicable. Technically Staff Cadets arent involved in regulated activity (or dont have to be by their role) and therefore no need for DBS.
Schools has the regulations, outside of school have a lot less clarity on regulations.
Interesting that is a loop hole currently being looked at.
Issue is that the other cadet forces don’t follow this so we would (& do) have a hard time justifying why the safeguarding rules & eligibility is different in one of the four cadet forces sponsored by the MoD.
If you are risk averse then you make it the same as the others so if things go wrong you can blame the system & general accepted practise rather than justify you’re own position.
Interesting our stance on the staff cadets does create the situation where an 18 year old APO (acting petty officer) is respon for the safety & welfare for a 19 year old Cdt FS.
Nothing unusual about that. During my Phase 1 training I was 19 and made section commander due to my previous experience in cadets. Some of the soldiers I was advising on things like how to live out of their bergens rather than unpack everything and whether or not to sleep in their boots were old enough to be my dad.
Yeah, not really different to commissioned officers and NCOs.
I suppose the age makes it difficult, the not fully mature arguement etc etc.
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& considering Age is a protected characteristic if an over 18 cadet applied to be CFAV & was declined based on age could they legally challenge it?
Depends I guess.
Armed forces can discriminate on age and disability. So depends if they decide one week you are part of the forces for the o18 caveat and then the next week not because, volunteering.
JSP535 use to have a line that category stated that cadets are not part of the armed forces, not subjected to the Armed Forces Act & not subject to service law. As such the excempt ion that the military would apply do not necessarily apply.
In addition just because there is an exemption for the military does not mean that it auto applies to the cadet forces especially as officers are no longer designated reserve forces officers.
For example in the firearms act, cadet forces are specifically mentioned separately because legally we are not part of the military (hence the term “sponsored” 
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Interesting.
Although if it’s an application for a CFAV at o18, be no different to a job interview. Just ‘not suitable’ I guess.
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However, volunteers are not subject to the equality act in the same way an employee is, so discriminating against age would only break our policy, not the law. AFAIK anyway…
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I’ve been given the low-down from OC tonight, he’s assured me it’s okay for dissemination.
Apparently the change plans are due to take place from September. Cadets turning 18 will be given the choice as to whether they wish to stay cadets or become staff.
As part of it, I’ve been told that the same criteria for staff cadets will apply as per now. Already there’s an issue; those going for staff could well be the ones failing to meet the criteria for staying on as staff cadets.
Additionally, our unit likes to occasionally invite staff out for a pint after a parade night. With the new rules, we could theoretically invite a new staff member at 18, but not their best mate at the same age who decided to remain a staff cadet.
This is before we get talking about the challenge this could lead to in managing personal relationships, especially if these were to form between 2 18-20 year olds where one became a staff member but the other remained a staff cadet.
Caveat; this is second-hand information, so always take with a pinch of salt.
That’s not going to get messy at all.
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Also problems for OCs
I have those approaching O18 that I would accept/tolerate staying as Staff Cadets…
… but that would have a Snowballs chance in Hell of me taking them as Staff
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And those who are staff are going to have to be chosen carefully as they will be accommodated in the Sergeants mess on station, and you don’t want to get the CMC upset.
Heard the exact same from one of my Cadets who’s on the commandants cadet board. Was discussed at there recent meeting
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