WHO'S WHO IN THE STAFF WORLD
There are 3 types of adult staff : Officer, Adult Senior NCOs and Civilian Instructors.
PROCESS TO BECOMING AIR CADETS ADULT STAFF
The first step is to make contact with your local Air Cadet squadron.
All adult staff in the ATC have to be passed by the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) and Defence Vetting Agency (DVA). This process takes in the region of 6 months. The biggest delay is the CRB checks. Failure to satisfy either of these bodies will result in the individual not being appointed. This means that all adult staff are cleared to work with young people. They also have to attend a course that covers among other things, their responsibilities with respect to working with young people.
Uniformed staff commit to a minimum of 12 hours a month, although I can’t ever remember a month when I’ve done just 12 hours, even as a CI. Although the 12 hours rule does not formally apply to CI’s, many, if not all, are as active as many uniformed staff.
For staff who wish to take on a uniform role, Essex Wing run a mandatory course preparing people for the two uniformed staff branches. Those who undertake the course are not obliged to go into uniform as the information garnered gives a better appreciation of the Corps.
CIVILIAN INSTRUCTORS (CI's)
Civilian Instructors form the backbone of the Corps’ adult staff. They are men and women who are often unable to give the time to become uniformed staff, or, they intend to become uniformed staff and are using the CI role as a way of getting used to the staff role in the Corps, or, they just want to enable young people to have opportunities not necessarily open to them elsewhere.
The main role for CI’s is instruction in the syllabus subjects, although they can do anything the Corps offers in terms of role on the squadron and higher, with the exception of the command roles.
ADULT SENIOR NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS (A/SNCOs)
With effect from October 2003 as part of the LASER review, the Adult SNCO structure was introduced comprising 3 ranks : Adult Sergeant (A Sgt), Adult Flight Sergeant (A F/Sgt)and Adult Warrant Officer (AWO). Prior to this there were only AWO’s.
This A/SNCO structure has been brought in essentially to provide a “development path” for A/SNCOs and is based on 4 year periods, after which suitability for promotion is assessed.
A Sgts and AF/Sgts wear the ATC gilt badge on their rank slides and the RAF cap badge. AWO’s wear the ATC gilt badge and Warrant Officers cap badge.
The path to initial appointment as an A/SNCO involves, DVA and CRB clearance and a Wing board to assess knowledge of the Corps, RAF and generally and suitability for appointment. If this is successfully completed, a week long course at the Adult Training Flight (ATF) (part of HQAC at RAF Cranwell), has to be passed within a year. Passing this course results in full appointment.
Promotion to AF/SGT is after 4 years on the Sqn Cdrs approval and Wing Cdrs authority and promotion to AWO after a further 4 years, with a suitable vacancy and the Regional Cmdts authority. In the period between appointment as a SNCO and further promotion, it is expected that further courses at the ATF will be taken.
As with CI’s, A/SNCOs can do anything within the Corps with the exception of the command roles. Although in the absence of a officer they can assume the role of Sqn Commander on a temporary basis.
OFFICERS
Officers in the ATC are commissioned into the RAF Volunteer Reserve (Training) branch of the RAF, indicated by the abbreviation RAFVR(T).
Prior to initial appointment and subject to DVA and CRB clearance, potential Officers undergo two boards, one conducted at Wing, consisting of the Wing Commander, Wing Admin Officer and another member of Wing staff. If they are successful they then go to a Region board, consisting of the Regional Commandant, member of Regional Staff and a Wing Commander, not their own. These boards are used to assess knowledge of the Corps, RAF and overall suitability for initial appointment as a Commissioned Officer, in the rank of Pilot Officer. If these boards are passed successfully, they are appointed and have to attend and pass an Initial Officer Course at the ATF, within 12 months of initial appointment.
After 2 years satisfactory service Officers are promoted to Flying Officer. At this point many elect to go on the Officer’s Senior Course which can be regarded as a preparatory course for becoming a Sqn Cdr.
One often overlooked branch of “staff” are the squadron’s cadet NCOs. Once a cadet has achieved NCO status and or Staff Cadet, they are in a position to start putting back into the Corps, by instructing younger/junior cadets in syllabus subjects and drill, generally assisting on the squadron and some may even take on a staff job in their own right. Having just come through the syllabus they are often better informed and able to instruct cadets, than some staff, who have no prior knowledge.
Since October 2003, cadets over the age of 18, who have achieved the rank of Sgt have been called Instructor Cadets and wear white band with their rank slides to distinguish them from other cadets. These are viewed as having the potential to be adult staff, and have many opportunities to undertake courses that enable them to take a fuller role in the running of the squadron.