Award Overview
This is a vocational award run in conjunction with City & Guilds. The Membership provides distinctive and formal recognition of personal achievement and the application of professional and technical expertise within the Cadet Forces. Successful candidates must show academic ability, equivalent to that which could be expected of someone holding a Masters degree or someone who has gained a vocational qualification or NVQ at Level 7. Individuals must be able to demonstrate skills and competencies at a strategic management level.
Eligibility
Cadet Force Personnel
This award will suit those in a senior management role and is available to any Instructor who has completed a minimum of 10 years Cadet Forces service and holds the rank of:
- Contingent Commander
- Lieutenant Commander
- Lieutenant with a District Officer’s post and above
- Major
- Squadron Leader or above
Or those with the rank of:
- Warrant Officer Class One
- ATC Warrant Officer with an established or co-opted Wing or Regional role.
Retired Armed Forces Personnel
Any Instructor with a previous Armed Forces or Reservist background who has a minimum of 1 year’s Cadet Force experience and has previously held one of the ranks specified is eligible to apply. (Proof of service and rank will be required upon registration.)
- Lieutenant Commander
- Major
- Squadron Leader
Or to those who held the rank of
- Warrant Officer Class One
- RAF Warrant Officer
Civilian Instructors
CVQO has the discretion to accept registrations for Civilian Instructors at all three levels of Senior Awards. Applications will be treated on a case by case basis and candidates will be required to complete a 5000 word Thesis. Individuals must have served at least a minimum of 10 years service within the Cadet Force to be eligible for the Membership award. The individual’s OC will be required to countersign their application confirming their eligibility to apply.
Armed Forces Serving Personnel
If you are currently serving in the Armed Forces as either a Regular or as a Reservist and are posted to assist with the cadet movement, you can also apply for this award, providing you hold one of the eligible ranks. Registration fees are subtly different and could be open to MOD educational grants. Contact the CVQO office for further information and a registration form.
Personal Skills and Performance Criteria
To meet the requirements of the award candidates will be expected to have demonstrated personal skills and specific competence in:
- Working to improve performance and keep abreast of advances in the field
- Implementing and maintaining systems correctly to monitor quantity, quality, cost and time
- Defining problems and recommending solutions to improve efficiency of operations
- Working methods and activities being consistent with current management priorities and organisational objectives
- Understanding and being able to critique the organisations mission and the social and economic implications of work undertaken
- Managing innovation and change
- Exercising responsibility for technical and managerial duties
- Providing effective guidance and supervision of colleagues
- Communicating clearly and effectively with subordinates peers and line managers
Delivery
All candidates upon registration will receive the required resource material and appropriate support for the successful completion of this award.
Membership is achieved by the completion of a Thesis.
Your chosen Thesis subject must be on a strategic management topic linked to your cadet service and should include objectives, scope, methodology and outcomes, with appendices and illustrations, as appropriate. Your work will form two parts:
- Synopsis – outlines proposed scope and methodology for completing the Thesis. Approx 400 to 800 words.
- Thesis –must be approx 5000 words and support in depth your identified approach outlined in your Synopsis.
Adults have two years in which to complete the award
Assessment
Your Synopsis and Thesis will be internally assessed by a subject specialist who will feed back your results to CVQO. You will be assessed on how you meet the key criteria and how you have applied these to your Cadet Force role.
When conducting the assessment, the assessor will take into account
- The degree to which the evidence presented demonstrates that the performance criteria and standards have been met
- The validly and reliability of the evidence
- The quality and sufficiency of the evidence
- How the work relates back to the original synopsis
You may be called for a follow up interview upon your assessor’s recommendation. This interview will be held locally to you and conducted by a member of the CVQO team.
Success
The successful candidate will gain an award which is of comparison to a Level 7 qualification or Masters degree. Graduates will be entitled to use the post nominal letters MCGI (Membership City & Guilds Institute). All successful Senior Award holders will also be invited to attend CVQO’s annual Graduation ceremony
Fees
The cost of this award is £500. To register, please download an application form which is available from our Downloads page. Alternatively, contact the office if you require an employer sponsorship form. All registration fees are subsidised and CVQO offer an ‘Easy Payment’ method of payment by instalments, should Adults require it.