Cadets

There are some 4,000+ cadets and over 1,000 volunteer adult instructors in the North East who enjoy fun with friends at more than 160 unit locations spanning the length and breadth of the region.

Through exciting activities and adventurous training, cadets from all walks of life gain new personal and practical skills to use in everyday life, which often takes them to new places.

Each cadet unit is a part of the wider, national, voluntary youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the three Services. Their mission is not to act as a recruitment tool for the Armed Forces, although the positive experiences many have while with them lead some to join once they finish their education.

Cadet organisations combine youth work with military-themed training and community-based activities. They improve the health of cadets through a variety of outdoor activities and sport. Young people can be a part of the cadets from the age of 12-19 years old depending on the organisation they join.

Latest Cadets news

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HQ North established 1 August 2024

Headquarters North will be formally established on 1st August 2024 when the
current Headquarters North East (based in Catterick and embedded in
Headquarters 4 Light Brigade Combat Team and HQ NE) and Headquarters
North West (in Preston) are merged. Find out more

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Armed Forces Week 2024

The NE RFCA region saw our local authorities and communities join the rest of the country in flying the Armed Forces Day flag in support of our Armed Forces. Find out more

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Lord Lieutenant of County Durham sends D-Day Message ...

Mrs Sue Snowdon, Lord Lieutenant of County Durham and Vice President North of England RFCA commemorates the D-Day 80th Anniversary with a letter to all Cadet Forces within her County. Find out more

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Lord Lieutenant of Co Durham

Tues 5 Mar 24, Mrs Sue Snowdon, Lord Lieutenant of County Durham and Vice-President NE RFCA, presented her Lord Lieutenant's Certificates for Meritorious Service to members of the Reserves, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and civilian staff from all 3 Services Find out more

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Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkishire

On Tuesday, 27 Feb 24, Mrs Jo Ropner, Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and Vice-President North of England RFCA, presented her Lord Lieutenant's Certificates for Meritorious Service. Find out more

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RFCA Conference emphasises defence stability and societal support

The Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations' (RFCA) annual conference on 8 November attracted a diverse audience from the RFCA networks. Find out more

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Festival of Remembrance Service at Durham Cathedral

“A credit to the County and the cadet movements they represent”. Lt Col Barney Barnbrook, Regional Director North East and Yorkshire Army Benevolent Fund, said of the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets who took part in the Festival of Remembrance Service at Durham Cathedral on Saturday,
11 November 2023. Find out more

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A Boost into Space for Air Cadets

After a year of 'studying space', 9 Cadets and Staff from 2505 (Bishop Auckland) Sqn RAF AC go on the trip of a lifetime to Florida with help from the Viscount Ridley's Cadet Forces' Trust. Find out more

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DCC Debbie Ford named Commando of the Week on Royal Marines Reserve winter training exercise.

As one of our supportive employers and a Silver Award winner of the MOD’s Employer Recognition Scheme, Northumbria Police Force was invited to send a representative to observe members of the Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) on their cold-climate training programme in Bardufoss, Norway in March this year. That ‘lucky volunteer’ was Deputy Chief Constable Debbie Ford, who joined 14 other organisations from London, Highland RFCA and Lowland RFCA on a different sort of exercise……. Find out more

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Air Cadets receive Prince of Wales's Award

Longbenton Air Cadets are flying on cloud nine after receiving the 2021 Prince of Wales’s Expeditionary Award. Find out more

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CCFs' Annual Camp goes ahead after all!

Polam Hall School and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College CCFs were devastated when they did not get a CTT Central Camp slot this year and it looked as though their annual camps would not take place. Find out more

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A "brilliant performance" from Daniel

Redcar Cadet, LCpl Daniel Loader, a member of Cleveland ACF, had gone over to France with his Dad, for the memorial events early in June, and had even taken his cadet uniform to wear when paying his respects. He was swiftly spotted by The Yorkshire Regiment and included in their group, and was ‘roped’ in to help with events. Find out more

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Opening Ceremony of Boldon School Combined Cadet Force Royal Navy

Boldon School welcomed Commodore Phil Waterhouse ADC RN, Deputy Mayor Cllr Joe Amar, and Ms Lyn Blair, Deputy Mayoress, to the official opening ceremony of Boldon School Royal Navy Combined Cadet Force Section. Find out more

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Duchess of Northumberland presents her Lord Lieutenant's Certificates for Meritorious Service

The Duchess of Northumberland presented her Lord Lieutenant’s Certificates for Meritorious Service to Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from all three Services on Tuesday 5 April 2022. In congratulating recipients on their awards the Duchess said she was “greatly impressed by the outstanding work carried out over many years by Volunteers who had achieved great things and given unconditionally of their spare time”. The Duchess also presented Cadet Proficiency Awards to members of the Army Cadet Force and appointed her Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets for 2022. Find out more