Air Cadet Rank Slides
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sky
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So according to that poster, I'm less important than a regular Flt Sgt. Can I give a copy to the next person who tries to dump some non-flying/non-mission related problem on my plate? Ta.
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
a. Sitting behind a firing point for the first time as a 14 year old, witnessing the noise and power of full-bore military-grade weapons being fired by your mates, knowing with an ever-increasing sense of excitement and fear that your own shoulder will be behind that weapon in minutes few, is a rite of passage.
b. Firing automatic weapons and destroying targets is fun, and gives you top bragging rights back in the classroom - as a bonus, it annoys liberal lefty teachers/parents/pupils.
c. The authorisation to handle military weapons on a range is dependent on properly learning and carrying out IA Drills and having the discipline to react promptly and correctly to commands given by the range officer/nco.
d. Military shooting does not merely consist of shooting at a static, paper target. It is designed to train the soldier to become a [Definition] "Good Battle Shot". That definition encompasses the many things that make a soldier, as opposed to shooting a weapon in the vague direction of a target. (Think completing OCU as opposed to first solo circuit.)
e. Having achieved d above - you can then hone your skills on a digital simulator where upon receiving the appropriate FCO, you must "keep your weapon working order; detect and locate an enemy and fire quickly and accurately at a target".
f. Doing all the above instills the desire in those so disposed to join the Armed Forces and ensures that on joining and throughout training, the passion and determination to excel is well established.
It may not convince you - but it sure as hell convinced me and I wasn't alone.
Definition - from memory, as far as I can recall it
"A good battle shot is a fit, trained, soldier who, under any conditions of combat can use ground for cover, concealment and movement, maintain and keep his personal weapon in order, locate and detect an enemy and fire quickly and accurately at a target."
Bigbux
With the exception of:
the remainder of your list can be achieved with S1 firearms.
YS
With the exception of:
Firing automatic weapons and destroying targets is fun, and gives you top bragging rights back in the classroom - as a bonus, it annoys liberal lefty teachers/parents/pupils.
YS
Prohibited weapons
Some types of weapon and ammunition are prohibited altogether and may only lawfully be held in someone’s possession, purchased, acquired, manufactured, sold or transferred with the authority of the Secretary of State. It is an offence punishable by up to ten years’ imprisonment following conviction on indictment for a person to possess or distribute prohibited weapons or ammunition for prohibited weapons. The list of prohibited weapons is set out in section 5(1) of the Firearms Act 1968:
(a) any firearm which is so designed or adapted that two or more missiles can be successively discharged without repeated pressure on the trigger;
(ab) any self-loading or pump-action rifled gun other than one which is chambered for .22 rim-fire cartridges;
Some types of weapon and ammunition are prohibited altogether and may only lawfully be held in someone’s possession, purchased, acquired, manufactured, sold or transferred with the authority of the Secretary of State. It is an offence punishable by up to ten years’ imprisonment following conviction on indictment for a person to possess or distribute prohibited weapons or ammunition for prohibited weapons. The list of prohibited weapons is set out in section 5(1) of the Firearms Act 1968:
(a) any firearm which is so designed or adapted that two or more missiles can be successively discharged without repeated pressure on the trigger;
(ab) any self-loading or pump-action rifled gun other than one which is chambered for .22 rim-fire cartridges;
Bear in mind, this is a youth organisation we are talking about, it hasn't been a pre-service training organisation since 1962. Neither is it a recruiting organisation. If cadets learn to glide or fly a powered aircraft they can continue to develop in a civilian club. Weapons training will be of little or no use in the civilian world. However shooting still is.
YS
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Sky
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you YS, I'd never given a thought to the actual legal status of what the armoury happily pass through it's hatch to me other than they're illegal outside the fence. Do the cadets still use .22 rifles before progressing to their manual fire mod L85? The only reason I could imagine a self loading weapon would be of any use to a cadet is if they're not strong enough yet to keep loading a round? The rapid single shot capability we need isn't something they should ever need?
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oxford
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Other than the fact that the single shot L98A1 was virtually impossible for a small cadet to cock successfully without repeated stoppages?
Actually the L41 subcalibre adaptor works well, and a fully modified .22 semi-auto would achieve a lot (the L41 is a user fitted kit so it’s still a S5 firearm). But not the sound, smell or recoil of the real thing, of course.
(PS we’ve had the semi auto L98A2 for about five or six years, keep up!)
Actually the L41 subcalibre adaptor works well, and a fully modified .22 semi-auto would achieve a lot (the L41 is a user fitted kit so it’s still a S5 firearm). But not the sound, smell or recoil of the real thing, of course.
(PS we’ve had the semi auto L98A2 for about five or six years, keep up!)
Canada resolved the issue of the status of Cadet officers a few years ago. The Defence act was amended to make clear that Cadet officers were not part of the Canadian Armed Forces and therefore all of the service obligations, both ways, did not apply.
With respect to weapons, international conventions as applied to child soldiers are now pretty clear. Service grade automatic weapons have no place in a youth organization.
With respect to weapons, international conventions as applied to child soldiers are now pretty clear. Service grade automatic weapons have no place in a youth organization.
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oxford
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BPF
Thanks for the info re the status of cadet officers in Canada. I didn’t know about that.
However with respect I think obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are far from clear. They are interpreted differently in different UN countries.
Other posts above may have confused things but the L98A2 Cadet General Purpose Rifle is semi automatic, not automatic. It is manufactured expressly for that reason.
Thanks for the info re the status of cadet officers in Canada. I didn’t know about that.
However with respect I think obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are far from clear. They are interpreted differently in different UN countries.
Other posts above may have confused things but the L98A2 Cadet General Purpose Rifle is semi automatic, not automatic. It is manufactured expressly for that reason.
Bring back the .303 I say!
I can still remember my first time firing it....there was a batch of us who had never fired it before...but had been told horror stories of the vicious kick!
..On the words 'In you own time carry on'.....Silence...as we all waited for the first one to pull the trigger!
I can still remember my first time firing it....there was a batch of us who had never fired it before...but had been told horror stories of the vicious kick!
..On the words 'In you own time carry on'.....Silence...as we all waited for the first one to pull the trigger!
Bring back the .303 I say!
I can still remember my first time firing it....there was a batch of us who had never fired it before...but had been told horror stories of the vicious kick!
..On the words 'In you own time carry on'.....Silence...as we all waited for the first one to pull the trigger!
I can still remember my first time firing it....there was a batch of us who had never fired it before...but had been told horror stories of the vicious kick!
..On the words 'In you own time carry on'.....Silence...as we all waited for the first one to pull the trigger!
It was in the 10-ring though!
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Sneaking up on the Runway and leaping out to grab it unawares
Age: 61
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 302
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bring back the .303 I say!
I can still remember my first time firing it....there was a batch of us who had never fired it before...but had been told horror stories of the vicious kick!
..On the words 'In you own time carry on'.....Silence...as we all waited for the first one to pull the trigger!
I can still remember my first time firing it....there was a batch of us who had never fired it before...but had been told horror stories of the vicious kick!
..On the words 'In you own time carry on'.....Silence...as we all waited for the first one to pull the trigger!
Ahhhhhh.......the .303. What memories. As a 14 year old on the range at RAF Cosford for the very first time, I remember being filled with excitement and slight trepidation having heard the stories of this rifles recoil. The 'old hands' (the 16 year olds) told us sprogs that the beret placed inside the hairy mary would help cushion this much anticipated kick and to a man we all did so. They failed to mention that the metal badge on aforementioned beret should not be resting directly facing ones right shoulder with just a thin blue shirt between it and soft unblemished flesh. The flesh wasnt unblemished after discharching " ten rounds in your own time, carry on"
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Closer than you think...
Age: 65
Posts: 390
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you YS, I'd never given a thought to the actual legal status of what the armoury happily pass through it's hatch to me other than they're illegal outside the fence. Do the cadets still use .22 rifles before progressing to their manual fire mod L85? The only reason I could imagine a self loading weapon would be of any use to a cadet is if they're not strong enough yet to keep loading a round? The rapid single shot capability we need isn't something they should ever need?
When I was in I could think of some serving soldiers who shouldn't have been let loose with anything larger or more powerful than a restricted .177 air-rifle!
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Uk
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Poncing around in rank tabs has long been a rite of passage for the ATC.
I remember being the big man in brize mess with my three stripes....until various groups of sandy bereted chaos came in....I then tried to hide as did my testicles..
Not as bad as the gliding instructors ...who came undone when they met some VC10pilots
I remember being the big man in brize mess with my three stripes....until various groups of sandy bereted chaos came in....I then tried to hide as did my testicles..
Not as bad as the gliding instructors ...who came undone when they met some VC10pilots