Luke Attends the Unit Commanders’ Course

This week, Flight Lieutenant Luke Clifford-Roper-Smith, Officer Commanding 1324 Squadron attended the Unit Commanders’ Course at the RAF Air Cadets Command & Leadership School.

The members and staff of the Unit Commander’s Course 6/24

Based at RAF Cranwell, the intensive course is designed to support unit commanders by updating their knowledge on leadership principles and policy, while sharing best practice and changes to legislation. The end result is adult volunteers who are better-prepared to provide a valuable cadet experience in a safe and supportive environment.

As someone who last trained at RAF Cranwell as a regular officer, this was the first time Luke had trained through the Command & Leadership School of the RAF Air Cadets.

“The opportunity to meet other squadron commanders, discuss the challenges & pitfalls, and share best practice was invaluable. Better yet were the opportunities to challenge preconceptions and discuss valuable developments in areas such as EDI (equality, diversity, & inclusion).

“The opportunity to further develop understanding of essential safeguarding practices was my most valuable takeaway, as that’s one of the most important aspects of command and working with young adults.”

The RAF Air Cadets invests in staff development to ensure the cadet experience is both rewarding and safe for staff and cadets alike. Future plans include further role-specific training for key volunteer posts, such as support to training officers, to ensure staff are better supported to deliver the essentials of a well-functioning unit.