During 2024, Durham Northumberland Wing registered as a Trailblazer Centre with Leadership Skills Foundation (LSF) to deliver their new series of Leadership Qualifications in ESports. Created by Leadership Skills Foundation, previously Sports Leader UK, in collaboration with British ESports, this qualification guides cadets through the principles of leadership (communication, organisation, teamwork, problem solving and self-belief) and is adaptable to the RAF Air Cadets environment with various leadership tasks. It also provides cadets with tools to develop these skills throughout the two-day course.
Whilst waiting for the RAFAC organised Leadership in Sports courses to get underway, Sqn Ldr Chris Robinson, the ESports Lead for Durham and Northumberland Wing looked at the other courses LSF had to offer and saw the request for Trailblazer Centres to Pilot their new Qualification in Leadership Skills, using ESports as the delivery method. He commented, "As a video gamer myself, I know the value of the ESports environment and how it lends perfectly to the ideas and principles of leadership. I believe strongly in our cadets learning valuable life skills during their time with us, and any qualification we can give them to add to their CV is beneficial.
The Leadership Course teaches cadets the core elements of good leadership, how to use those skills, and how to develop them. Having been involved with RAFAC Leadership Courses previously, I see the benefit in developing leadership through all mechanisms while providing cadets with a unique and externally recognised qualification in something they are enthusiastic about.
It’s also important that we address some of the negative stereotypes of video gaming, and whilst the video games used outside our area of control are something to be continually addressed, in our controlled environment, the use of video games and more broadly ESports help develop social communication skills, teamwork, and self-belief. If you look at any team-based game in the video gaming world, communication, and a plan of action with your teammates is crucial to success."
The minimum age for the Level 1 course is 11 years old, which fits well with younger cadets starting their RAFAC journey at age 12. The course is modular, with assessments of progress throughout, involving cadets learning about their skill levels and how to develop them.
The course, run over 16 hours, begins with cadets discussing great leaders, past and present, their skills, and self-reflecting on their own leadership skills at the outset of the course. The course develops these skills using leader-led and leaderless exercises based on the five principles: communication, teamwork, organisation, problem solving and self belief), followed by reflections on their skill development. It then moves onto how leadership is used in the ESports environment and the necessary skills for keeping a safe gaming environment.
Although assessed throughout the course, the activity planning assessment requires the cadets to plan and execute an ESports session of at least one hour, including planning the activity, equipment needs, session logistics, assessing cadet skill levels, and session aims, with their fellow cadets on the course acting as the students in the session.
Examples of these sessions included cadets leading others through games such as Microsoft Flight Sim (involving learning the controls, take-off, landing, following routes, and manoeuvres), Rocket League (guiding through tutorials, learning the controls, and actual gameplay), and Fortnite (teaching controls, game basics, and achieving a first place).
The final assessment requires cadets to present their course journey using presentations, newsletters, posters, or other methods of their choice and delivered to their fellow cadets.
Throughout the course, an internal verifier ensures standards are met and assessments align with LSF expectations. Both the course tutor and internal verifier must pass LSF online courses before the course begins. Once all documentation is finalised after the course, a meeting between the course centre manager and the LSF quality assurance officer review all the submitted documentation, including the delivery plan, assessment records, internal verifier record, and samples of learner evidence records.
RAFAC policies on safeguarding and health & safety, along with cyber awareness and security were integrated into the course. This was critical to ensure that when the cadets return to their units and start using their qualification, they do so being mindful of how to ensure the continued safety of the cadets under their charge.
Another great thing about the course and Esports more generally is that you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to get started, in fact most units will already have some equipment that can be used. In addition, the area of ESports also includes mobile gaming, so cadets and staff who have those facilities on their phones can already take part.
Of the 16 cadets who attended the course, 15 gained the qualification whilst one was deferred and will have the option to be reassessed in the future. Its important to note, like all our RAFAC ran Leadership courses, they are not attendance courses, and the cadets are continually assessed throughout.
Of the 15 who qualified, six received their certificates from Wg Cdr Graham Blackie, Durham and Northumberland’s Wing Commander and Sqn Ldr John Sheedy, the Deputy Wing Commander, with the other nine being distributed for presentation by their Squadron Commanders.
The Wing has seen great support in this area, not only from the Wing Commander, but also the Wing Executive Committee and are expanding the range of qualifications delivery in 2025 to include not only Leadership in ESports at levels 2 and 3, (Level 3 also brings with it UCAS points), but also Leadership Courses in Sports, STEM and most recently Sustainability, where again Durham and Northumberland Wing will be a Trailblazer Centre in the LSF’s new set of courses developed with the World Wildlife Fund and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
The RAFAC National ESports team, led by Fg Off Scott Lee, continues to build momentum. There is a growing number of CFAVs connecting nationally on ESports, with plans for wider development in the RAFAC in 2025. The RAFAC Gaming Community (RGC) connects through a dedicated Discord Server with strong links to the RAF Gaming Network (RAFGN). In addition, the team deployed to both the Royal International Air Tattoo and National Air and Space Camp in 2024 to provide an ESports offering to cadets and staff. This is something planned to continue into 2025, with several demos and competitions already held at Wing and Regional Training Events.