Service to the Army Cadet Force – What is it?
The Army Cadet Force is a voluntary youth organisation. Participants can offer service to the Army Cadet Force (ACF) in the following ways:
- learn the history and organisation of the ACF and of the affiliated Regiment or Corps;
- understand how the ACF Detachment relates to the community;
- make a useful contribution to the development of members of the Detachment;
- assist in the administration and organisation of the Detachment.
Safety Message
Participants should be aware of the contents of the current edition of the Cadet Training Safety Precautions pamphlet (JSP535 – “the Red Book”), and of any Detachment safety rules.
Ideas/Aims
Cadet participants should undertake parts of the following programme appropriate to the stage reached in the Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) and the rank held; the list is not exhaustive. All participants must undertake practical service within this Section.
- Complete 1-star Cadet and the Community (C and C) & First Aid syllabus
- Know history of ACF, and County organisation
- Study history and customs of the unit to which they are badged
- Represent the ACF in the local community
- Complete the 2-star C and C & First Aid Syllabus
- Satisfactorily attend a Junior Cadet Instructors Course
- Complete the 3-star C and C syllabus
- Satisfactorily attend a Senior Cadet Instructors Course
- Satisfactorily attend a Leadership Course
- Complete the 4-Star C & C option
Practical service could include:
- Tasks in the Detachment: e.g duties of NCO, Stores, Admin, Uniforms, Instructor, Canteen, helping with DofE, Special project, etc.
- Tasks at Company level: e.g. duties of CSM or NCO, Instructing, supervision of groups of Cadets, running training groups, helping with DofE groups in other Dets, etc.
- Tasks at County Level: e.g. duties of RSM or SNCO, help to County Training Officer, County Sports Officer, County DofE Officer, helping on Outreach project, etc.
- Liaising with others outside the ACF: e.g organising conservation or other Service-based projects.
Adult participants should:
attend a course arranged by MoD, ACFA, CTTs or County ACFs on military training subjects, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Outreach, adventure training, leadership or other specialist subjects.
Organise a number of activities at Detachment level e.g. fundraising, administration, training activities, sports, adventure training, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award leadership etc.
Review/Assessment
Participants should be able to produce logged evidence of their practical service. Review and assessment of Cadet participants should be undertaken jointly by the Detachment Commander and Area/Company Commander.
Review and assessment of adult participants will normally be carried out at county level, and involve the County Training Officer, County Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Development Officer, CTT Commander and others as appropriate. The Detachment and Company Commanders should also be consulted on the practical service
Modular Training
National Modular Training Framework
The Army Cadet Force Association, as an Operating Authority of the DofE’’s Award is committed to training and supporting its leaders. Accordingly, we have subscribed fully to the DofE’s Modular Training Programme, and have committed to facilitating training in DofE Leadership (see Land Policy, Annex H ) for any County which wishes to have its leaders properly prepared to provide the Award to its cadets and young instructors.
Courses are offered as follows …
Introduction to the DofE
This course prepares interested leaders to provide effective support to their Cadets who wish to participate. The course is delivered locally, with the support of Counties to provide the administration, accommodation, catering and teaching facilities. The course is tutored by members of the ACF’s DofE Training Network, and leads to national accreditation of learning. Students must complete the DofE on-line learning package, e-Induction, at The DofE site before attending the course
Foundation Level course (FLC):
this course covers the learning outcomes of the DofE Leadership modules Group Work Skills, Managing a DofE Group and Practical DofE Leadership. The course presumes basic knowledge of the DofE , and a pre-requisite for attendance is completion of an Introduction to the DofE module (see above). The course is delivered locally, with the support of Counties to provide the administration, accommodation, catering and teaching facilities. The course is tutored by members of the ACF’s DofE Training Network, and leads to national accreditation of learning, and the award of the Foundation Certificate in DofE Leadership.
Group Leader course (GLC):
This course covers the learning outcomes of all four of the DofE Leadership modules (Knowledge of the DofE, Group Work Skills, Managing a DofE Group and Practical DofE Leadership). The course presumes knowledge of theDofE , and a pre-requisite for attendance is completion ofthe Foundation Certificate in DofE Leadership (see above).. The course is delivered annually at CTC Frimley Park (the “Advanced Training Course” in Feb / March ( course dates ), is tutored by members of the ACF’s DofE Training Network, and can lead to national accreditation of learning, and the award of the Certificate in DofE Leadership.
Expedition Supervisor Training course (ESTC):
This course prepares potential expedition team supervisors to take responsibility for the safety of a team and to supervise it with the minimum of intrusion on its ownership of the experience. The course is delivered locally, with the support of Counties to provide the administration, accommodation, catering and teaching facilities and is tutored by members of the ACF’s DofE Training Network
Expedition Assessor Accreditation (Generic) course (EAAC):
This is a one day course, soon to be mandatory for all DofE expedition assessors. Further details of the Scheme can be found at http://www.dofe.org/go/eaas/ . The course is delivered locally, with the support of Counties to provide the administration, accommodation, catering and teaching facilities. It is tutored by members of the ACF’s DofE Training Network, and leads to the student qualifying as a DofE Accredited Expedition Assessor and being entered onto the National DofE Assessor database.
Other Information Courses are advertised on the ACFA DofE website.
Where a course is not fully subscribed, it may be possible for leaders from other counties to attend. Interested leaders should contact the Administrator to explore the possibilities of attendance on such courses.
