Audio mixing

Personnel
Officer and Adult Instructors	7,880 (2006 est.)
Cadets	44,240 (2006 est.)
Percentage of Cadets who join British Armed Forces	25-30% (2005 est.)
Expenditure
MOD Budget (2006 est.)	£80 Million

The Army Cadet Force(ACF) is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training (such as Outward Bound) and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 year olds and 9 months. Its affiliated organisation, the Combined Cadet Force provides similar training within various schools. It has connections to the training of the British Army.

Although sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and being very similar in structure and activity, the ACF is not a branch of the British Armed Forces, 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' - come from a previous cadet service or military background.

The ACF can trace its beginnings back to 1859, when it was formed in order to prepare youths to enlist in the army in anticipation of an invasion of Britain by the French. It remained in existence after no invasion materialised, thanks in part to the influence of pioneer social worker Octavia Hill, because of its positive benefits on youths. The ACF is a registered charity

Improving confidence and improving social skills.

Ranks

Ranks in the ACF follow that of the Regular Army with the exception that all ACF Cadets ranks are junior.

ACF and CCF (Army)

Main article: Warrant Officer

WO1 arm badge (British Army)

WO1 arm badge (British Army)

WO1 variant arm badge (British Army)

The rank of warrant officer does not exist in the ACF and CCF (Army) - it is often misused by those holding appointments as Sergeants Major (either Cadets or AIs) in the CCF (Army) and ACF who are not holders of Warrants and thus not Warrant Officers.

As well as learning new skills by working through the APC syllabus, experienced cadets can be awarded a rank. As the Army allows its soldiers to take on responsibility and leadership as NCOs, so too does the ACF give a greater role to some cadets.

The first rank a new cadet NCO will be given is that of a Lance Corporal (In the Royal Artillery cadet units "Lance Bombardier"). To signify this a single stripe is worn on the brassard, or rank slide. Lance Corporals are a part of the framework of their detachments. They assist with lessons, have authority over cadets and work with other cadet NCOs and adult instructors. In field exercises Lance Corporals normally have the position of second-in-command (2ic) of a section. Some units such as the five regiments of the foot Guards, have a varying rank structure to others, beginning with the rank of Corporal, moving to Sergeant. This is seen as a tradition however their Corporal remains the same rank as a Lance Corporal in other units, and Lance Sergeant the same as Corporal.

Above the Lance Corporals are the Corporals, who teach lessons (provided they are qualified to do so), manage the Lance Corporals and act as the section commanders out in the field. Corporals are typically two-star qualified or above.

Above the Corporals are the Sergeants and Staff Sergeants or Colour Sergeants, and above these Sergeant Majors, usually holding the appointments of Company Sergeant Major (CSM) and Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) respectively.

Also in many counties there is the opportunity for promotion to Under Officer. Although this is not an official rank, it is a chance for senior cadets to gain experience as an officer. The titles of some ranks may vary as cadet detachments are badged to regiments of the Regular Army, and as such adopt their titles.

• Lance Corporal/Lance Bombardier/corpral (One bar chevron, worn point down)
• Corporal/Bombardier/lance sergeant (Two bar chevron, worn point down)
• Sergeant/gold sergeant (Three bar chevron, worn point down)
• Staff Sergeant/colour sergeant (Three bar chevron, worn point down, surmounted by a crown
• Company Sergeant Major (A crown)
• Regimental Sergeant Major (The Royal Arms)

Rank insignia for cadets are usually still the large chevrons (sewn on to the brassard, part of cadet uniform) that have not been used by the regular army for several years. However, use of rank slides is becoming increasingly common, generally among CCF units, but the rank slide must be marked with the letters ACF or CCF (whichever the cadet belongs to) at the bottom to distinguish from regular army ranks. Almost all ACF units still issue the outdated sew-on chevrons to cadets, with rank slides being reserved for adult instructors. However, it is not uncommon for cadet NCOs to purchase their own rank slides and wear them.

Stable belts are coloured belts (colours varied according to regiment), although the ACF have their own stable belt, which can be used by any regiment in any detachment. In some counties, stable belts are issued to NCOs(providing they have achieved 3 star or above) and in others it is down to the cadet to buy them and wear them in working dress. But ultimately it is down to the CO's discretion.

If a cadet is seen as a good leader and excellent in all aspects of the cadet sylabus, promotion to Cadet RSM is awarded. only one cadet per county may achieve this rank at any one time. An example is RSM Michael Worden of Lancashire ACF (RSM 2006-2008).

Adult Instructors

Adults may join the ACF to instruct through two different routes - as Adult Instructors (AI) or as Commissioned Officers. Prospective Adult Instructors begin as a Civilian Assistant before passing a medical and an enhanced disclosure.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 various different courses. A further mandatory course at Frimley Park is the Adult Instructors Course which must be completed within three years of joining. The AI is then qualified to achieve the rank of Staff Sergeant Instructor (SSI). The King George VI (KG6) 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. This means that AI Promotion is given on a combination of experience, merit, and leadership potential; as in the Regular Army. Adult Instructors will be expected to work in a team with their superiors and senior cadets to be responsible for, and deliver effective training to the cadets.

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 Regular Commissioning Board though less physically testing. The applicant will be assessed on their literacy, problem solving ability, and leadership potential. Successful applicants will then be appointed a List B Commission in Her Majesty's Land Forces, making them a non-deployable Territorial Army Officer. During the selection/training process the applicant will hold the appointment of Under Officer, before receiving the initial rank of Second Lieutenant upon successful commissioning. Commissioned Officers in the ACF will hold senior leadership roles with more responsibility and commitment attached than roles occupied by Adult Instructors. The commissioned officers will also have a commitment to uphold the prestige of a commission in their personal discipline and behaviour - both on and off duty as they are subject to Military Law at all times. Officers are required to attend further courses to qualify for promotion to Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel.

Organisation

Most British counties have centralised cadet forces that make up the ACF as a national whole. The counties 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. Battalions are usually 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. Detachments can be given special names, after famous battles fought by the British army, e.g. Rhine, Gibraltar and Waterloo. But some detachments are just called by the name of the town they reside in.

Locations

Main article: List of ACF Units

See also

• The Cassino Band of Northumbria Army Cadet Force
• The Borneo Band of Durham Army Cadet Force
• Air Training Corps
• Sea Cadet Corps
• Combined Cadet Force

External links

• Army Cadet Force Official Site
• Unofficial Army Cadet Force Forums
• Derbyshire Army Cadet Force (Mercian Regiment)
• North Devon ACF
• Devon ACF A Company
• Clwyd ACF
• Dyfed ACF
• Gwynedd ACF
• Gwent ACF
• Powys ACF
• Humberside & South Yorkshire ACF
• B Coy - Humbs. & S. Yorks. ACF
• Yorkshire (North and West) Army Cadet Force
• Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland ACF
• Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force
• Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Army Cadet Force