Air Cadets grounded?
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OK
I'm now wearing the biggest tin hat stores could provide.
Having read the posts on this thread (and agreeing with 99% of them), has it never occurred to the posters that the UK cannot afford a 'real' Royal Air Force any more.
Therefore, how can the UK afford an Air Cadet Organisation?
Where is MoD (taxpayer) money best spent? Surely the Front Line.
I'm now wearing the biggest tin hat stores could provide.
Having read the posts on this thread (and agreeing with 99% of them), has it never occurred to the posters that the UK cannot afford a 'real' Royal Air Force any more.
Therefore, how can the UK afford an Air Cadet Organisation?
Where is MoD (taxpayer) money best spent? Surely the Front Line.
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Ah, but the idea is more cadets = less antisocial behaviour = save money on police/social services. And cadets are better motivated at school, too.
I'm not entirely convinced it's cause and effect ('good' kids join cadet organisations) but there is a logic.
But - one suspects non-flying cadets are cheaper and would still achieve the aim.
I'm not entirely convinced it's cause and effect ('good' kids join cadet organisations) but there is a logic.
But - one suspects non-flying cadets are cheaper and would still achieve the aim.
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TaxyDual
Funding for the ATC (Cadet forces generally) is pretty small - probably lost in the 'roundings' of the Accountants frankly compared to the overall defence budget.
Cost savings against 'non-vandalism' and associated 'kids hanging on street corners' are supposedly huge. So much so that not so long ago, the Home Office was considering funding the Cadet Forces when MoD whinged about budget cuts................
I think the term was that Cadets were not just military but part of the 'Fabric Of Society'..................(Blah, Blah, Blah) - maybe Dave Cameron should be advised that a big bit of his 'Big Society' just got chopped off.............I'm sure he'd care and get involved <<Yeah, right>>
Arc
Funding for the ATC (Cadet forces generally) is pretty small - probably lost in the 'roundings' of the Accountants frankly compared to the overall defence budget.
Cost savings against 'non-vandalism' and associated 'kids hanging on street corners' are supposedly huge. So much so that not so long ago, the Home Office was considering funding the Cadet Forces when MoD whinged about budget cuts................
I think the term was that Cadets were not just military but part of the 'Fabric Of Society'..................(Blah, Blah, Blah) - maybe Dave Cameron should be advised that a big bit of his 'Big Society' just got chopped off.............I'm sure he'd care and get involved <<Yeah, right>>
Arc
Last edited by Arclite01; 24th Mar 2016 at 08:54. Reason: spelling
OK
Absolutely spot on Taxydual - but the trouble is these cuts have been happening under the pretext of a 'safety pause',I think many people would have more respect for the Brass if they had been upfront about the real agendas.
rgds LR
I'm now wearing the biggest tin hat stores could provide.
Having read the posts on this thread (and agreeing with 99% of them), has it never occurred to the posters that the UK cannot afford a 'real' Royal Air Force any more.
Therefore, how can the UK afford an Air Cadet Organisation?
Where is MoD (taxpayer) money best spent? Surely the Front Line.
Having read the posts on this thread (and agreeing with 99% of them), has it never occurred to the posters that the UK cannot afford a 'real' Royal Air Force any more.
Therefore, how can the UK afford an Air Cadet Organisation?
Where is MoD (taxpayer) money best spent? Surely the Front Line.
Absolutely spot on Taxydual - but the trouble is these cuts have been happening under the pretext of a 'safety pause',I think many people would have more respect for the Brass if they had been upfront about the real agendas.
rgds LR
Getting rid of CGI's is what one would expect when the boss has no time for volunteers - presumably he hates civvy volunteers even more than uniformed volunteers !
Is this also the thin end of the wedge and serve as an early warning for CI's on ATC Squadrons ?
Is this also the thin end of the wedge and serve as an early warning for CI's on ATC Squadrons ?
has it never occurred to the posters that the UK cannot afford a 'real' Royal Air Force any more
Last week we saw unseemly arguments in Parliament over the Budget, and the "need" to find £4.3Bn savings from the welfare pot. Coincidentally, more or less the sum wasted on Nimrod MRA4. An idea emerges....
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MOD Wethersfield (Home of 614 VGS) to Close
Defence Estate Rationalisation Written Statement HCWS659, 24 March 2016:
MOD Wethersfield, home of 614 VGS, due to transfer to Homes and Communities Agency by 2020. Future location for 614 VGS yet to be identified.
MOD Wethersfield, home of 614 VGS, due to transfer to Homes and Communities Agency by 2020. Future location for 614 VGS yet to be identified.
Money well spent
The 'Civilian' element of the ACO has always been its 'jewel' in that it provided a cadre of capable adult staff at very little cost to the tax payer.
Whether in the Cadet Squadrons or the Gliding operations the civilian element was nigh on cost free.
As for the provision of a Cadet service at all, this has be balanced against the unseen advantages of providing an organisation that allows youngsters to engage in self developing activities with just enough discipline to keep it safe yet not stifle the normal enthusiasm for adventure. What the ACO 'had' in its Gliding set up was an organisation that provided a unique extra level of self development that was available to anyone who wished to participate without a financial limitation.
Where the ATC has gone astray is in its 'paid for' back up providers who have failed to provide a service yet the money has been spent.
There is also a big question mark hanging over the capability level of those that should have been overseeing this and then dealing with the problem that ensued. The Cadets that passed through the system took with them skills and a level of self development that equipped them for adult life and repaid that earlier investment many times over.
At the end of the day the civilian element of the ACO can holds its head up high; it never failed the Cadets and has a proud tradition of capability and service.
Whether in the Cadet Squadrons or the Gliding operations the civilian element was nigh on cost free.
As for the provision of a Cadet service at all, this has be balanced against the unseen advantages of providing an organisation that allows youngsters to engage in self developing activities with just enough discipline to keep it safe yet not stifle the normal enthusiasm for adventure. What the ACO 'had' in its Gliding set up was an organisation that provided a unique extra level of self development that was available to anyone who wished to participate without a financial limitation.
Where the ATC has gone astray is in its 'paid for' back up providers who have failed to provide a service yet the money has been spent.
There is also a big question mark hanging over the capability level of those that should have been overseeing this and then dealing with the problem that ensued. The Cadets that passed through the system took with them skills and a level of self development that equipped them for adult life and repaid that earlier investment many times over.
At the end of the day the civilian element of the ACO can holds its head up high; it never failed the Cadets and has a proud tradition of capability and service.
Oh dear, there were rumblings years ago about this. Bang goes East Anglia I guess, not too many cadets in that area luckily...
MOD Wethersfield (Home of 614 VGS) to Close
Defence Estate Rationalisation Written Statement HCWS659, 24 March 2016:
MOD Wethersfield, home of 614 VGS, due to transfer to Homes and Communities Agency by 2020. Future location for 614 VGS yet to be identified.
Defence Estate Rationalisation Written Statement HCWS659, 24 March 2016:
MOD Wethersfield, home of 614 VGS, due to transfer to Homes and Communities Agency by 2020. Future location for 614 VGS yet to be identified.
Homes and communities agency
Ok so what does this agency need all the 'Airfield' bit for.
There are plenty of useful buildings on the north side that can easily accommodate a glider operation,and plenty of space for 'launching'.
Does anyone ever look how civvy clubs manage on quite 'tiny' sites.
Does anyone at the top of the 'system' have any idea how 'operations' operate in the real world.
There are plenty of useful buildings on the north side that can easily accommodate a glider operation,and plenty of space for 'launching'.
Does anyone ever look how civvy clubs manage on quite 'tiny' sites.
Does anyone at the top of the 'system' have any idea how 'operations' operate in the real world.
Is it me or is there something going on that I do not understand. When I was a boy the country was struggling after the war yet we ran a large military a large police force with a policeman on every corner, a large NHS that never seemed to have any of the current problems and a civil service that was admired worldwide. Nowadays the country is richer than it has ever been and nothing seems to be affordable; the treasury cuts, sells and saves at every opportunity and the Air Cadets seems to be caught up in the mindset that savings need to be made at every opportunity.
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Ok so what does this agency need all the 'Airfield' bit for.
There are plenty of useful buildings on the north side that can easily accommodate a glider operation,and plenty of space for 'launching'.
Does anyone ever look how civvy clubs manage on quite 'tiny' sites.
Does anyone at the top of the 'system' have any idea how 'operations' operate in the real world.
There are plenty of useful buildings on the north side that can easily accommodate a glider operation,and plenty of space for 'launching'.
Does anyone ever look how civvy clubs manage on quite 'tiny' sites.
Does anyone at the top of the 'system' have any idea how 'operations' operate in the real world.
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Ah, but the idea is more cadets = less antisocial behaviour = save money on police/social services. And cadets are better motivated at school, too.
I'm not entirely convinced it's cause and effect ('good' kids join cadet organisations) but there is a logic.
But - one suspects non-flying cadets are cheaper and would still achieve the aim.
I'm not entirely convinced it's cause and effect ('good' kids join cadet organisations) but there is a logic.
But - one suspects non-flying cadets are cheaper and would still achieve the aim.
We had an amazing relationship with our nearest school - we used their facilities and our staff supported their DEA activities very regularly. Some of their staff visited our Sqn during routine activities and were amazed to bump into one of their "problem pupils", standing to attention and to one side to allow them down a corridor. They were really surprised as this was someone they had been in despair of in school.
The impact of open cadet units on the general teenage population should not be underestimated.
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Ok so what does this agency need all the 'Airfield' bit for.
There are plenty of useful buildings on the north side that can easily accommodate a glider operation,and plenty of space for 'launching'.
Does anyone ever look how civvy clubs manage on quite 'tiny' sites.
Does anyone at the top of the 'system' have any idea how 'operations' operate in the real world.
There are plenty of useful buildings on the north side that can easily accommodate a glider operation,and plenty of space for 'launching'.
Does anyone ever look how civvy clubs manage on quite 'tiny' sites.
Does anyone at the top of the 'system' have any idea how 'operations' operate in the real world.
617 VGS left Manston donkeys' years ago and has been homeless since, the section of airfield they used is still there and there is still a military presence with the Fire School maintained - therefore MT and domestic facilities could be there too. In terms of basic resources, there is no obvious reason why they didn't maintain 617 there. If it hadn't been located on Thanet, it would have made a great hub for ACO activities but there again I did my GS there so I'm probably a bit biased.
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Is it me or is there something going on that I do not understand. When I was a boy the country was struggling after the war yet we ran a large military a large police force with a policeman on every corner, a large NHS that never seemed to have any of the current problems and a civil service that was admired worldwide. Nowadays the country is richer than it has ever been and nothing seems to be affordable; the treasury cuts, sells and saves at every opportunity and the Air Cadets seems to be caught up in the mindset that savings need to be made at every opportunity.
Weathersfield !!
Ok 4850 homes = lots of youngsters to feed a 'facility'.
Ideal to have an 'Adventure' facility on part of the site to keep those youngsters active in something that will serve them for future life.
I suspect the Homes and Com agency would be pleased to support that,and remember the Prime Minister was trying to encourage 'school' cadet squadrons.
Is that too much out of the box to consider.
Why is it that so many service establishments and the housing fall into disrepair rather than get recycled into ready made work and live places.
RAF Kenley has a civilian club that operates during the week on a fraction of the whole airfield,which itself is only small compared with many sites.
As for 'Army' (former airfield sites) well they have an Air Corps so what is the problem with a joint venture Cadet corps operating from them,or is it a 'political' impasse with the services,that needs a bit of head knocking.
Ideal to have an 'Adventure' facility on part of the site to keep those youngsters active in something that will serve them for future life.
I suspect the Homes and Com agency would be pleased to support that,and remember the Prime Minister was trying to encourage 'school' cadet squadrons.
Is that too much out of the box to consider.
Why is it that so many service establishments and the housing fall into disrepair rather than get recycled into ready made work and live places.
RAF Kenley has a civilian club that operates during the week on a fraction of the whole airfield,which itself is only small compared with many sites.
As for 'Army' (former airfield sites) well they have an Air Corps so what is the problem with a joint venture Cadet corps operating from them,or is it a 'political' impasse with the services,that needs a bit of head knocking.