RAF cadets told not to say ‘marksman’
Campaigners call move ‘over-sensitive’ as members ordered to stop using the term on shooting badges
THE RAF Air Cadets (RAFAC) have been branded “over-sensitive” after ordering members to stop using the word marksman as part of a “gender neutral” rebrand.
Teenage cadets and adult instructors have been ordered to stop using the centuries-old term as part of an overhaul of shooting badges that members can earn.
An internal RAFAC document issued this month and seen by The Telegraph says: “The new nomenclature is gender-neutral; the terms ‘marksman’ and ‘marksmanship’ must not feature when referring to the new shooting badges.”
It comes as part of a long-running row in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) over diversity policies that have led the Defence Secretary to intervene amid fears about combat effectiveness. Grant Shapps has said time and resources are being “squandered to promote a political agenda” within his department.
Last year, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, chief of the general staff, said he was “deadly serious” about changing military ranks to be more gender inclusive.
The RAF dropped the terms airman and airwoman in 2021 in favour of aviator and renamed the rank “aircraftman” to “air specialist”.
The year before, the Royal Navy said it was moving away from “gendered language” by replacing the term “unmanned” with “uncrewed”.
The term marksman is defined in the Cambridge Dictionary as “someone skilled at shooting accurately”.
An Air Cadet instructor with years of marksmanship training experience said he thought the rebranding exercise was being carried out to make certain senior staff “look good.”
He added: “What gets me is that they’re putting these new changes on social media, which to me looks like they’re doing it as a PR stunt as they never normally publish badge amendments on socials.”
The Countryside Alliance said the move did not appear to be based on any complaints.
Tim Bonner, its chief executive, said: “Great women shots like Annie Oakley have always been complimented on their marksmanship. In the absence of anyone actually being upset by the description, it looks as though the Air Cadets are being over-sensitive.”
The RAF Air Cadets is an Mod-sponsored organisation for those aged between 12 and 19.
Shooting training is carried out using air rifles, precision target rifles that fire live ammunition, and a cadet-specific version of the military-issue SA80 rifle.
The training teaches young people how to safely handle potentially dangerous equipment in a structured environment as well as foster self-discipline and personal responsibility.
Last year it emerged that trans Air Cadets could wear “chest binders” under rules that stopped local squadron commanders from telling parents about their children’s desire to transition.
An RAFAC spokesman said: “Our priority is providing safe and effective training. Any change in language has had no impact on this training.”