Suffolk Cadet Squadron VII

Cadet Commander

By C/1st Lieutenant Walter Quiesser

Being the Cadet Commander is a big responsibility, but the great majority of cadets don’t really know exactly what those responsibilities are until they are actually in the position (at least, that was the case in my experience).

The primary role of the Cadet Commander is to ensure that the standard operations of the squadron are being carried out effectively and appropriately by the cadet staff, with the Cadet First Sergeant (the most senior Cadet Non-Commissioned Officer) as the point of contact.  Probably the most important thing I’ve learned from my time in this role is about time management and the importance of the delegation of responsibilities and tasks.  Both the Cadet Commander and the Deputy Cadet Commander deal primarily with the cadet non-commissioned officer staff and not the inflights. It my task is to plan and schedule what needs to be done, at both meetings and activities, in order to successfully achieve squadron goals, but it is the task of the Cadet First Sergeant decide how it gets done by directing the Cadet Flight Sergeants and Cadet Element Leaders that are subordinate to him.  The fact that, as Cadet Officers, I and the Deputy Cadet Commander have little direct interaction with the in-flights during a meeting or activity means that things are going just as they should.

Another role that is very important for the Cadet Commander is that I serve as a direct liaison between the cadet corps and the Senior Member staff, particularly the Squadron/Activity Commander. The Cadet Commander is the primary channel for Senior Members to communicate with/through to the cadet corps, with the exception of cadets assigned to their particular position as assistants (such as Assitant to the Emergency Services Officer, Assistant to the Public Affairs Officer, ..., etc.). In summary, it is through the Cadet Commander that the Senior Members transmit what needs to be done to run the squadron successfully, and it is through the Cadet Commander that directives are given as to what jobs or tasks need to be completed.