RC-Cadets SO2 Activity

Comdt CTC Frimley

CADET CENTRE FOR ADVENTUROUS TRAINinG (CCAT) – ALPINE SKIING QUALIFICATIONS PATHWAY REVIEW

Reference:

A.JSP 419Adventurous Training in the UK Armed ForcesV1.0 Jan 16

Background

1.The highly popular and successful Alpine and Nordic skiing qualifications pathway, delivered annually by CCAT in Bavaria, Southern Germany and Norway, for both the Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) and Senior Cadets has undergone an essential review.

2.The current CCAT Alpine skiing qualifications pathway for CFAVs and Senior Cadets (16-18) is as follows:

3.The CFAVs who had completed the SF1 and ISC courses along with additional log book experience have, up until now, been provided with an opportunity to complete the 6-day Snowsport Scotland Alpine Ski Leader (ASL) qualification:

Snowsport Scotland ASL Qualification (6-days)

Scope of the Award

The award offers the opportunity to gain technical competence in leading and teaching skiers or snowboarders within the bounds of a ski resort in a mountain environment at home or abroad. It does not provide a professional instruction qualification and does not permit a Leader to take their group off piste. The award is limited to those travelling and working with their own groups and would be invalid in any other circumstances.

Entry Requirements

Course participants should meet the following criteria:

  • be at least 18 years of age
  • be able to confidently ski parallel on groomed red runs in the mountains
  • have at least 30 days on-snow experience
  • understand all levels of the UK Snowlife Awards and be able perform to level 6
  • be a member of the Snowsport Scotland coaching scheme

Upon successful completion of the course, candidates will also be required to complete a 2- day First Aid Course, Safeguarding & Protecting Children Workshop and provide a copy of their Disclosure certificate. Once all parts are complete, a candidate will be issued with a licence.

Revalidation

Once qualified the ASL is required to remain current by completing a mandatory 1-day revalidation every 3 years plus maintaining a current first aid and Disclosure certificate.

Issue

4.The current CCAT ski qualifications SF1→ISC→SF2 pathway for the foundation/intermediate skills levels directly aligns with the Joint Service Ski Scheme (JSSS), Reference A, so no change is required.

5.Throughout the past 7 years of the evolution of the CCAT annual skiing programme the Snowsport Scotland Alpine Ski Leader qualification has provided a relatively direct means of attaining a recognised National Governing Body (NGB) Alpine skiing qualification for CFAVs to supervise, coach and lead novice Alpine skiers within the boundaries of a pistedAlpine ski area.

6.However in recent years the Snowsport Scotland ASL has become increasingly difficult to deliver and financially unsustainable for the following reasons:

  • The ASL is not a widely sought after qualification within the wider Snowsport Scotland awards scheme and as a result there are very few accredited Providers available to deliver the course.
  • The course costs have risen year on year:
  • Cost of Snowsport Scotland membership
  • Cost of registration for the qualification
  • Cost of course resources (mandatory)
  • Cost of hiring the Snowsport Scotland Provider plus associated personal expenses
  • Cost and requirement for maintaining annual membership plus revalidation

Review Outcome

7.In consultation with and the co-operation from HQ JSMTC, who are the lead for the Joint Service Ski Scheme (JSSS), CCAT will be adopting the JSSS Alpine ski qualification pathway, in alignment with Reference A, for CFAVs with immediate effect, 2018 season onward, as follows:

Transition - 2018 Season and Beyond

8.Senior Cadets will continue to be provided with the opportunity to complete the SF1 and ISC qualification pathway. Upon completion of the SF1 & ISC awards they will also be given the opportunity to complete the SF2 qualification on a backfill basis.

9.CFAVs will continue to be provided with the opportunity to complete the SF1 and ISC qualification pathway. These qualifications will be the pre-requisites to attend the SF2. CFAVs will be given priority status to attend the SF2 course.

10.CCAT has been authorised by HQ JSMTC to deliver the SF1→SF2 courses as Distributed Training (DT).

11.The SF2 qualification will be the pre-requisite to attend the SF3. The SF3 course will be delivered as a bespoke course by a JSMTC instructor within the annual CCAT skiing programme. CFAVs seeking to attain the SL1 qualification will be given priority status to complete both the SF2 and SF3 as back to back courses within the annual 2-week CCAT ski programme.

12.The SF3 qualification will be the pre-requisite to attend the 10-day SL1 which will be delivered by a JSMTC instructor as a bespoke course within the CCAT annual 2-week programme. Despite being a 10-day course, delivered over 2 x 5-day periods with a break in between, the cost of this course will be kept the same as the current Snowsport Scotland ASLcourse.

13.CCAT will continue to offer the introduction to Nordic ski touring course, SF1 Nordic.

14.The benefits of adopting the JSSS qualification scheme should be immediately apparent as it will produce a highly competent, skilful and experienced Alpine Ski Instructor for a fraction of the costs incurred for delivering the Snowsport Scotland ASL. Additionally the remit of the JS SL1 allows them to deliver the SF1 award as Distributed Training (DT).

Snowsport Scotland ASL - Maintaining Currency

15.Those CFAVs who hold the Snowsport Scotland ASL qualification may continue to operate within the remit of their award delivering Cadets Alpine skiing activities provided they have maintained currency within the scheme:

  • Maintain annual membership of Snowsport Scotland.
  • Revalidate a nationally recognised first aid award every 3 years
  • Complete the 1-day revalidation of their ASL every 3 years
  • Maintain a current Disclosure certificate

Snowsport Scotland ASL –JS SL1 Conversion

16.CFAVs who hold the Snowsport Scotland ASL and wish to convert to the JS SL1 qualification are required to complete the SF3 as a pre-requisite.

Dissemination

17.The Cadets CoC are requested to disseminate this information as widely as possible within their AOR to sub unit level.

18.Information regarding the new CCAT JSSS qualifications pathway will be available on WESTMINSTER and the CCAT website

Original Signed

K P Edwards

Maj

OC CCAT

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