Army Cadets

Who We Help, Why We Help & the Difference It Makes

What We Do

The Army Cadet Force (ACF) has nearly 40,000 cadets in more than 1,600 detachments all over the country and is one of the biggest and best clubs around. When it comes to fun, friendship, action and adventure, it’s hard to find anything that beats the Army Cadets. Become an Army Cadet and you’ll be spending your spare time taking part in adventurous activities like rock climbing, mountain biking, archery and abseiling. There will also be plenty of chance to play all your favourite sports because the ACF has competitions for both boys and girls at county, regional and national level. OK, so you might end up a little wet and muddy, but wouldn’t you rather be having the time of your life with some great new mates, instead of just sitting in front of a TV or computer alone in your room? Find out more about what you could do as a cadet, plus check out some of the videos and complete our simple online form. To join us you need to be aged over 12* and under 18 (*aged 12 by 1 September at the start of year 8 in school or equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland). Frequently asked questions about becoming a cadet with the ACF. Click a question to see the answer.

Get the skills, qualifications and personal qualities you need to get on in life. The skills you learn as a cadet can help you stand out from the competition, whether you are applying for college or university, or looking for your first job. If you've ever wanted to do the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, that's something we can help you with, and your cadet activities can count towards respected qualifications like BTEC Diplomas, which are equivalent to GCSEs. We also offer some opportunities to explore possible careers and to take part in 'employability' training to help you succeed in interviews.

Parents & Carers

Do you have a child interested in joining the Army Cadet Force? Do you know a young person who would benefit from action and adventure, fun and friendship in a structured, disciplined environment? We realise that parents and carers might have particular questions about the aims and objectives of the Army Cadet Force, and the kind of activities we teach, so we have created this section just for you. The Army Cadets gives young people - from all walks of life - access to fun, friendship, action and adventure. We challenge young people to learn more, do more and try more. We inspire them to aim high and give them the skills, values and attitudes to go further in life, no matter what they aim to do. Find out more about the benefits for your child of becoming a cadet.

We offer a broad range of challenging adventurous and educational activities, some of them on a military theme, but all of them designed to help your child develop and thrive. Find out more about what your child could do with the Army Cadet Force.

The ACF is a national, voluntary youth organisation - sponsored by the Army but not part of it. There is absolutely no requirement on cadets to join any of the Armed Forces. We provide a uniform, free of charge, for the whole time your child is in the cadets, though you may be asked for a small deposit. All you need to buy is a good pair of boots. Detachments usually meet on one or two evenings a week and there are also some weekend activities, such as sports competitions, short hiking expeditions or camps in the local area. Once a year during the school summer holiday, everyone in the Army Cadet Force has the opportunity to go away on ‘annual camp’ - an action-packed trip of one or two weeks at a military training area somewhere in the UK with the rest of the ACF from your local area. For most cadets, this is the undoubted highlight of the year. Costs are kept as low as possible. Joining the ACF is free but some detachments ask for a small weekly subscription. Annual camp usually costs under £100 with all food, accommodation, transport and activities included – exceptional value for money and far cheaper than similar activities offered by commercial organisations. Use our simple online form to register your child’s interest. We will email you details of the regional headquarters for your area. Contact them and they will normally arrange for you to take your child along to your nearest detachment to meet the team and find out more.

Find a Detachment

For fun, friendship, action and adventure, join the Army Cadet Force. If you're over 12 (and in year eight at school) and under 18, you can join the Army Cadet Force. Being over 18 doesn't mean missing out on all the excitement. Join as an adult volunteer and you can enjoy all the same activities while also picking up exactly the kind of teamwork and leadership skills that employers look for. Just select a location from our interactive map here or enter your postcode or the name of your nearest town in the search box above to locate detachments in your area. Click here for Cyprus ACF.

Cadet Training Centre Frimley Park

CTC Frimley Park is the home of the cadet movement. The national Cadet Training Centre (CTC) Frimley Park in Surrey offers a range of training courses for adult volunteers in the Army Cadet Force and the schools-based Combined Cadet Force (Army), helping new recruits understand the cadet movement's ethos and teaching them to train their cadets effectively and safely. Please visit CTC Frimley Park's website for further information and a calendar of upcoming courses.

Adult Courses - CTC motto Renovate Animos: Refresh the Spirit. The main purpose of the Cadet Training Centre is to train the volunteer Officers and Adult Instructors of both the ACF and CCF, teaching them to train their cadets safely and to inspire them in new ways of conducting training. We do this by running a range of courses throughout the year. Most cater for some 40 students and last five days (arriving on a Sunday and leaving on a Friday). They are all carefully planned to develop the skills and the confidence needed to lead cadets. A key element of all courses is the opportunity to explore the core values, standards and leadership that are central to the management of these young people. All courses must be booked via WESTMINSTER with applications normally closing eight weeks before the course begins.
Cadet Courses - While the main purpose of the Cadet Training Centre is to train the volunteer Officers and Adult Instructors of both the ACF and CCF, it also runs a small number of highly presitigious courses for senior cadets each year.

• The Master Cadet Course normally runs three times a year and is open to 4-star cadets
  
• The Champion Cadet Competition is open to nominated Master Cadets and takes place each September, with the winner being declared the ACF's best cadet for that year
  

Volunteer

Volunteer With Us

Aged 18 or over? Want to shape the future of young people? Like the idea of inspiring and leading young people to achieve things they never thought possible? Looking for something exciting to do in your spare time? Then why not register now to find out more about becoming an Army Cadet Force adult volunteer? With nearly 39,000 cadets (aged 12-18) in over 1,600 locations in communities all around the UK, the ACF is one of the country’s largest voluntary youth organisations. We have thousands of enthusiastic and committed adult volunteers - but we are always on the hunt for more! No particular experience is required and we provide all necessary training. So if you can give up one or two evenings a week and want to do something different with your free time, this could be exactly what you are looking for. But don't just take our word for it – download our volunteering brochure created with you in mind. Or if you've already decided that you want to join us, why not register as a volunteer now.

The ACF provides volunteering opportunities as instructors, mentors and helpers for our 39,000 cadets. The benefits of volunteering with the Army Cadet Force are varied, from learning new skills, meeting people, taking on challenges and gaining valuable experience. You do not need a military background and we will provide all the training you require. Volunteering Benefits

1. Learn New Skills - Volunteering can help you gain transferable skills, from teamwork, communication and manual skills. All of which could benefit you in the workplace.
2. Meet New People - You can meet different kinds of people, learning from them and making new friends for life.  
3. Build Confidence - You can boost confidence through volunteering by having the chance to try something new, achieving things and feeling a sense of achievement.
4. Make a Difference - Volunteering allows people to make a positive impact on others, from inspiring young people through to enhancing your local community.
5. Having Fun! - You can have great fun and have a thoroughly enjoyable time volunteering. Whether you’re escaping from a stressful job or looking for a hobby, volunteering can be huge fun!
6. Challenge Yourself - Through volunteering you can experience challenges and push yourself to achieve more. You could undertake The Duke of Edinburgh's Award or many other accredited qualifications on offer.
7. Enhances Your CV- Volunteering experience can be seen as an asset by employers, demonstrating teamwork, motivation and positivity. Gaining leadership skills, problem solving experience and social skills will all help your résumé stand out.
8. Build A Community Spirit - Volunteering allows you to strengthen your social network, helping you to feel part of a larger community.

If you’re interested in volunteering with the Army Cadet Force, fill out our online enquiry form and we will arrange for you to come in and meet us and find out more. Click here to see the answers to some frequently  asked questions about volunteering.

Work With Us

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