WHO DOES WHAT ~ STAFF JOBS
In order to ensure a squadron runs smoothly there are a number of jobs that need to be done.
There are 5 main staff “jobs” : Squadron Commander, Adjutant, Training Officer, Drill/Discip, and Supply.
Other aspects of squadron life that need to be covered are Sports, Adventure Training, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Corporate Communications and Shooting. Rarely does one member of staff have the luxury of one job or responsibility on a squadron. The term “staff” here includes Staff Cadets and or cadet NCO’s. Below are very brief outlines of these jobs.
Squadron Commanding Officer (CO)
The CO has total responsibility for everything that goes on, at the squadron. This covers cadet training, the squadron’s standing the local community and well-being of all on the squadron.
Being CO is not easy and relies on the support and active participation of staff, cadets and others associated with the squadron.
The CO must know something of everything to do with the Corps, including rules/regulations, syllabus subjects, committee decisions and orders as issued by Wing/Region and HQAC and something about all squadron members.
To assist in running the squadron (if possible) the CO delegates jobs to members of staff and or Staff Cadets/Cadet NCO’s. The amount each member of staff can be required to do depends greatly on the number of staff available.
One ‘skill’ that a CO needs (as well as other members of staff) is the ability to “think on their feet”, also being able to remain unflustered when things aren’t going to or don’t “fit” the plan, colloquially the “curved ball”. These can’t be taught, but have to be acquired through experience.
The “Adj’” is responsible for administration on the squadron. This is covers all forms, upkeep of squadron records, correspondence and filing. The Adj may also collect subscriptions and run the cadet canteen, if a member of the Civilian Committee isn’t able to do it.
Squadron Training Officer (Trg Off)
The Trg Off is responsible for organising and co-ordinating training on the Sqn. The Trg Off assigns staff to instruction and other training duties, ensures that records are kept up to date, arranges visits/activities, projects among other things. To communicate this a training programme is produced monthly, quarterly and or 6 monthly as well as an appreciation of events taking place a year in advance. This will outline many of the squadron’s activities for the coming months. It is not always best to have an absolutely rigid training programme, it is best to have some stand-by activities and flexibility built into the plan, to allow for absence, last minute no shows, unexpected offers of talks and other opportunities from organisations or ‘nature’ interfering with activities or events.
The Trg Off needs to liase with all members of staff to ensure that the best is sought for the cadets. To this end all staff are required to take a full part in the training programme.
This is the sole preserve of the Squadron Warrant Officer (SWO) or an ASNCO in the absence of a SWO. The SWO is directly responsible to the CO for maintenance of standards in drill and discipline on a squadron. This applies to equally to staff as cadets.
This traditionally comes down to the SWO or now ASNCO. The Supply Officer is responsible for demanding and issuing uniform and equipment the squadron is entitled to via the RAF and that purchased privately.
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Other jobs that staff undertake :-
Sports / Physical Education Officer (PEdO)
They are responsible for co-ordinating the squadron’s/cadet(s) participation in sports events at all levels of the Corps.
Also arrange and organize sports on the squadron as part of the training programme.
This may be one or more members of staff. They are responsible for co-ordinating the weapon instruction and shooting for the squadron. Each person responsible for shooting and or weapon’s instruction must have the relevant qualification(s) for each weapon and or range they instruct and or run. They have to requalify every 4 years and those with range qualifications must carry out regular range details.
This person has responsibility for organising adventure training on the squadron. This may sound a relatively easy role but requires all manner of health and safety measures to be satisfied before undertaking the most basic of activities. All adventure training instructors must have a qualification issued by a National Governing Body (NGB) for the activity they intend to operate.
Essentially coordinating the DEA scheme on the squadron and progress of cadets through it.
Corporate Communications Officer (CCO)
The CCO is responsible for the squadron’s image in the media. At a very basic level this is submitting press releases to the local papers. Many squadrons have websites and these can be used for promotion and recruiting and to bring the squadron to the attention of the whole world. To be of any use websites need to be relatively simple and updated frequently, using cadets, who have taken part in the activity, for submissions and reports.