Overview

On 7th January 1990, the Cadet Proficiency Badge Scheme was launched to encourage our cadet members to further enhance their 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 is open for the members to choose from, depending on the individual’s aptitude and inclination. The pursuit of badges encourages members to develop their personal skills and knowledge besides complementing the first aid, home nursing and footdrill that training members undergo during weekly parades/meetings. Hence, enhancing an all-rounded education for these future leaders of our organisation.

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

The proficiency badges are divided into 4 groups as follow:

Group I : Welfare and Service
Group II : Outdoor Activities
Group III : Crafts and Hobbies
Group IV : General

Instruction and examination

Instruction and examination will be based on the syllabus for each us subject/badge. The syllabuses are laid with the intention of encouraging interest in the subject and the attainment of the adequate and/or skills which could 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 ‘0′ level in an appropriate subject will also qualify a candidate for a proficiency badge provided the candidate gives proof of having put 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 that may be useful to both the instructors and candidates.

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 forwarded to the National Headquarters for processing. The gaining of all certificates should be entered on the individual BFC 4 and initialed as correct by the officer-in-charge of the Corps.

Exemptions
In case 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, any other subject from Other Groups may replace the requirements for subjects in this Group. 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 Cadet 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 various types of subjects required for the members to qualify for the Commissioner’s Badge or the 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.

Cadet Corps encountering difficulties in the implementation should seek assistance from the Chief Staff Officer (Youth Affairs) 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 unit should continue striving for the Commissioner’s Badge and Chief Commissioner’s Badge, provided they are still eligible.

Such members should seek assistance from their originating Cadet Corps Superintendents or the Chief Staff Officer (Youth Affairs) or the Cadet Proficiency Badge Committee.

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

Ordinary 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 or between rows of badges. The first row of badges is to be worn one finger breadth below the shoulder flash on the left sleeve.

Ordinary Proficiency Badges arc to be 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 Group II, III and IV, in that order, regardless of the time the badges are gained.

“FLAP” made of white uniform material can be used for putting ordinary proficiency badges, if more than 12 badges are gained.

Achievement badges are to be worn one finger-breadth above the name-tag on the uniform. If more than one achievement badges are gained, these badges must be worn from the outer to the inner part of the right chest.

Achievement badges are to be worn one finger-breadth between badges and also placed from lower to higher grade of the badges.

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 the Chief Commissioner’s Badge if awarded.

Commissioned officers will not put on any proficiency badge, or the Commissioner’s Badge and the Chief Commissioner’s Badge.

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 to be worn together with the Chief Commissioner’s Badge.

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