The
Army Cadet Force is a
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training (such as
Outward BoundOutward Bound is an international, non-profit, independent, outdoor educationorganization with approximately 40 schools around the world and 200,000 participants per year...
) and
first aidFirst aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
, at the same time as promoting achievement,
disciplineIn its original sense, discipline is referred to systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in a craft or trade, or to follow a particular code of conduct or "order". Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order –...
, and good
citizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9 months years of age. Its sister organisation, the
Combined Cadet ForceThe Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
provides similar training within various schools. It has connections with the training of the
British ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.
Although sponsored by the
Ministry of DefenceThe Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
and being very similar in structure and activity, the ACF is not a branch of the
British Armed ForcesThe British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
, and as such cadets are not subject to military 'call up'. A proportion of cadets do, however, go on to enlist in the armed forces in later life, and many of the organisation's leaders - formally termed 'Cadet Force Adult Volunteers', or informally 'Adult Instructors' - can come from a previous cadet service or military background. However, these days most ACF organisations welcome any person wishing to volunteer, especially those people with skills such as adventure training, outdoor pursuits, teachers, people with medical skills and persons showing an interest in enthusing young people to become more active. The Army Cadet Force Association (ACFA), which today is responsible for the guidance of the Army Cadet Force, and through many committees acts in an advisory role to the Ministry of Defence and other Government bodies on matters connected with the ACF, is a registered charity. The Army Cadet Force is also a member of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), as an organisation with a voluntary and community youth focus.
History
In 1859 local
MilitiaThe term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
units (Predecessors of the Territorial Army), were organised into a nationwide Volunteer Reserve Force. The first unit of the A.C.F to be formed was the Robin Hood Rifles formed by
Octavia HillOctavia Hill was an English social reformer, whose main concern was the welfare of the inhabitants of cities, especially London, in the second half of the nineteenth century. Born into a family with a strong commitment to alleviating poverty, she herself grew up in straitened circumstances owing...
on Castle Green in
NottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
in 1859. These new Volunteer units formed Cadet Companies and eight public schools formed independent cadet units (fore-runners of the
Combined Cadet ForceThe Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
).
The late Victorian period was when the time of social change began to take hold in Britain and a Mr Adam Gray who was considered to be a
pioneerAn innovator in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation.-History:...
in
Social WorkSocial Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
founded Independent Cadet Corps units.
In 1908 when the Territorial Army was formed both the Volunteer and Independent Cadet Companies came under the control of the Territorial Forces Association, whilst the Public School units were part of the Officer Training Corps. In 1914 all independent Cadet units were taken under control by the
War OfficeThe War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
and the name Army Cadet Force was born.
In 1923 as a result of Defence cutbacks all Governmental and Military support for the ACF was withdrawn. This led to the forming of the British National Cadet Association (BNCA) by notable figures such as
Lord AllenbyField Marshal Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby GCB, GCMG, GCVO was a British soldier and administrator most famous for his role during the First World War, in which he led the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the conquest of Palestine and Syria in 1917 and 1918.Allenby, nicknamed...
who were keen to maintain the ACF and lobby for Government funding, this was partially successful in during the 1930s. From 1939 the Cadet Forces supported the Home Guard at a time when the threat of Invasion was very real, because of this in 1942 the ACF was re-formed. Following a Government review of the Armed Forces in 1957 the ACF assumed its role of a national youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The ACF celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 1960
Prior to the 1982 females were unable to join the ACF, although they were able to join an attached unit (if there was one at that location) of the
Girls Venture CorpsThe Girls Venture Corps Air Cadets is a voluntary uniformed youth organisation for girls aged between 11 and 20, It is also a registered charity, and by virtue of its work towards the personal and social development of young people, it is a member of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services...
which had been formed in the early years of the Second World War
In 2010 the ACF celebrated its 150th year with Cadet 150 celebrations all over the country.
Cadet ranks
| Rank |
Insignia |
Cadet Under OfficerUnder Officer is an appointment held by senior cadets at some Commonwealth officer training establishments and in University Officers' Training Corps in the United Kingdom, and also a rank used in some Commonwealth cadet forces.-Australia:...
.. |
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| Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
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| Cadet Company Sergeant Major A company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
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| Cadet Staff Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
/Colour SergeantColour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
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Cadet SergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
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| Cadet Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
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Cadet Lance CorporalLance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
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| Cadet |
No insignia |
The titles of some ranks may vary as cadet detachments are badged to regiments of the Regular Army, and as such adopt their titles.
As well as learning new skills by working through the APC syllabus, experienced cadets can be awarded a
rankMilitary rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
. As the Army allows its soldiers to take on responsibility and leadership as
NCOsNCOS was the graphical user interface-based operating system developed for use in Oracle's Network Computers. It was adapted by Acorn Computers from its own , which was originally developed for their range of Archimedes desktop computers...
, so too does the ACF give a greater role to some cadets.
Once a cadet has reached their three star training, they must attend a JCIC (Junior Cadet Instructors Cadre), as part of their Army Proficiency Certificate (A.P.C.) Three Star award. To achieve the APC Four Star award they do not have to pass an SCIC (Senior Cadet Intructors Cadre), as although it is an option there are other paths available, although it is a requirement if they wish to attend the Master Cadet Course at CTC Frimley Park.
In many counties there is the opportunity for promotion to
Under OfficerUnder Officer is an appointment held by senior cadets at some Commonwealth officer training establishments and in University Officers' Training Corps in the United Kingdom, and also a rank used in some Commonwealth cadet forces.-Australia:...
. Although this is an appointment not a rank, it is a chance for senior cadets to gain experience as a member of staff, and can give them the opportunity to carry out some of the duties of a junior SI. On annual camps, most counties allow CUO's to stay in the appropriate Mess.
The ACF Manual 2005 states that all Cadet NCO's should wear the small Combat Patch rank insignia on their brassard. No other form of rank insignia is currently authorised for wear by cadets, including CS95 Rank Slides although many ACF counties allow their cadets to wear this in addition to their brassard.
CFAVs should wear CS 95 rank sliders appropriate to their rank, these must always contain the title ACF in addition to any additional markings specific to their regimental or county affiliation (i.e.; Yorkshire Regiment ACF).
If a cadet is seen as a good leader and excellent in all aspects of the cadet syllabus, promotion to Cadet RSM can be awarded. There is usually only one Cadet RSM per county.
Adult Instructor Ranks
| Rank |
Insignia |
| Regimental Sergeant Major Instructor Sergeant Major Instructor is a British Army appointment held by Warrant Officers Class 1 in the Small Arms School Corps and the Army Physical Training Corps and by some WO1s in the Royal Engineers.- Cadet forces :...
(RSMI) |
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| Sergeant Major Instructor Sergeant Major Instructor is a British Army appointment held by Warrant Officers Class 1 in the Small Arms School Corps and the Army Physical Training Corps and by some WO1s in the Royal Engineers.- Cadet forces :...
(SMI) |
|
Staff SergeantColour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
Instructor (SSI) |
|
SergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Instructor (SI) |
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7
Cadet Force Adult Volunteers
Adults may join the ACF to instruct through two different routes - as an Adult Instructor (AI) or as a Commissioned Officer.
Adult Instructors
Prospective Adult Instructors begin as a Civilian Assistant (CA) before passing a medical and an enhanced disclosure. After completing the Adult Induction Course, which takes place over 4 weekends at county level, they then become a Potential Instructor (PI). As a PI, adults then go on to complete the Initial Training Course (ITC) held at County Level and run by a Cadet Training Team (CTT). On successful completion of this course they will be appointed to the rank of Sergeant Instructor (SI). Progressive training takes place for Adult Instructors, as with cadets, an Adult Instructor may take part in a variety of different courses. A further mandatory course at Frimley Park is the Instructors' Course which must be completed within three years of joining. After which the AI is qualified for promotion to the rank of Staff Sergeant Instructor (SSI). The King George VI Memorial Leadership (KGVI) Course is the final course for AI's and the further ranks of Sergeant Major Instructor (SMI) and Regimental Sergeant Major Instructor (RSMI) are possible. Adult Instructors will be expected to work in a team with their superiors and senior cadets they are responsible for, to deliver effective training to the cadets.
Recruitment of Ex-Regular and TA Volunteers
Ex regular and TA personnel are welcome to also join the ACF, however they will be required to undergo the full induction and basic adult training course.
Officers
The other route an instructor in the ACF may take is that of becoming a commissioned officer. The instructor will apply and partake in the same selection process as above, however once a Potential Instructor, the individual may apply or be nominated to become a commissioned officer. To do so, as of 2006, the individual must then attend a Cadet Forces Commissioning Board (CFCB), similar to an Army Officer Selection Board though less physically demanding. The applicant will be assessed on their literacy, problem solving, and leadership ability. Successful applicants will then be appointed to a TA Group B Commission in Her Majesty's Land Forces, making them a non-deployable Officer. Commissioned Officers in the ACF will hold senior leadership roles with more responsibility and commitment attached than roles occupied by Adult Instructors, for example detachment commander.
Organisation
Most British
countiesA county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
have centralised cadet forces that make up the ACF as a national whole. The counties are generally split into
companiesA company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
, each of which includes several
detachmentsA detachment is a military unit. It can either be detached from a larger unit for a specific function or be a permanent unit smaller than a battalion. The term is often used to refer to a unit that is assigned to a different base from the parent unit...
, the name given to a unit of cadets that parade in a particular town or village. Battalions are usually affiliated with a certain
RegimentA regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
or
CorpsA corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
within the British Army, and wear their insignia including cap badge, colour of beret and
stable beltA stable belt is an item of uniform used in the armed forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. Stable belts or similar derivatives are also worn by the armed forced of other nations such as Denmark....
subject to individual County/Area regulations. Detachments can be given special names, after famous battles fought by the British army, e.g. Rhine, Gibraltar and Waterloo. But some detachments are simply called by the name of the town they reside in.
Locations
Costs of the ACF: Pay and Expenses
The Cadet Force is one of the few organisations that pays its adult voluntary staff for their commitment. Voluntary staff can receive up to 28 day pay PA, they also receive subsistence, travelling and residence to duty pay for attendance on Drill Nights, weekends and annual camps.
An example of the level of public funding allocated to the ACF alone was:
Payments made to ACF voluntary staff was:
2008/09 £17,339,141 and
2009/10 £14,632,160
In addition Subsistence payments made to ACF voluntary staff was:
2008/09 £609,205 and
2009/10 £368,349
Source, Land Forces Secretariat (2010).
This does not include cost for permanent staff which is estimated at around a further £6,250,000 of public funding.
Army Proficiency Certificate
The Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) is the training syllabus of the ACF and is divided into five levels each covering the core subjects but in more detail as they progress.
- Basic/Recruit (introductory training)
- 1 Star (cadets learn the rudiments of each subject)
- 2 Star (cadets learn each subject in more depth)
- 3 Star (cadets master each subject)
- 4 Star (complete two progressive subjects or courses)
- Master Cadet (cadets must successfully complete the Master Cadet Course held at CTC Frimley following a recommendation from their Cadet Commandant)
Core Subjects
- Drill and Turnout
- Military Knowledge
- Fieldcraft
- Skill at Arms
- Shooting
- Map and Compass
- Expedition Training
- First Aid
- Physical Training
- Cadet in the Community
Drill & Turnout
A time-honoured tradition of the military parade, cadets are taught drill. Having learnt the positions of attention,
salutingA salute is a gesture or other action used to display respect. Salutes are primarily associated with armed forces, but other organizations and civil people also use salutes.-Military salutes:...
and turns at the halt, recruits progress onto
marchingSee also: Loaded marchMarching refers to the organized, uniformed, steady and rhythmic walking forward, usually associated with military troops.Marching is often performed to march music, and often associated with military parades....
in quicktime. Many drill movements can be executed while standing still and while marching, and also while holding a rifle.
Each year, drill is used for
Remembrance DayRemembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
paradeA parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
s, and at annual camps large parades take place, with a colour party, in which cadets with rifles march with and guard the standard-bearer.
Closely linked with a cadet's drill is his or her turnout - each cadet is issued with a
uniformA uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
by the
Ministry of DefenceThe Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
and shown how to care for it and appear smart at all times, with
ironed-inIroning is the use of a heated tool to remove wrinkles from fabric. The heating is commonly done to a temperature of 180-220 °Celsius, depending on the fabric. Ironing works by loosening the bonds between the long-chain polymer molecules in the fibers of the material...
creases and polished boots.
The Aim of Drill (according to The Cadet Training Manual VOL I) is "to produce a cadet who is alert and obedient and to provide the basis of teamwork". The unofficial 'purpose' of drill is often styled as "to move an individual or body of cadets from A to B in a smart, uniform and military-like manner". However this is often incorrectly mistaken for the Aim of Drill, as found in the Cadet Training Manual, and The Drill Manual.
Drill has evolved over a long period of time and is now accepted as the foundation of military discipline. It has particular value for cadets; teaching them proper
posturePosture or posturing may refer to:In humans* Posture * Neutral spine or good posture* Human position* Abnormal posturing, in neurotrauma* Posturography, in neurology* Posture and occupational healthIn biology...
, to develop their lungs and
muscleMuscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
s and improve their confidence.
The expression "Drill Voice" is the tone volume and pitch of voice used by an individual taking command during drill. Cadets must make sure they are loud enough for the whole squad to be able to hear the word of command, clear enough so that the squad can understand, and aggressive enough that the words of command are heard as a command - not a request.
Fieldcraft
In
fieldcraftFieldcraft is a term used especially in American, Canadian and British military circles to describe the basic military skills required to operate stealthily and the methods used to do so, which can differ during day or night and due to weather or terrain...
lessons, cadets learn
infantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
skills such as patrolling,
sectionA section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
battle drills,
ambushAn ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops...
drills, harbour drills, and how to survive in the field. Field exercises take place once every few months, and at annual camp.
Out on exercise, cadets wear
Disruptive Pattern MaterialDisruptive Pattern Material is the commonly used name of a camouflage pattern used by British forces as well many other armies worldwide, particularly in former British colonies....
camouflageCamouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
clothing, dulled boots, camouflage cream to eliminate the face's natural shine, a bush hat and foliage to break up the shape of the head and shoulders, webbing to carry rifle magazines, water bottles and emergency rations, commonly one of either the
58 pattern webbing1958 pattern webbing was a modular based personal equipment system issued to the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom from the 1950s up until the mid 80s. It replaced the 1937 Pattern Web Equipment that had served the UK's Armed Forces through the Second World War and the first decade of the cold war...
or the newer PLCE system and a bergen to carry a
sleeping bagA sleeping bag is a protective "bag" for a person to sleep in, essentially a blanket that can be closed with a zipper or similar means, and functions as a bed in situations where a bed is unavailable . Its primary purpose is to provide warmth and thermal insulation...
and
bashaA Basha is a waterproof canvas or plastic sheet with eyelets or loops on the perimeter, which is used in camping, outdoor, or military situations to act as a shelter, in the form of an impromptu tent and/or groundsheet, usually supported with rope or even bungee cords attached to trees.-Military...
(improvised shelter) building materials. Cadets are issued with 24-hour ration packs and
hexamineHexamethylenetetramine is a heterocyclic organic compound with the formula 6N4. This white crystalline compound is highly soluble in water and polar organic solvents. It has a cage-like structure similar to adamantane. It is useful in the synthesis of other chemical compounds, e.g. plastics,...
cookers (known as Rat-Packs and Hexi cookers to cadets) as used by the infantry.
As part of a
platoonA platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
, cadets set up harbour areas (operations bases), post sentries, and send out patrols to carry out
reconnaissanceReconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
, lay ambushes, and assault enemy positions. Cadets become familiar with a vast range of hand signals for silent communication, and various patrol formations for crossing different types of terrain, such as the arrowhead formation for crossing open country.
Skill at Arms
New recruits are taught how to safely handle, clean, operate and fire the Number 8 .22 Rifle and the L98 Cadet Rifle (General Purpose) 5.56 mm
RifleA rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
. The L98A2 Cadet GP is a version of the British Army's L85A2 adapted to fire only on a semi-automatic setting. In order to become proficient on the weapon and pass the one-star Skill at Arms (SAA) test, cadets must show they can handle the weapon safely, perform stoppage drills, and field strip the weapon for daily cleaning. Once this has been done, cadets can fire the weapon using blank rounds in field exercises, taking part in ambushes and assaults on enemy forces. They can also fire live rounds on a range, usually at annual camps, possibly gaining
marksmanA marksman is a person who is skilled in precision, or a sharpshooter shooting, using projectile weapons, such as with a rifle but most commonly with a sniper rifle, to shoot at long range targets...
qualification badges based on their accuracy.
Senior Cadets who have passed two-star Skill at Arms are introduced to the L86A2 Light Support Weapon which, unlike the GP, can fire in semi- and fully automatic modes. With its longer barrel and
bipodA bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with two legs. It provides significant stability along two axes of motion .-Firearms:...
, the L86A2 has a greater range and muzzle velocity, and with its
SUSATThe Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux, or SUSAT, is a 4× telescopic sight with tritium-powered illumination, utilised at dusk or dawn. The full name of the current model is the SUSAT L9A1. The sight is not designed as a sniper sight, but is rather intended to be mounted on a variety of rifles and to...
(Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux - the optical sight on top of the weapon), it allows for greater accuracy. The LSW is also used by the infantry, and having mastered this more difficult weapon, cadets can mimic the tasks performed by regular army LSW gunners, using its higher rate of fire to provide fire support during section attacks.
There is also a deactivated version, the L103A1 DP (Drill Purpose), which is currently being replaced by the A2 version. The DP rifle is generally used for teaching cadets the basics of the weapon they are handling. It is also used for 'Rifle Drill' which is general drill but integrating motions carried out with the rifle; this can also be done effectively whilst marching.
Shooting
After basic lessons on weapon handling and particularly safety, cadets are first taught to fire a .22 calibre
rifleA rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
on a 25 m rifle range. Cadets are taught the principles of
marksmanA marksman is a person who is skilled in precision, or a sharpshooter shooting, using projectile weapons, such as with a rifle but most commonly with a sniper rifle, to shoot at long range targets...
ship - natural pointing, position and hold, sight alignment and shot release and follow through. These also apply to the GP Rifle, which is fired typically on 100 m, 200 m and 300 m ranges during annual camps or weekends away. Senior Cadets are also allowed to fire the Light Support Weapon at the same ranges.
Cadets who perform exceptionally in rifle shooting can achieve a range of proficiency badges and go on to earn county colours for representing the county at CADSAM, the Cadet Annual District Skill At Arms Meeting shooting competition. The country is split into divisions, each being numbered. Though each division conducts the competition differently, the competition revolves around the same practices. Involved is zeroing shoot at 30m, snap shoot at 100m, gallery run which starts at 300m where the cadets fire 2 sighting shots and then 10 shots against the clock and run to 200m where they shoot another 10 shots and then run to 100m where they shoot a further 10 shots, again against the clock. Some competitions are held at barracks, such as 4 Division at Pirbright, hold a DCCT (Dismounted Close Combat Trainer) range which consists of cadets using SA80s which use a laser system onto a screen. Scenarios and different ranges can be used on this system. Some divisions have a shotgun shoot. There is a pool bull competition where cadets put in money and try to get as close to the bull as possible. The cadet who wins receives all of the money. There is the ETR (Electronic Target Range) where cadets fire at a fixed position onto targets at 100m, 200m and 300m. Their targets are controlled electronically and the scores are also calculated electronically. All of these competitions are conducted on Saturday. On the Sunday all the teams (some counties have more than one) compete in the falling plate competition which involves the cadets running from 300m to 200m and trying to get 10 plates down as fast as possible. The divisions conduct the competition slightly differently. In 4 Division, each team competes against one other team but in the fist two rounds there are two competitions happening at the same time (four teams total). The results ceremony is conducted after the falling plate competition.
Cadets also have the opportunity to fire the L81 A2 Cadet Target Rifle in competition at Brigade (CTRM), National (Interservices Cadet Rifle Meeting) and International (
Dominion of Canada Rifle Association Matches) level. Many cadets go on to become part of the national team representing the UK in international competitions.
Map and Compass
Cadets learn how to navigate using a
mapA map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
and
compassA compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
. Cadets gain the same skills taught to soldiers so that they can plan operations and navigate any terrain. First, cadets learn to care for and use
Ordnance SurveyOrdnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
maps (and the
MODThe Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
's maps produced by Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency (DGIA) of United Kingdom Training Areas), plot and find six-figure grid references, calculate distances between points, and to recognise various conventional signs.
The two-star map and compass course then introduces cadets to the Silva (4/6400) and Suunto (M-5N) lightweight protractor compass. Cadets learn to use and plot grid and magnetic bearings in degrees only, as that is what they learn as part of their school syllabus. The regular army uses
milsAn angular mil, also mil, is a unit of angle. All versions of the angular mil are approximately the same size as a trigonometric milliradian.-History:The milliradian was first identified in the mid nineteenth Century...
instead of degrees, but the use of mils no longer forms part of the A.P.C. training, to understand the three different types of north, to account for deviation of the grid-magnetic angle, and to understand contour lines and more advanced conventional signs. With this knowledge, cadets can draw up route cards to undertake night navigation exercises or orienteering competitions.
First Aid
As part of the training syllabus Cadets are taught
First AidFirst aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
to recognised standards and are awarded relevant certificates.
The syllabus is broadly based around the St John Ambulance Activity First Aid syllabus, working at the following levels.
• Basic & One Star cadets carry out syllabus based training covering incident management, making an emergency call etc
• Two Star Cadets are required to complete the St John Ambulance Youth Activity First Aid certificate Course
• Three Star Cadets have to complete the first day of the St John Ambulance Activity First Aid Certificate Course
• Four Star Cadets may choose to complete the full Activity First Aid Course as one of their progressive subjects.
In addition to this many of the counties within the ACF are delivering the
British Heart FoundationThe British Heart Foundation is a charity organisation in Britain that funds research, education, care and awareness campaigns aimed to prevent heart diseases in humans.-Foundation:...
s "Heartstart" course to their cadets, offering them quick access to Emergency Life Support. This is often offered at the Basic level, exposing almost all of the cadets to First Aid.
Cadet and the Community
These community projects enrich local knowledge and encourage good citizenship, usually a cadet can contribute to his/her community by charity collection, public parades, assisting local services and helping at public events. This involvement within the community is important for improving confidence and social skills.
Duke of Edinburgh's Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities for young people aged 14–25. A young person can undertake a DofE programme at three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each have differing criteria for entry and the level of committment necessary to gain each award. Cadets who meet the age criteria can become DofE participants and work towards their own DofE Award.
Each level is broken down into 4 sections (5 for Gold) which participants must complete to receive their award. These are:
To inspire young people to make a difference within their communities or to an Individual's life and develop compassion by giving service to others.
To inspire young people to develop practical and social skills and personal interests.
To inspire young people to achieve greater physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle through participation and improvement in physical activity.
To inspire young people to develop initiative and a spirit of adventure and discovery, by planning, training for and completing an adventurous journey as part of a team.
- Residential (Gold level only)
To inspire participants through a concentrated involvement with young people they don't know, who are usually from different backgrounds, and bring alternative views to the challenges they will face.
Cadets are often encouraged to achieve the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards as they progress through their cadet careers. Lots of cadet force activities can count towards each level of a participants' DofE programme and very often gets them recognition for developing skills and giving to their communities.
The DofE is widely recognised by employers as it helps demonstrate that young people who hold a Duke of Edinburgh's are keen to take on new challenges, have a higher level of self confidence than their counterparts and have leadership qualities with the added experience of teamwork.
See more at the Army Cadets and DofE In Action Together *
http://www.armycadetsanddofe.org.uk and The DofE *
http://www.dofe.org
Serving Combat Training
This allows any cadet over the age of 15 and 8 months to serve under certain circumstances.
For Example if the UK were invaded Cadets with this achievement could be drafted out voluntarily
to defend certain sites at last resort.
Although this is highly unlikely it did occur in WW2.
Leadership Training
LeadershipLeadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
training is an important part of the ACF training programme, with training available at higher levels too. Most areas run NCO courses, designed to help newly promoted NCOs to perform their duties well, or to train those eligible for promotion. There are also a number of courses run centrally by the ACF. This includes the Junior Cadet Instructors Cadre (run locally at a county level) and the Senior Cadet Instructors Course which is run at a Brigade level by Cadet Training Teams.
Master Cadet Course
The Course's aim is to assess the qualities required for Master Cadet Status by developing a cadet's leadership, instructional and administrative skills needed to gain credibility as one of the top cadets of a County and to determine suitability for appointment as a Master Cadet This is only one of 5 criteria these young men and women from across the UK must meet to be awarded the prestigious status of Master Cadet.
Cadet Leadership Courses
The Aim of the Cadet Leadership Courses (CLC) is:
'To develop cadets' initiative and self-reliance and to exercise them in the problems of practical leadership.'
The course is open to members of all the Cadet Forces (
SCC-Companies:* Secure Computing Corporation* The Sirius Cybernetics Corporation, a fictional company from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* Specialist Computer Centres, British-based IT consulting company...
, ACF,
ATCThe Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
and
CCFThe Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
) providing they are over 16 and have passed their APC 3 star or equivalent.
Each Course has 120 places and is focused on leadership training and assessment, which is developed through a variety of activities including:
- Minor Tactics
- Watermanship Training
- Command Tasks
- Sport
- Skill-at-Arms
- Endurance Training
The Courses take place at both the Cadet Training Center, Frimley Park, or at
NesscliffeNesscliffe is a village in Shropshire, England.The A5 road runs around the village on a new dual-carriageway by-pass and nearby is a small British Army base. It is also the site of a cave used by the highwayman, Humphrey Kynaston. This now forms part of the Nesscliffe Hill Country Park. The village...
Training Barracks, Shropshire, England.
Junior Leaders
Cadets over the age of 17 and of the rank of at least Cadet
SergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
can complete a leadership course called Junior Leaders, run centrally by the
Air Training CorpsThe Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
. Upon completion, the cadet is awarded a green and wedgwood blue flash for wearing on the DPM uniform and also the Certificate in Team Leading which is a professional qualification validated by the
Institute of Leadership & ManagementThe Institute of Leadership & Management is an awarding body for leadership and management qualifications in the UK. It is also a professional membership body for leaders and managers in the UK — providing a wide range of career support services to members.- Improving leadership and Management...
(ILM)
The course is renowned for being the toughest course in the Cadet Forces and requires over a hundred hours of planning and a high degree of physical fitness. Upon completion, the cadet is awarded a green and wedgwood blue
DZ FlashDZ Flash is a badge or patch worn by the Airborne forces of the British Army and all squadrons of the RAF Regiment. In RAF Regiment use these flashes distinguish between squadron, DZ stands for 'drop zone', although within the RAF Regiment only II Squadron has a parachute capability....
for wearing on the DPM uniform as well as qualifying for the ILM Award in Team Leading.
This course is run in two phases and covers the following areas.
Phase One
- Core Skills
- Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
- Life Skills
- Armed Forces Knowledge
- L85 Weapon Handling
- Interview skills
- Social skills
- Public speaking
- Project Management
Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end , undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value...
- CV writing
- Elementary infantry tactics
- Fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
- Teamwork
Teamwork is action performed by a team towards a common goal. A team consists of more than one person, each of whom typically has different responsibilities....
Phase Two
- Tactics and Leadership Development (TLD)
During this phase Cadets have to be able to use their skills in real life scenarios and receive coaching by members of the Regular and Reserve Forces.
Finally, 10 days are spent at a graduation camp (eight days field exercise and two days of exams and presentations) and all participants have to have a six hour period to lead a section. It is during these days that the skills and knowledge gained by the cadet over the previous months are put to the test.
Uniform
All cadets and CFAVs are issued Combat Soldier 95 (CS95)
DPMDisruptive Pattern Material is the commonly used name of a camouflage pattern used by British forces as well many other armies worldwide, particularly in former British colonies....
clothing as issued to the
British ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. As a minimum, they are generally issued with the following:
- Headress - Beret
Berets have been a component of the uniforms of many armed forces throughout the world since the mid-20th century. Military berets are usually pushed to the right to free the shoulder that bears the rifle on most soldiers, but the armies of some European countries have influenced the push to the...
, Tam o' Shanter, GlengarryThe glengarry bonnet is a traditional boat-shaped hat without a peak made of thick-milled woollen material with a toorie on top, a rosette cockade on the left, and ribbons hanging down behind...
or CaubeenThe caubeen is an Irish beret. It was formerly worn by peasants; however, it has since been adopted as the headdress of the Irish regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies, where its formal name is the "Bonnet, Irish, Green".-Name:...
- Two shirts
- Two pairs of trousers
- Smock
- Belt
- Brassard
A brassard or armlet is an armband or piece of cloth or other material worn around the upper arm, used as an item of military uniform to which rank badges may be attached instead of being stitched into the actual clothing...
These are issued free of charge but additional items may be issued at local expense. Some counties may charge a small deposit for uniform that is refundable on its return. All cadets and CFAVs must have "ACF" visible at all times on their uniform. Cadets are given "ACF" badges for their brassards while adults usually wear rank slides with "ACF" embroidered on them.
CS95 clothing is now being phased out with the introduction of the
Multi-Terrain PatternThe Multi-Terrain Pattern is a camouflage pattern printed on equipment issued to British forces.As part of the MOD's PECOC programme, three new camouflage patterns were being considered for issue to British forces...
Personal Clothing System (PCS). The ACF along with the
CCFThe Combined Cadet Force is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in the United Kingdom. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance,...
are scheduled to receive the new uniform from September 2012.
The ACF has its own
stable beltA stable belt is an item of uniform used in the armed forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. Stable belts or similar derivatives are also worn by the armed forced of other nations such as Denmark....
which can be worn by cadets and instructors, but they can also wear the stable belt of their affiliated regiment/corps. Stable belts can be worn by cadets of any rank but many counties impose local requirements such as star level or rank. They may be issued at the expense of the detachment or company but are usually a private purchase item.
External links