Volunteer Software Development Team - New Cadet Portal

[wdimagineer2b]

When you open the category drop-down just start typing. It should search automatically.

[james_elliott]

@incubus

Does a new announcement really justify a whole version release?

It does until Cadet Portal features an announcement function.

@Paracetamol

My wexo refuses to put camps on portal.

You should ask them to take a fieldtrip to DNW and see how they are doing - really impressive and SMS/CP have been fully embraced

@incubus

While Portal is doing some good work, it is absolutely not always the best way to handle every activity.
I’d like to see a Read-Only activity capability where details can be publicised but management of the attendee list is performed directly by the organisers (or by directing staff)

It is just a communications tool and doesn’t replace good comms on the unit, final parade briefings to the cadets, speaking to the parents, activity specific briefings etc.

@wdimagineer2b

I keep noticing people saying that AEF doesn’t have to go on SMS, or that “only the transport bit” does…
I’m convinced that’s polldarks.

No, that is correct - the transport element has to be authorised. The risk of the AEF sits with 6FTS and is not your problem.

[wdimagineer2b]

No, that is correct - the transport element has to be authorised. The risk of the AEF sits with 6FTS and is not your problem.

Indeed… But we still have to add it to SMS. We just don’t need to consider any of the flying aspect in our planning. The wording “only the transport part” seems to be an oversimplification.
It surely wouldn’t be correct to consider the SMS event as “ending” the moment we arrive at the AEF? We just put it together as we would for any other event where the main activity is being run by another provider.

[james_elliott]

Indeed… But we still have to add it to SMS. We just don’t need to consider any of the flying aspect in our planning.
It surely wouldn’t be correct to consider the SMS event as “ending” the moment we arrive at the AEF? We just put it together as we would for any other event where the main activity is being run by another provider.

Yes, agree.

[wdimagineer2b]

Cool. I have it clear in my mind then.

[incubus]

Remember that it will also need to exist when we tie it to VA…

I wonder why the form 80 hasn’t been updated to replace the “Adventure Training Ref no” box with an SMS Activity Reference box. It isn’t like HQ to miss an opportunity to fiddle with a form!

[steve679]

I wonder why the form 80 hasn’t been updated to replace the “Adventure Training Ref no” box with an SMS Activity Reference box

i typically added the SMS reference box out of completeness, no one commented it wasn’t valid and to me made sense - SMS events have always had references so why just limit that box to AT events?

[AlexCorbin]

I can vouch theres a spreadsheet to fill out for D&C to send back to HQAC via wing but I understand that certain national camps they want to keep “offline” until theres a better mechanism to support x hundred applications.

[wdimagineer2b]

Especially given the number of times they’ve “updated” it since the introduction of SMS.
They change the name a half dozen times but nobody thinks to update the reference box text?
Extraordinary.

[DontCallMeSir]

We run at least one sports night per month

We run a minimum of 4 sports nights a week often higher in the run up to a competition. The rest of the non sporty cadets enjoy our usual nights we do.

weekend orienteering is also popular with many of the cadets

This is something I want to get started with our cadets, I used to love weekends with our sqn when I were’a lad.

#SorryOffTopic

[wdimagineer2b]

@DontCallMeSir

We run a minimum of 4 sports nights a week

Christ! You must be busy!

[DontCallMeSir]

We have a very sporty staff member I don’t do sports

[Paracetamol]

@james_elliott

You should ask them to take a fieldtrip to DNW and see how they are doing - really impressive and SMS/CP have been fully embraced

I will.
Thank you.

[Paracetamol]

Not my problem.
Systems there. They just need to use it an manage it.

[mprentice1]

However there is no reason why we couldn’t have that event on SMS with all details/attachments added to the event, and make it clear within the event to not add it to Cadet Portal.

That way the event is within SMS, and the bidding process can be done separately and HQAC just add the selected cadets.

[Parky131]

That attitude causes issues, for cadet portal to work as a culture change every activity has to go through it. Now it is going to create more admin than it should for a Squadron to create an sms app to purely trawl Cadets and then cancel it off later. The organiser of the camp can quite easily of come up with a process with the system available and I’m sure that the developers would of offered support for them to come up with a process using what is available if the asked.

[963]

Quick one from me re: COVID19, after email from CoS is there an Corps update regarding suspension of RAFAC activities delivered through Cadet Portal?

If not and we have to do this at squadron level, what tool can we use to deliver this news to our cadets? Would it be the notification section?

[Giminion]

When events are cancelled in SMS it will notify those that bid/were selected.

[963]

I meant more of a delivery system to communicate that all parade evenings are suspended

[james_elliott]

Following the announcement today re Royal Air Force Air Cadets face-to-face activity, the Bader team are working behind the scenes to deliver a range of resources for CFAV. CFAV can see full information in the SharePoint article at https://tinyurl.com/qtz7563