Cadets

[Matthews]

Just wondering, but being in the Cadets.. Does that count for much when your in the army, i was told by my AFCO that it does but he didnt exactly tell me what or why.....

[Guest]

your just like your old man...No good

[Grimey Vibes]

I wouldn't think it does, accept you can get a reference of what type of person you are. But there may be more too it.

[friendlyfireaintfriendly]

It can help because of adventure training, duke of edinburgh leadership stuff and anything else you do HOWEVER it doesnt gurantee you any place it merely helps as it shows you do something outside of school or college

[Guest]

None of that stuff helps you with the army, apart from Duke of Edinborough maybe. Think about it, they are not going to care whether you have got 10,000,000 badges for this and that when the army train you THEIR way in basic. Cadets is just for little kids who are pretending to be soldiers and unless it is taken seriously and professionally by your SNCO's and Officers, you get a whole load of nobbers who think they are soldiers.

James

[Tab]

It might just give you an idea of what you might face, also you will pick up some of the drill and jargon, so if you did join the army you have a small head start on getting your self sorted, but apart from that it will carry no weight at all.

[Guest]

You "My Cadet Sgt said to do it like this!"
Sgt "Well I suggest you tell your cadet Sgt he was wrong and in the meantime get down and give me 50 for gobbing off"

Exactly. And fact is, you will get yourself in the bad books of your platoon staff in basic if you say stuff like that. Not a good move.

[Guest]

The rule for ex cadets since biplanes filled ths skies is to keep your trap shut and your ears open.

If the staff hear you boast about being a cadet or exTA they will;

a, Expect more of you than the others.
b, Jump on your back for every mistake.
c, Rip you up for bog paper at every opportunity.

Do not try and shine at drill because there isn't a cadet or a non ex-regualr cadet instructor in the entire country who can halt or about turn on the march. The Cadet Pateneted Two Stomp Halt and the Cadet Special Stoop Shouldered Multi Spomp About Turn are cadet fantasy drill passed from cadet to cadet so don't even look like you have ever done drill.

[theparamancan]

Dont gob off obviously but i found i knew map reading, skill at arms and drill etc quite well thanks to the cadets, certainly worthwhile to do, just don't brag about it.

[Pheonix19]

Cadets is not a waste of time. It will help you out in some areas. For example, you will know some of the basic drills, and name some of the parts of the riffle. Have an introduction to military estabilishments, have recognition of some of the current vehicles, weapons, tactics, and so on. You will also learn things that occur on exercise and so on.

However, the only probablem we found, with recruits in the para depot, were that ex-cadets, had alot of bad or false tactics. For example, they had got used to holding rifles wrong ways, acting differently compared to other recruits, and a common problem, opening there mouth alot and been noticed, thinking they know more.

Cadets will give you an advantage at the end of the day in some areas, and it will be something to write down in your PDR folder, however, keep it to yourself, and let your chosen regiment teach you in there individual tactics, and so on.

Bottom line, cadets is not a waste of time, and can help you in some ways. Just dont think cadets will play a part in giving you a big advantage in some way against other recruits. End of the day, you all get the same training, and the platoon staff will teach you all the same things, whether you know it already or not!

[vespa]

like a yorkshire man said
"hear all , see all and say nowt"

[stripey588]

in reply to james, cadets is a youth group. that is all they profess to be, but with a military theme. cadets who wish to join the armed forces can gain a lot of information, and some skill to assist them, but that is it. you might like to think about some of your replys before you put finger to keyboard.

basic training is basic training, and most cadets will understand that there is a big difference between a youth group and the military.

as was posted before, "act the grey man". as long as you dont show off if you know something, you will be ok. the training team will know if you are ex cadet anyway.

[pegasus]

The cadet organisation is greatly underrated or misunderstood. The would be "future Para" has either little or no understanding about the army,navy or air force cadets. Generally cadets often display a maturity which often is missing in teenages of today. THey are more than caperable of holding a decent conversation with people, better behaved and are better motivated and just as important, well mannered and respectful. This was clearly demonstrated recently when my son 'who was an Air Cadet; decided to join the Army (They offerred a better range of careers) , the recruiting NCO asked in he had been in the cadet forces. When he said he had been in the Air Cadets the NCO remarked "you can tell by your presentation (dress) and manners and maturity" His word, not mine. My son was switched on enough when he joined to put his cadet training to one side (especially drill!) and go with flow.
Officers and Civilian instructors take thier roles seriously and are justly proud of the cadets and what they achieve as a cadet.

[Guest]

The would be "future Para" has either little or no understanding about the army,navy or air force cadets

...and what would you know. I was actually in the CCF at my school for just over 3 years. It was good fun, and a laugh with mates. I enjoyed the teaching aspect when i was in the top year, and organising and running exercises for the younger years. However, i got seriously bored of the limitations that we had in the cadets and is partly what led me to join the army.

Cadets really isn't a big deal to get excited about, or to be proud of. It is an extra-curricular activity that has a military slant to it, nothing more, nothing less. The only real thing i would say is good about the cadets is, what you put in, you get out. So as an instructor, i used to try to make exercises as real as i could, frustratingly staying within the cadet laws, but all the younger years enjoyed them.

As for giving you skills for the army, i dont believe it does. Apart from drill and the basics such as Rank recognition etc. The army will teach you a different way to the cadets, so for those ex-cadets who think they know it all when they get to ITC or wherever; they are not going to do themselves any favours by opening their mouths. Also, the army may seem alot harder than what they are used to in cadets with regard to discipline and P.T, something which may lead them to think twice about staying in the army.