Cadet Program

A. The Cadet Learning Continuum Review (CLCR) is the investment made by the Royal Australian Air Force to review and redevelop the Cadet program to ensure it is relevant, relatable and engaging for Air Force Cadets. It contains a series of projects looking across the entire cadet continuum to identify areas where the cadet experience could be improved. The CLCR will address content, approaches to learning, the cadet development pathway and other areas with a view to provide an engaging and inspiring cadet experience.

A. The Air Force Cadets have been providing a worthwhile and successful youth program for over 80 years. Due to a combination of factors, Air Force considers it timely that the Cadet experience also be reviewed to ensure it remains relevant and relatable. As an example, schools evolve their approaches to learning every 5-6 years. Our current training manuals have not had a significant review since 1995. All Australian Defence Force Cadet services are required to grow their Cadet numbers and importantly, the CLCR is designed to ensure a contemporary and inspiring youth program is provided to all Cadets.

A. The National Headquarters (NATHQ) has committed to the CLCR which will transform the cadet experience into a program that is values-based, engaging, practical, experiential and inspiring. This approach is to enable the AAFC to grow beyond its present number of approximately 7500 cadets. The modernised program is intended to meet the aspirations of Australian youth, now and into the future. It was determined that a comprehensive review could not be completed internally and a KPMG as a contractor was engaged.

A. CAF endorsed the AAFC Strategic Plan Mind Map at the 2/20 Air Force Board on 21 Aug 20, which was further developed into a Strategic Plan. The NATHQ conducted activities under this Strategic Plan to analyse, design, and develop a cadet learning and development continuum. CB-AF is the custodian for all learning outcomes. The design authority (CDR-AAFC) is responsible for endorsing the Cadet Learning Continuum Review (CLCR) and Adult Learning Continuum Review (ALCR) Learning Outcomes (LOs) and Supporting Learning Outcomes (SLOs). GPCAPT Andrew Layton is the Program Director who manages strategic direction from CDR-AAFC for the program; endorses project scopes to ensure contributions to program intent; holds largest financial delegations. SQNLDR Ben Cowan is the Project Director responsible for formal requirements setting including managing stakeholder engagement for advice and incorporation of command direction; Commonwealth deliverable acceptance.

A. Consultation has been occurring at a number of levels to inform the contractor led work. The engagement from design to development commenced early in the year with Learning Systems, Officers Commanding and Staff Officers Training. CLCR workshops titled “From Design to Development” were held in Canberra with representatives invited from every Wing across Australia. This also involved a CLCR Review Team workshop with the same AAFC group and KPMG. Separately the AAFC Think Tank Workshop assisted in tackling whole-of-cadet changes in developing a communications plan. Additionally 14 Squadron’s have been participating in trialling the new curriculum and survey work is underway by KPMG. The travelling roadshows are just not about communicating change but also eliciting feedback from the border organisation.

A. The CLCR will deliver Orientation and Initial Phases in 2023; Junior and Intermediate in 2024 and finally the Senior Phase will be released in 2025. This will ensure those cadets joining in 2023 will experience an entirely new program throughout their Cadet continuum.

A. It is encouraged that each Squadron (SQN) works together to understand the changes, the different approach to learning and seek out the Staff Officer Training (SOT) in each Wing who has responsibility for supporting each SQN. There is the intention to review the support mechanisms in place across Air Force for the specific purposes of supporting staff in their responsibilities of delivering the Cadet program.

A. We encourage all of our Staff members to attend in person or virtually to learn about the CLCR. Staff are invited to attend their home Wing in the first instance, however if another date/time suits you are welcome to join another Wing’s presentation.

A. For transparency and to build a deeper understanding of the CLCR, recordings have been made of all the CLCR Roadshows. Due to feedback, momentum and the need for further clarity, the presentation and speaker notes have subtle changes between roadshows. To avoid any confusion, we have provided all our staff members with the latest recording. This will be made available for 7 days post roadshow and published for staff here: CadetNet CLCR.

A. Yes. A final copy of the CLCR Roadshow presentation will be made available to all AAFC staff members via their CadetNet login upon completion of the final roadshow. Members will be notified when this is ready and available to view.

A. The Staff Officer Learning Systems (SOLS) role is an Air Force appointment designated for the Australian Air Force Cadets. SQNLDR Ben Cowan has an extensive background in education; fifteen years experience as a Training Systems Officer in the Air Force, and five years as a secondary school teacher in Australia and the United Kingdom. During his career in the Air Force, key postings have included redeveloping training at Officer Training School (OTS) and the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).

He deployed to Afghanistan in 2012-13 and to Iraq in 2019 where he was responsible for identifying and implementing training solutions for the Iraqi Military. SQNLDR Cowan is passionate about the leadership development of today’s youth and is committed to bringing a worthwhile, relevant and contemporary Cadet program to the AAFC.

A: Nothing. All current Cadets will continue with the home training programme as it currently stands. Only new Recruits in 2023 will start the new CLCR Home Training programme. There is no disadvantage or ‘missing out’ for current enrolled Cadets.

A. There will be limited impact on the current cohort of Cadets. Some Squadrons will be responsible for trialling new material before it is implemented. Otherwise, current Cadets will experience changes to Learning and Development Courses and those senior cadets will have responsibilities along with staff in supporting new cadets.

A: This was conceptual and has not been approved for roll out. Currently the ranks of LCDT and CUO are remaining, and our PDL course in January of 2023 has CUO courses. Any change like this will take 3-5 years to implement and again, this will not affect current Cadets.  Noting the cultural heritage perspectives CDR-AAFC has elected to remove the topic from current discussion / consideration to focus on the curriculum. 

A: PDL Courses are developmental in nature in which the focus is providing cadets robust feedback on their personal development and leadership. Cadets can still be removed from the PDL Course for not demonstrating Youth Safety, WHS competencies or behavioural issues. For example: not following the ADFC Code of Conduct and being engaged and present in the course can result in the removal from the PDL. 

A. The Cadet Learning Continuum Review (CLCR)  changes will commence in January 2023. The initial rollout will implement the Orientation and Initial Phases that new Cadets joining the organisation will experience. The implementation of the new phases will be conducted concurrently with the existing Cadet program for currently enrolled Cadets. The Phase duration remains unchanged and will gradually supersede the existing Cadet program over the next three to five years.

A: The current structure of promotion courses is changing. The Commander-AAFC’s Routine Instruction (RI) outlines these changes and provides commentary around the drivers of change. The promotion courses will still have the current training syllabus as previous promotion courses, however with some content and duplications (revisions) removed. There will no longer be summative assessments as part of the course and instead this will shift to Personal Development and Leadership Courses (PDLCs). The PDLC variant will continue to be conducted with the current cohort of Cadets. This will coincide with the transition to the new Cadet program in which PDLCs will be embedded in the Cadet program through foundation experientials and the optional extension pathways. The transition is reflective of providing Cadets with enhanced exposure to personal development and leadership that is not achieved in the current promotion course approach. Additionally, the shift will reduce the resource burden allowing greater numbers of Cadets to have a Defence-like experience, a more personalised approach to their Cadet learning and be promoted. This restructure also better aligns with current approaches to promotion in the Australian Defence Force. As an example, the Royal Australian Air Force dissolved promotion courses 15 years ago in place of Personal Development and Leadership Courses for promotion, together with time in rank.

A. We encourage all Cadets to provide this feedback through their supervisory chain (formerly known as the chain of command) to your home Squadron Commanding Officer. The transition to the new Cadet program will have little impact on the currently enrolled cohort of Cadets as they will continue on the existing approach. However, feedback on the Cadet experience is most welcome in ensuring the positive elements of the program remain while addressing key opportunities to improve.