ATC Occifers etc
May not come as a shock to many but I was a "Spacey" many moons ago (306 (Runcorn) Sqn). I like the idea of the cadets, I enjoyed it, it got me interested in the RAF when there wasn't much in the way of career satisfaction for what would be called a "Chav" nowadays. However when I was in the cadets the majority of the AI's were ex RAF or Army and had a good background for what they were doing. Nowadays I speak to many ATC/VR WO's and Adult Sgts who seem to have no regular service whatsoever or if they do it is minimal. For example an ATC Flt Lt (VR) who managed 6 years as an airman in the catering trade, banged out, became a civil servant and is now OC of a local ATC Sqn. Said chap tried to wear his mess kit to a Sqn all ranks dining in night and got vexed when it was pointed out he was attending as a civilian member of the Sqn not a VR officer. I sometimes think that these people couldn't cut it in the regulars so get their kicks from ordering around kids. (Dives into slit trench)