HEREFORD & WORCESTER ARMY CADET FORCE (HW ACF)
CADET INITIAL BRIEFING LETTER
This letter to be 'personalised' by each Detachment where marked ....
Your son / daughter has become a member of Hereford & Worcester Army Cadet Force at ...... Detachment.
/ The Detachment Commander is ......They can be contacted at: ......
The Detachment parades at ......
and meets at ...... hrs every ......
HW ACF Headquarters is located at Suvla Barracks, Hereford and can be contacted by telephone: 01432 359917 or e-mail:
The Army Cadet Force (ACF)
The ACF is a voluntary youth organisation which is sponsored by the Regular Army; it is not a recruiting tool for the Regular or Territorial Army, although it subscribes to their values and standards, which are: Commitment, (Self) Discipline, Courage, Integrity, Loyalty and Respect.
The ACF has a progressive training programme - The Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) which advances in 4 star levels covering: Drill, Turnout and Military Knowledge, Skill at Arms, Shooting, Map and Compass, Fieldcraft, First Aid, Expedition, Physical Recreation and Cadet in the Community.
All training is fully supervised and delivered by qualified and validated instructors; safety is paramount.
Cadets can parade from the age of 12 years (they must be in Year 8 at Secondary School) until the age of 18 years and 9 months.
The Joining Process
There are some administrative processes to be completed and you are asked to fill in the ...... forms and return them as quickly as possible. Uniform will be issued within 4 - 6 weeks of the paperwork being submitted to HW ACF HQ.
Please make sure that any changes are notified to the Detachment Commander.
If your son / daughter has any medical condition or special requirement, either now or in the future, please inform the Detachment Commander.
Your son / daughter will receive some basic training on what is expected of an Army Cadet and how to wear and look after their uniform which will include trousers, shirt, jacket and beret. The only item of kit you need to supply is a pair of black boots.
All cadets are expected to have short hair or to wear their hair up in a bun. The wearing of jewellery is expressly forbidden for safety reasons.
Activities
As part of the training every cadet takes part in various activities including weekend training camps and an annual 7 day summer camp; full administrative instructions will be issued for these well in advance. There will also be opportunities to take part in shooting days, visits, adventurous training activities, sports and local community activities - again all of these will be notified to you in advance.
Included in any administrative instructions issued will be a 'permissions certificate' that you will need to sign this to enable your son / daughter to take part in the nominated activities. We ask that any such forms are completed in full and returned in plenty of time prior to the event.
Insurance cover is in place for cadets participating in authorised activities and all activities are instructed and supervised by qualified instructors.
No cadet will handle or fire a weapon until they have been trained, tested and assessed as competent.
Routine Orders (notices and general information) and a forthcoming forecast of events are published on the ACFA Website which can be found at http://armycadets.com/county/hereford-and-worcester-acf/
Subscriptions
The Army sponsors the Army Cadet Force and meets many of the running costs, however, there is a requirement to fund additional activities - this includes travel to and participation in some sporting and adventure training activities and some administrative support costs. Monthly subs of £….. are payable and £….. is charged for a weekend camp. The cost for annual camp will vary depending on the activities to be undertaken. There may also be a cost to participate is some specific activities.
Adult Volunteers
The Army Cadet Force could not function without its Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) and there are always opportunities for adults who are keen to help youngsters develop to join us: we would be keen to hear from you if you would like to help. Please feel free to contact your son / daughter’s Detachment Commander or the HQ in Hereford. Prior military experience is not essential, but you need to be enthusiastic, able to relate to youngsters - and a sense of humour helps!
Additional Notes
ACF Charter
The Army Cadet Force is a national voluntary youth organisation. It is sponsored by the Army and provides challenging military, adventurous and community activities. Its aim is to inspire young people to achieve success in life with a spirit of service to the Queen, their Country and their local community, and to develop in them the qualities of a good citizen.
This is achieved by:
Providing progressive cadet training, often of a challenging and exciting nature, to foster confidence, self-reliance, initiative, loyalty and a sense of service to other people. This will
encourage the development of personal powers of practical leadership and the ability to work successfully as an individual and as a member of a team ;
Stimulating an interest in the Army, its achievements, skills and values;
Advising and preparing those considering a career in the Services or with the Reserve Forces.
ACF Motto
To Inspire To Achieve