Cadet Qualification Rolled Out
By Mr Bill Carruthers, NZCF Assistant Staff Officer, Training and Development (Education)
Key personnel
The New Zealand Cadet Forces (NZCF) has taken an innovative approach to the challenge of recruiting and retaining young people within the cadet training system with the introduction of a cadet qualification. Driven by Mr Bill Carruthers, the innovation is the culmination of five years of effort.
February 2010 saw the roll out of a NZ Qualifications Authority National Certificate in Cadet Forces (Foundation Skills Level Two). This nationally recognised qualification will now be available to young people enrolled in Cadet Units and is designed around the existing three year training programmes for each of the three NZCF Corps— Sea Cadet Corps, NZ Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps. The objective of establishing the qualification is not only to positively influence recruitment and retention, but also to reward cadets for the work they undertake during their training and to enable cadets to gain formal recognition of the learning they are achieving as member of a Cadet Unit. The NZCF has been assisted over this time by various Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) and the cadet qualification is now being directed by Skills Active—the sport, fitness, community recreation and outdoor recreation sector ITO.
Participation in the new cadet qualification—and the effects on recruiting and retention statistics—will be watched with interest over the next few years.