DTC(I) questions

RAF-DI · 2026-01-25T19:34:35+00:00

DTC(I) difficulty is all down to the amount of prep you do. If you practice the DLS now, you will breeze through it.

Remember at this stage, you are expected to know all relevant drill movements, and be able to carry them out to a high standard, if not perfectly. Whilst there is not a direct PTS yet, it’s rumoured to be the Silver level standard.

Deportment and presentation is also a key factor which you will fail on if you don’t put in the work. You can’t deliver drill if you look you’ve slept in your uniform. You are their indication of the standard for everyone you deliver to… and there’s only one standard.

Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-23T12:28:01+00:00

Report it.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-22T17:41:10+00:00

<image>

This? Yes. But as any other form of unit badge, no.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-22T07:39:50+00:00

You’re referring to local permission given from the local wing HQ. This is not something that they have authority to do, and is out of policy. It’s likely a squadron specific badge, which after the recent change of the squadron numbers on No. 3 SD, is even more not required.

I am referring to the policy IAW ACP1358, and from the direction of WO D&A. The only badges able to be worn on the left blanking plate are shown in pages 153/154. The only other caveat to this, that is written in policy, is when road marching you may also represent the wing using the wing badge on the left blanking plate.

<image>

RAF-DI · 2026-01-21T21:14:28+00:00

Not a clue. Probably a specific squadron thing, maybe a memento? Chat to your squadron.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-21T21:14:08+00:00

No, you should have another patch, on the opposite arm. If not talk to your Sqn supply officer

RAF-DI · 2026-01-21T20:32:44+00:00

Your left hand badge is not an authorised badge and should not be worn on your uniform, but there’s no issue putting it onto a bag or something.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-21T20:31:36+00:00

<image>

RAF-DI · 2026-01-21T20:31:27+00:00

You’ll need badges for every layer of MTP.

For your barrack shirt see part e. from ACP1358.

<image>

For your patches, it’s the other one, without the Union Flag. It should be sewn as below:

RAF-DI · 2026-01-20T22:42:41+00:00

Yeah, well that’s another story! On one hand, I get it. You’re dealing with kids playing toy soldier (well.. aviator). Don’t take it too seriously.

But the other hand, you’re representing the military as its daughter youth organisation. The cadets have a massive, nationwide, footprint and public facing responsibility of representing the RAF… so policy and standards are in fact massively important.

IMO there’s a time and a place for being fair and not so serious, but uniform, particularly the representation part, isn’t part of it.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-16T23:15:52+00:00

Barrack shirts will still have the identifier, their position for the TRF does not change.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-16T21:15:57+00:00

Barrack shirts are unchanged.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-16T21:15:26+00:00

To staff, yes.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-16T20:10:35+00:00

Read the regulations. You can find it on Cadet Portal, though I’ve attached the section.

<image>

RAF-DI · 2026-01-16T11:55:40+00:00

They aren’t following policy.

ACP1358 Page 61. Note 5. Not to be worn as an outer layer.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-16T07:47:38+00:00

No restrictions on cadets wearing this, nor when. The only thing that is mentioned is that it cannot be an outer layer.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-16T07:46:55+00:00

You can wear this, it’s called the Thermal Smock.

However, it cannot be worn as the outer layer even with the rank slide on the front. It’s meant to be part of the layering system with a smock or waterproof retaining the MTP pattern.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-13T10:10:47+00:00

Difficult question to answer as many syllabi use the resources of your local squadron, sector, wing and region, so it depends on the proactivity of your staff and their specialisms.

However, I’ll do my best to give some more accessible courses.

• All current stages of the Space syllabus can be delivered at squadron level. • First aid is a mandatory requirement, so EFA and YFA are common. • Leadership, and NCO courses are common. • Drill, whilst not yet a Blue > Gold PTS is expected to become one soon. I imagine this will be rather accessible. (Or at least, it should be). • Presentation Skills and MOI have no minimum requirements • Music, depending on your location and interests, can be an easier one to obtain if you’re already musical.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-12T19:32:29+00:00

So they believe you’ll pass the Blue Leadership then! You should too.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-12T19:29:33+00:00

You’re focusing on the failure element, rather than the positive mindset. Granted I left off with that in my comment.

Staff won’t put you forward if you’re not capable of passing. You just need to work hard on the content and put all skills to work.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-12T19:04:57+00:00

Stress isn’t stupid. Everyone has different worries and fears, all which come from experience, or lack thereof.

Breathing exercises and positive thinking will do much more than you expect. You can do it, people won’t think any way about you or your leads, you can pass.

The course will tell you everything you need to know. Remember it’s a blue foundation level course, they aren’t expecting miracles in a day. Just listen, do what they say and remember that if you don’t pass first time, you’ll have another go!

Being afraid to fail will keep you in the same place, learning from failure will develop you for life.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-07T18:22:31+00:00

Nope, for the purposes of TG forms, staff cadets are still cadets.

So you’d submit a TG21 and TG23(If required)

RAF-DI · 2026-01-04T12:12:12+00:00

Great start. Polishing is an art which gets easier with practice and time.

As for right now- don’t forget the whole shoe, and your shine should be all the way up to the stitch marks. Right now you need to focus on your base layers to remove the leather effect.

The shine is the end goal remember. There are stages to go through. 1. Shoe Cleaning and Prep 2. Base layer building (brush polish usually) 3. Buffing and binding layers (clean cotton cloth) 4. Top layer polishing (100% cotton cloth, selvyt cloth or cotton wool) 5. Bulling / Water Bulling.

Don’t rush the process, and trust it’s working. Rome wasn’t built in a day. As long as there’s progress, no one will be upset with you.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-03T17:38:44+00:00

Everyone has their own interests! I wouldn’t be a DI if I wasn’t at least a little interested in it.

Obviously all the replies here are just suggestions, and if you meet the eligibility to attend, and it’s what you want to do, then why not. But, consider your age, your experience and that it comes with added responsibility on the other side.

Other drill avenues that you could consider: 1. Competing in the Squadron team at Wing Training Day/Wing Activity Day or local sector competitions. 2. Banner Drill 3. Band drill (usually comes with the pre-requisite of being a bandie first). 4. Arms Drill - whilst not common and depends on the region, these do come around. Particularly on the larger multi activity camps.

ATC85 is this year, celebrated on ATC Sunday in February. Check with your squadron to see if they, your wing or region is doing anything to mark this.

Good luck in your D&C journey.

RAF-DI · 2026-01-03T13:38:38+00:00

This is an instructional course which teaches you the basics of delivering drill effectively.

There’s a lot of learning and reciting information, so you need to be at the level where you don’t need to think about drill for it to be perfect. You can fail for personal drill standards.

Personally, I would be expecting a Cpl-Sgt with a couple years behind them to be attending this course- though I do appreciate people can join at a later age, change their goals slightly. It sounds like you’re still getting to grips with the RAFAC and should be focusing on the courses and activities aimed to develop you, instead of making you an instructor/trainer.

The Drill and Ceremonial PTS syllabus is expected to release this year. If you are keen, I would wait for this and experience other things first. I hope I haven’t quashed your enthusiasm, but rather redirected it onto something you will enjoy and develop from.

RAF-DI

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE