The Australian Way
Having just worked alongside the Australian Air Cadets this week at the Gliding Club I've started working at in Australia, it is clear to see that it is a fine model for how the VGSs should run.
The RAAF rightly decided to run their gliding operations under the national body, the Gliding Federation of Australia, with modern DG1000s/Motorised K21s as trainers and an aerotow only operation, the old metal gliders are gone. Oh and they're on the civilian register, much easier!
There are experience flights just like GIC but the selection does appear tougher for scholarships, but that does produce pilots who more than likely will go a long way. There are major military facilities for gliding such as the Bathurst site but the cadets also operate out of civillian gliding clubs across the country midweek with absolutely no problem or struggle for capacity, they bring their own tug and gliders!
Cadets follow the exact GFA syllabus and progress through the various levels and get instructor ratings. Cadet progression stops after Silver C as the RAAF don't like their gliders being flown hugely cross country, but hey, that's far more than the VGSs provided even when they were fully operational. And even if you don't make the cut after solo you can at least continue your gliding with no issue at your local GFA club, unlike the differences between BGA and VGS which require retraining. Standardisation is key! It also allows Civillian Instructors suitably cleared to ensure there is never a lack of instructors.
The cadets have huge pride in their operation with dozens of qualified instructors (not just people doing experience flights) under 26. Many instructors having great success as a result in their applications to get into the RAAF. 2FTS take note, Australia is beating you, all of this has grown in the last 5 years!