Army Cadet Force Nottinghamshire

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Cadet 150

Cadet 150's winning logo

History of the Cadet Forces

The history of the Cadet Forces dates back to the 1850s with the formation of several forerunners to the existing organisations.

The Cadet Corps, the forerunners of the Combined Cadet Forces, were formed firstly in certain schools as a means of training young people to support the masses of volunteers required to boost Army numbers in the likelihood of war.

Britain was facing the threat of invasion - a hostile nation was occupying the channel ports with the means of landing an army on England's south coast. A second Napoleon was Emperor of France, and his armies, reformed after disasters in earlier wars, were flexing their muscles, eager for revenge.

These Cadet Corps were recognised by the War Office and permitted to wear the uniforms of their parent Volunteer battalions.

Gradually there developed additional battalions in schools.

As the threat of war receded, some Cadet Corps developed into Rifle Clubs, and cadet battalions not associated with schools became Social Welfare Organisations - the forerunners of the current Army Cadet Force.

The ACF was reformed in 1942, and in 1957 its purpose was altered from a direct HM Forces support role to that of a national youth organisation sponsored by the MOD.

The Sea Cadet movement was created by communities wanting to give young people instruction on a naval model.

Traditionally old seafarers provided training while local businessmen funded the headquarters. The Sea Cadet Corps (SCC) became a national organisation in 1904.

The Air Training Corps (ATC) has its origins in the Air Defence Cadet Corps.

The earliest squadrons paraded in October 1938, and the administration of each squadron was in the hands of a committee of local citizens, thus establishing the twin military and civilian streams of support which make up the present day organisation.

In 1941, in order to provide the means of giving part-time air training to young men destined for the Royal Air Force, the Air Defence Cadet Corps was formally established as the Air Training Corps.

After the Second World War, and following subsequent reassessments, the purpose of the ATC was changed and greater emphasis was given to general youth and citizenship training.

Opportunities in today’s Cadet movement

Nowadays the Cadet Forces exist as voluntary youth organisations, using the ethos of today’s Armed Forces to provide young people with the opportunity to develop and test themselves through adventurous activities and challenges, learning new skills and the chance to gain additional qualifications along the way.

Cadets not only have the opportunity for self-development, but to get involved with volunteer and charitable work in the community.

Cadets and adult volunteers also have the opportunity to gain recognised qualifications at various levels, from BTECs and NVQs through to the equivalent of a Master’s degree.

Many cadets do go on to join the Armed Forces but there is absolutely no pressure for cadets to follow military careers.

The Ministry of Defence accepts that the Cadet Force organisations add value to the youth of today and for this reason continues to support them wholeheartedly.

In 2001 the Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation (CVQO) was set up to enable cadets and adult instructors in all four Cadet Forces to gain recognised vocational qualifications for their cadet activities.

Cadet150

2010 marks 150 years since the Cadet movement first started, when the Cadet Corps was formed to help bolster the country’s defence numbers following heavy losses in the Crimean War.

Today’s Cadet Forces are quite different organisations, having evolved into unique voluntary youth organisations, offering young people opportunities to develop themselves, try new adventures and activities, and learn key lessons in citizenship and the importance of society.

Through Cadet150, this year promises to be an exciting one for the wider cadet family. The 131,000 current cadets will be taking part in events across the country and overseas, showcasing their movement and what it’s all about. The 25,000 Adult Volunteers will also be recognised through Cadet150. Without the support of these dedicated people the Cadet Forces could not operate.

And it’s not just current cadets and volunteers that are the focus for the year. Cadet150 is also about the wider cadet community; the hundreds and thousands of former cadets and volunteers who have been part of this fantastic movement over the years.

Cadet150 Launch

Cadets from every corner of the country helped to launch Cadet150 on 17 February to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the cadet movement.

Cadet150 ambassadors from all over the country travelled to Buckingham Palace to meet Her Majesty The Queen, who is Patron of Cadet150. The celebrations in 2010 see a programme of over 150 national and regional events taking place all over the country throughout the year, reflecting the spirit of fun, excitement, adventure and community service at the heart of the cadet movement. Many more are planned at local level.

Together with His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, HM The Queen received 26 specially-selected Cadet150 ambassadors in support of the launch. The cadet ambassadors (seven Army Cadets, seven Air Cadets, six Sea Cadets and six Cadets from the Combined Cadet Force) have been drawn from every corner of the UK, specially selected for their outstanding achievements.

The cadets then had lunch at the Ministry of Defence and met senior military and civil service personnel. After lunch they walked to Downing Street to have their photo taken outside No 10. Defence Minister, Kevan Jones, and Minister for Young Citizens and Youth Engagement, Dawn Butler, joined the cadets, bringing with them the exciting and unexpected news that they were to be given an exclusive tour inside the famous building. First stop was the cabinet room where the cadets sat around the cabinet table while learning the history of the house. They were also each told whose place they were sitting in. From the cabinet room the party moved to No 11 Downing Street where Mrs Maggie Darling, wife of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, welcomed them warmly and showed them round the Chancellor’s residence.

In the evening, the cadets attended an evening reception at Lancaster House hosted by the Ulysses Trust and the Council of Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. Guests included Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nicholas Houghton KCB CBE, and HRH Prince Seeiso, High Commissioner for Lesotho. The Ulysses Trust exists to support challenging expeditions by cadets and reservists, and adventurer, explorer and world record holder Sir Ranulph Fiennes accepted a donation from the Ulysses Trust towards the forthcoming Lesotho expedition in the summer and spoke fascinatingly and amusingly about how joining the Combined Cadet Force at the age of 12 led to his lifelong interest in travel to very remote places.

In Nottingham - Air, Sea and Army Cadets came together to take part in a fun filled activity day at Chetwynd Barracks, Nottinghamshire where they enjoyed activities such as semaphore, paintballing, climbing ad obstacle courses.