The Army Cadet Force (ACF), generally shortened to Army Cadets, is a British national youth organisation sponsored by the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence and the British Army. Along with the Sea Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps, the ACF make up the Community Cadet Forces. It is a separate organisation from the Combined Cadet Force which provides similar training within principally private schools.

Although sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, the ACF is not part of the British Army, and as such cadets are not subject to military law or military 'call up' but is funded by the MOD. Some cadets do, however, go on to enlist in the armed forces later in life.

The Army Cadet Charitable Trust UK (ACCT UK) is a registered charity that acts in an advisory role to the Ministry of Defence and other Government bodies on matters connected with the ACF.

As of 1 April 2023, there are 38,180 cadets, and 8,020 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs).

History Formation and development In 1859 the British Army was heavily committed to suppressing the Indian Mutiny which left a shortage of Armed Troops in Britain to dissuade or repel a French invasion which at the time was a very real threat. At this time the War Office made the decision to organize local Militia units (predecessors of the Territorial Army), into a nationwide Volunteer Reserve Force which it names "the Volunteers". A number of these Volunteers formed their own Cadet Companies, and during the 1860 Volunteer review by Queen Victoria one unit - the Queen's Westminster's - paraded their Cadet Company alongside their adult Companies.

In 1889 renowned social reformer Octavia Hill formed the first independent Cadet Battalion in Southwark. She considered strongly that the military context of the Volunteer Cadet Companies could be used to socialise urban youths struggling for direction, and wrote that "There is no organisation which I have found that influences the boys so powerfully for good as our cadets ... and if such ideals can be brought before the young lad before he gets in with a gang of loafers it may make all the difference to his life". At this time recruitment for the Cadet Forces was limited to young men "who had passed the age of make-believe"; Hill invited a serving officer of the Derbyshire Regiment to set up the company, and such was its popularity that its numbers had to be capped at 160 cadets.

The late Victorian period was when the time of social change began to take hold in Britain and Adam Gray - who was considered to be a pioneer in Social Work - founded Independent Cadet Corps units. The formation of Cadet units also spread to the colonies. The Bermuda Cadet Corps was formed at the turn of the century with detachments in the schools of the British Army's Bermuda Garrison and the Royal Navy's dockyard, as well as a handful of civilian schools; its cadets wore the cap badge of the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps, to which the Bermuda Cadet Corps was attached.

In 1908, when the Territorial Force was formed, both the Volunteer and Independent Cadet Companies came under the control of the Territorial Forces Association under the new name of the Cadet Force, whilst the Public School units were part of the Officer Training Corps.

In 1914 at the onset of World War I there was a massive expansion of the Cadet Force; at this time the War Office took back control of the organisation and administration of all Cadet Forces from their Territorial Associations and once again integrated the units into the central war effort.

At the onset of World War II the Cadet Forces supported the Home Guard at a time when there was a significant threat of German invasion; this led to the War Office in 1942 re-assuming administration of Cadet Forces, which at this time consisted of the Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps (SCC), and the Air Training Corps (ATC) (named in 1941). When it resumed administration in 1942, the title Army Cadet Force (ACF) was bestowed upon the Cadet Force, leading in 1945 to the BNCA changing its name to the Army Cadet Force Association (ACFA).

Following the publication of the Amery Report by the government in 1957, the ACF agreed to undertake the tasks in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award as a part of cadet training.

In 1959, also as a result of the Amery Report, a centralized Cadet Training Centre was established at Frimley Park, which remains the home of the Cadet Forces.

In 1960 the ACF celebrated its 100th anniversary with a review of the ACF and CCF in the grounds of Buckingham Palace by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Prior to 1982, females were unable to join the ACF, though they were able to join an attached unit (if there was one at that location) of the Girls Venture Corps which had been formed in the early years of the Second World War. Female instructors and cadets were formally enrolled into the ACF following numerous pilot schemes over several years; this led to the introduction of the ACF APC Syllabus in 1990, which noticeably dropped the requirement for hand-to-hand combat and included a major overhaul of instruction, tactics, and subjects. Today nearly 30% of Army Cadets are girls.

In 2010 the Cadet movement celebrated its 150th anniversary with over 150 events in communities up and down the country, and beyond, under the banner of Cadet 150. The main ceremonial event took place on 6 July 2010, when over 1,700 Cadets and adult volunteers paraded down the Mall for inspection by His Royal Highness, Charles the Prince of Wales before joining friends, family, and VIP guests at a garden party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

The Army Cadet Force was also a member of The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), as an organisation with a voluntary and community youth focus until it closed in 2016.

In 2018, after the theft of three Drill Purpose L103A2 rifles (modified SA80 assault rifles) from an Army Cadet Hall in Newport-on-Tay Drill purpose rifles have been taken into quarantine by the MOD; it was realised during the ensuing police investigation that the Drill Purpose rifles could be modified to fire live rounds.

In 2021 the Army Cadet Force Association (ACFA) was renamed the Army Cadet Charitable Trust UK(ACCTUK). This organisation is a registered charity and continues to play a vital role in the life of the ACF.

Investigation into sexual abuse In 2012, payouts made to victims of sexual abuse across all Cadet Forces totalled £1,475,844. In 2013 payouts totalled £64,782, and in 2014 payouts totalled £544,213. In 2017, a BBC Panorama episode entitled "Cadet Abuse Cover-Up" highlighted sexual abuse cases in the Community Cadet Forces. In the years 2012 to 2017 there were 201 allegations of sexual abuse made against ACF volunteers, including historical allegations. 158 cases were referred to the Police for investigation, and 62 offenders were dismissed.

Deaths on Exercises The Cadet Forces claim a tight safety programme, and that injuries or more serious incidents are rare. A freedom of information request to the Ministry of Defence revealed that a total of 10 cadets have died whilst taking part in cadet duties and activities. 5 fatalities were due to Road Traffic Accidents, 3 fatalities were due to aircraft accidents, 1 fatality was due to a boating incident and 1 fatality was due to substance abuse. In 1998, a cadet was fatally injured on a fieldcraft training exercise.

Structure and organisation

Most British counties have centralised cadet forces that make up the ACF as a national whole. The counties (or known as sectors in London) are generally split into companies, each of which includes several detachments, the name given to a unit of cadets that parade in a particular town or village. Some battalions or counties are affiliated with a certain Regiment or Corps within the British Army, and wear their insignia including cap badge, colour of beret and stable belt subject to individual county/area regulations.

Cadet Force Adult Volunteers Adult Instructors Prospective Adult Instructors begin as a Civilian Assistant (CA) before passing an enhanced disclosure. After completing the Familiarization and Assessment weekend (F&A) the Adult Volunteer is appointed as a Probationary Instructor (PI) (also taught/referred to as a Potential Instructor in Cadet Force lessons) at this stage they gain the use of the title Cadet Force Adult Volunteer (CFAV). They will attend 1 further training event to be classed as a "Safe Person" after completing modules on child protection, unit administration and introduction to the ACF. After this event the CFAV will attend further training at county / sector level. Only once completed they are invited to attend the Basic Instructors Course (BIC) held over one week at brigade level and run by a Cadet Training Team (CTT). On successful completion of this course they will be appointed to the rank of Sergeant (Sgt.). Progressive training takes place for Adult Instructors, as with cadets, an Adult Instructor may take part in a variety of different courses. An example of a further course which takes place at CTC Frimley Park is the Adult Leadership and Management Course. On successful completion of a course like this (which demonstrates the ability to plan and manage detachment level training) an AI is eligible for promotion to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt.). The Exercise Conducting Officer's (ECO) and Cadet Drill instructor Course (CADIC) are also available to AIs and the further ranks of Cadet Force Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2 (ACF)) and Cadet Force Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1 (ACF)) are possible on completion of the King George VI course.

Officers The other route a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer (CFAV) in the ACF may take is that of becoming a commissioned officer. The CFAV will apply and partake in the same selection process as above, however once a Probationary 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 Commissions 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 Cadet Forces Commission, which replaced the previous Army Reserve General List Group B commission in 2017.

Staff costs The Cadet Force is one of the few voluntary organisations that pays its volunteer staff for their time as an optional Volunteers Allowance (VA). These staff can receive up to 50 days pay per year (Depending on unit size and local budgets), they also receive subsistence and travel expenses for attendance on evenings, weekends and annual camps. In 2009/10 pay bill for ACF part-time staff was £14,632,160 and their expenses totalled £368,349.

Safeguarding Like most organisations involving young people, all adult volunteers are required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before having unsupervised contact with cadets.

Activities

Army Cadet Syllabus

Army Cadet Syllabus [ACS] (the army cadet syllabus brought about in June 2022) 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). Cadets must have passed Senior Cadet Instructors Cadre (SCIC) and 4 Star Fieldcraft before attempting the Master Cadet course.

Core subjects

Drill and Turnout Military Knowledge Fieldcraft Skill at Arms Shooting Navigation Expedition Training First Aid