CADET PROFICIENCY BADGE SCHEME

CADET PROFICIENCY BADGE SCHEME

The objective of the Cadet Proficiency Badge Scheme is to encourage cadet members to take an interest in subjects outside their normal curriculum and to widen their interests by carrying out these activities in their leisure time.

A wider range of activities are open for the members to choose from, depending on the individual's aptitude and inclination. The pursuit of badges encourage members to develop their personal skills and knowledge besides complementing the first aid, home nursing and footdrill training members undergo during the weekly training/meetings hence enhancing an all-round education for these future leaders of our organisation.

Cadets may start working for these badges the moment they are enrolled as members of the St John Ambulance Brigade. They are encouraged to make personal progress with additional courses over and above subjects that are taught during the weekly training/meetings so as to achieve the Commissioner's Badge and subsequently the Chief Commissioner's Badge.

The proficiency badges are divided into 4 groups as follow:

Group 1 : Welfare and Service

Group 2 : Outdoor Activities

Group 3 : Crafts and Hobbies

Group 4 : General

* LIST OF PROFICIENCY SUBJECTS

REGISTRATION

Two types of forms are used:

Application for registration of CPB Course (CPBS-REG)
Application for individual registration of CPB (CPBS-IND)

INSTRUCTION AND EXAMINATION

Instruction and examination will be based on the syllabus for each subject/badge. The syllabuses are laid with the intention of encouraging interest in the subject and the attainment of adequate knowledge and/or skills which could then be applied practically rather than mere memorisation of facts and figures for the purpose of passing the examination. The syllabuses have deliberately omitted instructional matter so that more latitude is given to the instructor who must be qualified in his/her own subject.

Subjects taken at Secondary 2 with a pass above 60% will be recognised as a pass in the appropriate subject/badge. The school examination must be passed while the candidate is a member of the Brigade. A pass at GCE 'O' level in an appropriate subject will also qualify a candidate for a proficiency badge provided the candidate gives proof of having applied the knowledge to some practical use outside school hours (either by having applied this knowledge in the performance of some service or in some cases, by taking a short practical test).

References are included in the syllabuses which may be useful to both the instructors and candidates.

INSTRUCTORS AND EXAMINERS

Most syllabuses include notes regarding instructors and examiners. It should be noted that the instructor and examiner is not normally the same person. Where it is not possible for one instructor to conduct the whole course, two or more instructors may co-instruct the class. Where possible, instructors from outside the Brigade who are experts in their own fields should be contacted to instruct or to be examiners for the particular subjects/badges. The National Headquarters will maintain a list of such qualified persons.

For all subjects except those for which an examination is held under the auspices of other organisations, application should be made through the usual channels to the National Headquarters, submitting the names and qualifications of the proposed examiners.

PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATES

All successful candidates will be issued a Proficiency Certificate by the National Headquarters; the records being retained by the Zone Headquarters until the candidate has qualified for the Chief Commissioner's Badge, when they must be forwarded to the National Headquarters for processing. The gaining of all certificates should be entered on the individual BFC 4 and initialled as correct by the officer-in-charge of the Corps.

PROFICIENCY BADGES

Cadets may wear the Proficiency Badge on their uniform on gaining their Proficiency Certificate, in the order as laid down in the Brigade Dress Regulation.

On gaining the Commissioner's Badge, this badge may be worn in addition to the individual proficiency badges. However, when a member is further awarded the Chief Commissioner's Badge, only the Chief Commissioner's Badge is to be worn in addition to the individual proficiency badges. The Commissioner's Badge must be removed and not be worn together with the Chief Commissioner's Badge.

Individual proficiency badges may not be worn when a cadet is promoted to an Adult section. However, the Commissioner's Badge or the Chief Commissioner's Badge as the case may be, may still be worn when the member is in the Adult section. A commissioned officer, however, will not put on any of these badges including the Commissioner's Badge and Chief Commissioner's Badge.

GAINING OF ACHIEVEMENT BADGES:

1. National Activity Badge

To participate at any of the following events:

National Day Parade
Youth Festival Parade
Brigade Camp (National level)
National First Aid Competition
Winners of the first 4 positions of National Foot Drill Competition (subject to yearly review)
Uniformed Groups Heritage Trail

2. Unicorn Badge *

Cadet members obtained 4 proficiency badges each from the four groups (excluding the knowledge of the Order of St John badge) and the National Activity Badge will be awarded the Unicorn Badge.

* Unicorn is a horselike animal which symbolise the logo of St John Ambulance.

3. The Commissioner's Badge

On obtaining six proficiency badges and must meet the following requirement. Cadet members whose Brigade services have been satisfactory may apply for the Commissioner's Badge.

To qualify for the Commissioner's Badge, a member of an Adult section must have been promoted from the Cadet section and passed a minimum of four subjects before his transfer to the Adult section. Furthermore, he or she must not be above twenty years of age as on the date of qualifying for the badge.

Similarly, a cadet member must not be above twenty years of age as on the date of qualifying for the badge.

For the award of the Commissioner's Badge, the six proficiency badges must meet the following criteria:

Group I (Welfare and Service): At least one subject

Group II (Outdoor Activities): At least one subject

Group III (Crafts and Hobbies): At least one subject

Group IV (General): Must include 'Knowledge of the Order" and at least one other subject.

** You can download the notes of Knowledge of the Order here.

Printing Certificate for the course

· Fill in the Group Registration Form

· Obtain a reference number from the Zone

· Run the activity

· Submit the name list to NHQ together with the Registration Form

· Obtain the Certificate Number from NHQ

· Print the certificate

4. The Chief Commissioner's Badge

On obtaining twelve proficiency badges which may include the earlier six proficiency badges considered for the award of the Commissioner's Badge and must meet the following requirement. Cadet members whose Brigade services have been satisfactory may apply for the Chief Commissioner's Badge.

To qualify for the Chief Commissioner's Badge, a member of an Adult section must have been promoted from the Cadet Section and passed a minimum of four subjects before his transfer to the Adult section. Furthermore, he or she must not be above twenty years of age as on the date of qualifying for the badge.

Similarly, a cadet member must not be above twenty years of age as on the date of qualifying for the badge.

For the award of the Chief Commissioner's Badge, the twelve proficiency badges must meet the following criteria:

One must be 'Knowledge of the Order'
At least two must be Group I (Welfare and Service)subjects
At least two must be Group II(Outdoor Activities) subjects
Not more than two may be Group III (Crafts and Hobbies) subjects
Not more than two may be subjects taken as part of the school curriculum during normal school hours.

EXEMPTIONS

In cases of physical disability or handicap, conditions laid down above for Group II (Outdoor Activities) will be waived upon the submission of a medical certificate/report from either the Corps or Zone Surgeon. In such cases, the requirements for subjects in these Groups may be replaced by any other subject from the other Groups. Nevertheless, members and cadets must still achieve six or twelve proficiency badges to qualify for the Commissioner's Badge and the Chief Commissioner's Badge respectively.

IMPLEMENTATION

Each Corps should aim to organise a series of Proficiency Courses to be conducted during weekly parade/meeting hours. However, it may not be possible to cover all the various types of subjects required for the members to qualify for the Commissioner's Badge or Chief Commissioner's Badge due to physical, manpower or time constraints. Hence members are encouraged to take up the other necessary subjects on their own to qualify for these two prestigious awards.

The National Headquarters may from time to time organise courses to train officers to become qualified instructors in the various subjects in the scheme. Where there is a demand, courses for specific subjects may also be conducted for the members. When such courses are planned, notice will be given through the Brigade Circular and places will be offered on a first-come first-served basis.

Corps encountering difficulties in the implementation should seek assistance from the National Headquarters or the Cadet Proficiency Badge Committee instead of depriving their members of the chance to embark on this scheme. Similarly, cadets who are transferred to the Adult section should continue striving for the Commissioner's Badge and Chief Commissioner's Badge, provided they are still eligible.

WEARING OF PROFICIENCY BADGES

Proficiency badges are to be worn in neat rows with no more than four badges in a row. There is to be no gap between succeeding badges nor between rows of badges. The first row of badges are to be worn one finger breadth below the shoulder flash on the left sleeve.

Proficiency badges are worn from front to back or left to right when facing the left sleeve, with no gap between badges.
Proficiency badges under Group I are to be worn first, followed by those under Groups II, III and IV, in that order, regardless of the time the badges are gained.
Only cadets not above 20 years of age are allowed to put on proficiency badges on their uniforms
Adult members are not allowed to put on proficiency badges on their uniforms. However, they may put on the Commissioner's Badge or Chief Commissioner's Badge if so awarded.
Commissioned officers will not put on any proficiency badge, nor the Commissioner's Badge and Chief Commissioner's Badge.

THE COMMISSIONER'S BADGE

On fulfilling the requirements for the award of the Commissioner's Badge, cadet members may apply for the Commissioner's Badge. The Commissioner's Badge is to be worn one finger-breadth above the name-tag on the uniform. However, the Commissioner's Badge must not be worn upon award of the Chief Commissioner's Badge.

THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER'S BADGE

On fulfilling the requirements for the award of the Chief Commissioner's Badge, cadet members may apply for the Chief Commissioner's Badge. The Chief Commissioner's Badge is to be worn one finger-breadth above the name-tag on the uniform. Only the Chief Commissioner's Badge and not the Commissioner's Badge (if previously awarded) is to be worn upon award. However, individual proficiency badges may still be worn.

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