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If you are aged between 12 and 18 then you can join as a cadet. Please note: if you are aged 12 you must be in year 8 at school to join.
Absolutely not. The Army Cadet Force is sponsored by the Army and we use much of their equipment and facilities, but there is absolutely no obligation to join any of the armed services at any time. You can also leave the Army Cadet Force at any time.
Most definitely. We follow much of the military training syllabus which will give you a great advantage over those new soldiers that have not had any cadet experience. Many of our cadets who do join the Army qualify from training as the best recruits as they already have a good grounding in military skills before they start their training.
On joining the Army Cadet Force as a cadet you would be issued with a uniform and any equipment necessary to carry out your training. All you need to buy is a good pair of boots.
Yes you can. The Army Cadet Force is the second largest operator of the DofE Award in the UK and all elements of the award can be completed as part of your normal ACF activities.
As an Army Cadet you can work towards a BTEC in Public Services or Music as part of your normal ACF activities. This is a nationally recognised qualification which is the equivalent to four Standard Grades in Scotland level 1 to 3 or four GCSEs at grade A* to C. You can also gain a Certificate in Team Leading from the Institute of Leadership and Management.
There are both nationally and locally organised foreign exchange trips available for cadets to many different countries. These could include adventurous training in Canada, learning survival skills in the Australian outback or visiting a Regular Army unit in Germany. What is available will largely depend on your location and your personal drive!
Charges can vary between detachments, some will ask cadets to pay a small sub on attendance but not always. The only other cost is the price of a pair of boots! If you participate in the Annual Summer camp there is normally a small fee of approximately £65-£80 for 2 weeks.
This is where everyone in your county has the opportunity to go away for either one or two weeks during the school summer holidays to one of the Army's training camps somewhere in the UK. This could be anywhere from ewquay in Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands.
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If you are aged between 18 and 55 years then you can join as an adult instructor.
You do not need any previous military experience to join as an adult instructor. Many of our instructors are ex-cadets themselves, or have served in the military, but we also have many that joined with no previous military background at all. We will provide you with all the training you need to become an effective instructor. Whatever civilian skills you have - whether in IT or military, catering or sport - you will be welcomed by the ACF.
No you can't. Whether you are an adult instructor or officer in the Army Cadet Force, you have no active service liability whatsoever and cannot be called up for Territorial Army or Regular Army service.
This depends on your role in the ACF, but activities include abseiling, trekking, first aid, sports, camping, music, competitive shooting, drill, fieldcraft and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
On joining the Army Cadet Force as an instructor you would be issued with a uniform and any equipment necessary to carry out your duties.
Typically, two parades/evenings per week at your local detachment and occasional weekends. After that, it is up to you how much time you want to give. Help is always welcomed on the annual camps and many adult volunteers find this one of the highlights of the ACF calendar. We fully understand that all kinds of other commitments,
such as work and family, can affect people's availability, so even if you can't commit to two evenings a week, we would still love to hear from you.
Yes, all new adult volunteers complete the induction course regardless of their experience. This will help you develop your ability to deal with young people and understand the ethos of the ACF.
All adults are required to undergo a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check and to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority's Vetting and Barring Scheme.
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