Kit. Lots and lots of kit.
4 Likes
But theyāre my hobbies before being a RAFAC volunteer, so Iād buy it anyway
Not necessarily; Iād say the kit you require as an instructor / leader is often different to what you might buy simply for doing the hobby for yourself.
2 Likes
Hmm, I can see that argument, but as someone with a couple of different AT hobbies and in clubs for those hobbies (and, pertinently, have done freelance work), I would have them anyway.
I think it probably comes down to what and where those hobbies are: a 4* WW paddler (even only doing it with peers) is going to have the same (or more) kit they need to run intro to paddlesport sessions
1 Like
Indeed - but thatās not applicable to everyone. I donāt freelance for instance; so the only reason I buy leader equipment is to deliver activities for the organisation. Indeed the only reason I do some courses which I fund myself are to enable delivery of stuff for the organisation.
2 Likes
that is your specific and indivual example
shooting for instance is not easily done with the same similarities outside of the RAFAC.
I have known CFAVs buy the gucci No3 kit out of VA as theyāll use it on the cold, wet days at the 600m point on the rangeā¦
they wouldnāt be buying that for their air rifle use in their back gardenā¦
thinking out loud probably the circles Iām in, but I know a lot more AT folk than bang bang stick folk
without VA, maybe thereād be more of an argument theyād be able to get it from stores? (or is this too naĆÆve?!)
firstly CFAVs are not issued No3s
secondly what people have got is past āstandard issueā
but that is just clothing.
there have been examples of ear protectors or scopes which are private purchase which cannot be supplied with an NSN (and if they could not eligible to the RAFAC)
so why isnāt that the question?
1 Like
This!
It all goes on kit.
Kit for me.
Kit for donating to Sqn.
Kit for others.
I rekon I āgetā about 200 quid a year for me and I use that to pay towards taking the mrs out for the night. As a thank you for letting me be away all the time.
I totally get that there is a very wide set of backgrounds and personal circumstances amongst the staff cohort. I personally think of it all a bit more holistically: Iām in the very lucky position of having the ability to (and happily) spend spare salary income on things like this (given lack of children)
1 Like
Think Iām in the same boat as you @ccw34
Ultimately I supplement that ATC kit as I want the kit, and it will make the experience for cadets better which I enjoy, or my life more comfortable. I could not buy the extra itemsā¦
I think there is a balance to be had. We tend to expect everything to be issued or providedā¦ There are plenty of organisations where people supplement out their own pocket.
Most other clubs, scouts etc, will see people shelling out of their own pocket too on uniform/additional kit etc.
Itās a balance.
1 Like
The argument here is that if the kit is required/desirable to enable the teaching/experience then the Sqn/Wg etc should purchase and loan out as required
If the justification canāt be made for this then perhaps the kit is a āI wantā rather than an āI needāā¦
However, what you do with your VA is up to you 
Take VA away and replace with āExpensesā and you open the organisation up to a large collection of rules and a requirement to staff an Expenses department (which we wonāt get) or an even longer process period to payment
On Topic
Is it commission before 65 or have to leave at 65? Not that I will last that long 
If it becomes at RC discretion for over 65 then it opens up all sorts of āWhy them not meā if it is subjective or it becomes a tick box again which we all know works brilliantlyā¦
3 Likes
ACP 20 PI203
The upper age limit for uniformed CFAV is 65 years and, although there is no entitlement to an extension beyond that, the chain of command will make their decision based on the needs of the RAFAC. Reviews will be on an annual basis.
and
The upper age limit is 65 years but Comdt RAFAC has the authority to allow 1-year extensions beyond this on a case by case basis, taking into account the individualās continued suitability for the role, their continued suitability to wear uniform, and any requirement to develop other volunteers.
So in theory, I guess, even the RC canāt accept someone for commission past their 65th.
1 Like
Jesus. You lot are the worst. Iāll clean this up later.
6 Likes
Poor pep.
(Really very sorry) 
2 Likes
No disrespect intended but if the ārulesā say in this case the upper age is 65, beyond which you need āpermissionā, so be it. Otherwise you get into as suggested the messy world of caveats and conditions, which are open to challenge and explanation and if told no in the modern world there is the bitching and bleeding heart platform that is social media.
I think itās right and proper to have age limits that are fixed.
It does seem like being happy in your own skin is a problem for some, if youāre happy in yourself and what you do, do the clothes matter. There is IMO no reason to be in uniform unless you are into drill or want to run a sqn, outside of those two things what is there, where a uniform is a necessity.
In some ways this reminds me of cadet we had who wanted to join up purely so he could feel part of it when the old lags started on their war stories.
Indeed, not that long ago that the upper age limit for uniformed staff was 55
I think it still is for joining.