Any upper age limits should be scrapped, because age is not necessarily a barrier to uniformed service. I’ve seen uniformed CFAVs of all ages and sizes. I didn’t even know that the contractors made MTP to fit people who, quite frankly, are barely able to walk more than a few yards because of their enormous dimensions. If a 25 year old 30 stone individual can go into uniform, why not a fit young 70 year old?
I am understanding of the argument, but in my case the VA is what keeps Zero Alpha onside.
It is the trade off for spending time with other peoples kids instead of my own.
I am sure I will not be alone in this in the 30 - 40 cohort.
2 Likes
Trust me, it happens in the 40-50 bracket too…
3 Likes
VA pays for the guaranteed cadet free week away
4 Likes
My Facebook feed is suddenly full of paid for RAF Recruitment ads
Either the algorithm is out of whack or they really are desperate
2 Likes
They know Russia’s going to kick off.
1 Like
Saw on the news yesterday morning that US and UK embassies are evacuating family or something similar… sounds like they’re taking some precautions for the worst case scenario.
1 Like
You getting the recall?
If we get that bad, you’re getting the call too.
1 Like
We’ll all be speaking Russian before that happens lol
The question of if I could be called up was raised when interviewing for my current job.
My reply:
“No and if I did find myself being called up for anything whatsoever then my turning up for work is the very least of your worries”
3 Likes
Nyet
Oh too late
2 Likes
Let’s get back to OP topic, unless you chaps want a new post 
By upping the age are we trying to attract new blood or keep current CFAV on?
The people around my age and retirees I know like to do things where they can, potter, meet up with people have a chat with cakes and drinks, go on holidays and do something fun and easy. None of which resonate with being in the Air Cadets.
As for people staying on, is it a case of habituation makes you numb to the nonsense and just keep going?
It was interesting when the age was raised and a lot of chatter about older people being out of touch with teenage cadets ensued. But we live in world where as more people have children later, those in the 50-60 age group with teenage children are probably more in touch than the 20-30 year. But for those older people not already in, what would attract them to join as staff, excluding parents of cadets?
There’s someone on the forum posted that they wanted to go into uniform but were too old. Likewise I’ve had to tell a physics teacher at the school with prior RAF experience who runs the school STEM club that he can only join the CCF as a CI and can’t go into uniform because he’s too old.
His response was to tell the organisation to Foxtrot Oscar and we lost a potentially very useful member of staff because he was made to feel second class due to his age
1 Like
Only if they get medals!
1 Like
The bigger disappointment is that it seems uniform is more important than providing something for the cadets.
Not at all. But when we tell someone that their age means that they cannot fully be part of the organisation (and CI is still treated as second class) then I can see why they take umbrage. Nothing to do with the uniform per se, but rather the implications that necessarily follow from that policy.
That must be a local issue - I love our CI’s - especially when they get a grump on and use first names with senior officers and refuse to call them Sir.
3 Likes
Not necessarily local issue, more an HQ issue and the old and bold. I know that the organisations wouldn’t survive without CIs