Combined Cadet Force

Khalsa Cadets celebrate a successful year

The concept of cadet units in schools dates back over 160 years, with the original units focussed on Army activities with public schools and universities.  This evolved, in 1948, to the Combined Cadet Force creating a modern, inspiring programme for cadets from all three services.  There are now hundreds of units launched in state-funded schools across the UK. Our Association is proud to…

CCF cadets attend Snow Camp

Snow Camp is a national youth charity that uses snowsports to drive social mobility.  It operates a three tier programme.  The entry stage is First Tracks, a two day course at a local dry slope or indoor snow facility.  The intermediate stage is Graduate, this takes place over six Saturdays or Sundays in the autumn term.  The final stage is Excel, this runs…

Stourbridge cadets hit the mark for success

Old Swinford Hospital Combined Cadet Force (CCF) are celebrating after gaining the ‘Best Overall Score’ at a regional marksmanship competition. Competing against other Army Cadet and CCF teams, Old Swinford Hospital CCF put their accuracy and shooting skills to the test at the Army’s Headquarters West Midlands Skill At Arms Meeting (SAAM). They were scored individually, as pairs and as teams, across a…

Combined Cadet Force celebrates biennial milestone

Cadets from St Paul’s School for Girls Combined Cadet Force (SPG CCF) proudly demonstrated their skills at their first Biennial Inspection. Held at the school’s premises in Birmingham – with future cadets and parents invited to watch – the cadets were inspected by Group Captain Roger Simon, Regional Commandant Air Cadets (Wales & West). First aid, STEM, drill, archery, radio communications, flight simulators…

West Midlands Platinum Jubilee Tattoo

At the end of April the Armed Forces and Cadet Forces in the West Midlands came together to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and military support for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. West Midland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association were pleased to be able to support the evening event at the University of Birmingham, which had a musical and sports theme….

The Streetly Academy launches second Cadet Force section

A Combined Cadet Force (CCF) in the West Midlands has expanded on their success by opening a second section for their students. The Streetly Academy, located in Sutton Coldfield, launched its existing Royal Navy section in 2017/2018 with just 25 cadets and two Cadet Force Adult Volunteers. Since its inception from the Cadet Expansion Programme, a new cohort of students from Year 8…

Cadet Expansion Programme continues to thrive

The number of cadets and volunteers currently involved with the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and school units in the West Midlands and surrounding counties has successfully increased by over a third. Since the inception of the Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) in 2012, an extra 2262 cadets and 137 new Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) are now located in over 42 units. This includes…

Birmingham based CCF attend annual camp

At the end of June cadets from Rockwood Academy Combined Cadet Force (CCF), located in Birmingham, attended their annual camp at Warwickshire and West Midlands (South Sector) Army Cadet Force (ACF) Cadet Training Centre in Bramcote, Warwickshire. In order to meet with the required COVID-19 guidelines the camp was split into two parts, with two separate groups of cadets involved. The start of…

Independent report celebrates positive impact of Cadet Forces

Exciting new research into the UK Cadet Forces highlights the positive impacts on young peoples’ development, adult volunteers and wider society. The UK currently has 130,000 cadets and almost 30,000 adult volunteers supporting them. This follows the Cadet Expansion Programme launched by the UK Government in 2012 which saw the number of school cadet units double to over 500 by last year. During…