The current counting of Duty Absence as “present” (for staff at least, I haven’t checked it for cadets) does rather skew the impression a little too.
I noticed this recently when SMS told me that 5 staff had been present on an evening when I knew that to be nonsense. Joe was away running a wing course… He most certainly wasn’t “present” at the Sqn.
This has had a direct impact on preparation of home to duty claims for the last couple of years.
That’s interesting.
I’ve never noticed it upping the staff count on the registers until SMS v5
It would be great if when cadets withdraw from an activity they have to provide a reason.
Running an activity today and three have withdrawn but only one has given me a reason why via Cadet Portal.
Having a reason isn’t going to change the outcome though is it, so what’s the point? Last minute dropouts will just get put to the bottom of the list for the next one!
Depends if you value the honesty? Having a justification for an absence makes a difference in some unit flight competitions.
I’d still rather know why they haven’t turned up.
If it’s a Wing activity I understand @redowling ‘s rationale but as this is a unit activity I want to know why they aren’t turning up. It’s a measure of their integrity if nothing else.
That’s why I want to know. Drop out due to family emergency/bereavement probably won’t be penalised. Drop out due to taking an extra shift at work depends but probably bottom of the pile. Drop out to go to the cinema with their girlfriend will go to the bottom of the pile
Bit harsh this one, but I agree with the rest.
Is it possible for SMS to display cadets’ sign up and drop out stats?
There will be times when it’s understandable, but also times when it wouldn’t. That would be very case specific though.
The first one, how heartless over something they have no control of and in the second case, this is a voluntary activity, work is a commitment, in particular if you get a call to help your boss or mates out…
You really sound a bundle of laughs with an attitude to people like that.
The first one shouldn’t have had “probably in”, but read again, even with that word in the clear starting point was that won’t be held against them. The second one, yes it’s a voluntary activity vs work. But if they take a shift and then don’t tell me till the morning of the event meaning I can’t give the slot to someone else then yes, that will factor into my decision making in the future. Maybe not on a one off, but if it happens repeatedly I will need to consider how best to manage the resources for all my cadets. Whether voluntary or not cadets is also a commitment and if you take up a place on an activity you know that other people may miss out, money may have been spent and people will have spent time on it. So cancelling last minute because something better has come up indicates a lack of commitment and respect. I said it’s not automatic as there will be times you can’t say no to work and that will be considered.
I agree… They could be useful data from which to draw conclusions in the future.
Similar to the way that I consider absences on Sqn nights… If they have the decency to tell me then it’s recorded as authorised. If they just don’t turn up and don’t bother to phone, email, explain after the fact then they get recorded as AWOL under the old system or just Absent now.
The number of AWOL/A vs Authorised Absent vs Present factors relative heavily into decision about all sorts of things.
I had a number of no-notice “did not attend” on a recent wing course. It would certainly have been good on that occasion to know why.
On the other side of the coin though I probably wouldn’t be particularly fussed about withdrawals a fair way in advance. If someone registered their interest 2 months before the event and withdrew again 4 days later it really doesn’t matter to me.
Perhaps then withdrawals after selection on a bidding event, or within a particular time of the event (say, within 2 weeks or something) might require a reason.
Careful, you’ll have someone bleating about use of the term AWOL and how it’s wrong to consider an absence “unauthorised” as there’s no obligation in a voluntary organisation and you therefore don’t have the authority to authorise an absence or consider it “unauthorised”…
The fact is that if you commit to something and then drop out you owe the organiser an explanation as others may well have missed out, this applies as much in the world of work as any other.
Depending on the quality of that explanation may affect whether you get given an opportunity over others again. At work we have people wait years for some courses, if they then drop out the day before the reason had better be phenomenally good or they will never get that opportunity again.
They can bleat… I won’t be moved 
Do we need a “no-show” selectable status on activities?
Yes 100%.
Good idea.
I still think (whilst I can see some admin advantages) that we are developing “e-cadets” = detrimental in some respects.
Cadet Portal gives near-instant sign-up without the need for attendance “Sorry, can’t make it tonight, but I sure as heck can bid for place on this nice activity.” Yes, choice / allocation is a different matter.
Attending the sqn to action a sign-up sheet = much better option as far as I’m concerned.
They can bid all they want, but if their attendance isn’t good then they won’t be chosen. Same as when we put sign up sheets on the board, if cadets don’t have a good attendance record they won’t be chosen.