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Kent Army Cadet Force

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Kent Army Cadet Force
ActiveMarch 1963?[1]–present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeRegistered Volunteer Youth Organisation
RoleTo provide pre-training and experience of life in the British Army
SizeCounty[a]
Part ofHeadquarters South East
County HQMaidstone
WebsiteKent Army Cadets
Insignia
Army Cadet Force Badge

The Kent Army Cadet Force (Kent ACF) is the county cadet force[a] for Kent and Medway which operates as part of the Army Cadet Force. Since 2014, the county has been part of Headquarters South East, and is divided into four companies (one entitled a squadron for the Royal Engineers).

Background

In 1863, along with the formation of the Volunteer Force, the first government sanctioned cadet groups were allowed to be formed. These groups would mostly be formed in connection with existing volunteer companies and battalions. Following the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 which organised the former Volunteer Force into a coherent organisation, known as the Territorial Force (TF), the cadets were expanded. Each company consisted of no less than 30 cadets, and four of these companies formed a "Cadet Battalion", the predecessors to the modern "Cadet County".[2]

Unlike their modern successors, the first cadet battalions were administered by their local County Territorial Force Associations, and rarely ever came under an "army command". However, following changes to the organisation of the Cadets, in 1923 all cadet forces were taken under complete control of the County Associations.[2]

Below is a list of the cadet battalions which had been formed in Kent during the reorganisation of the TF and into 1939:[3][4][5]

The first mention of the Kent Army Cadet Force was in 1964 in the London Gazette. The supplement for 9 October 1964 states the restoration of the former commander of the county to the Territorial Army, but does not provide an appointment date.[6] A further mention is made in the 15th March 1963 supplement showing an officer commissioned from the county.[7]

Under the Army 2020 programme, the 2nd (South East) Infantry Brigade was merged with 145th (South) Brigade to form the new 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East on 1 April 2014. Following these changes, the county left the control of 2nd (South East) Brigade and joined 11th Infantry Brigade as part of Headquarters South East.[8]

As of December 2021, each Army Cadet Force county reports to their local brigade deputy commander, or in the case of independent regional headquarters the commander. However, for administrative duties each cadet county reports to Commander Cadets, who is a senior 1* Brigadier part of Headquarters, Regional Command.[9][10][11]

Organisation

As of December 2021, the Kent Army Cadet Force consists of appx. 850 cadets and 200 adult volunteers in 35 detachments spread throughout the county of Kent.[12] Each Army Cadet Force 'county' is in-fact a battalion, and each 'detachment' equivalent to that of a platoon.[9]

The organisation of the county[a] in 2021 was as follows:[12][13][14]

  • County Headquarters, at Yeomanry House, Maidstone
    • Kent Army Cadet Force County Training Team[15]
Detachment Affiliation[16] Location Borough/District County Postal Code
A Company[17]
A Company Headquarters Encompassing East Kent (Borough of Swale, City of Canterbury, Thanet District, and Dover District) Kent
Aylesham Detachment [Royal Tank Regiment] Ackholt Road, Aylesham City of Canterbury Kent CT3 3AJ
Broadstairs Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment 185 Westwood Road, Broadstairs Thanet District Kent CT10 2NT
Canterbury Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Leros Barracks, Sturry Road, Canterbury City of Canterbury Kent CT1 1HR
Deal Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Middle Deal Road, Deal Dover District Kent CT14 9SN
Faversham Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Stone Street, Faversham Borough of Swale Kent ME13 8PH
Herne Bay Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment William Street, Herne Bay City of Canterbury Kent CT6 5NY
Margate Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Victoria Road Drill Hall, Margate Thanet District Kent CT9 1NA
Sittingbourne Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Crown Quay Lane, Sittingbourne Borough of Swale Kent ME10 3SL
Whitstable Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Cromwell Road, Whitstable City of Canterbury Kent CT5 1NN
B Company[18]
B Company Headquarters Encompassing South Kent (Borough of Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe District, and southern part of Dover District) Kent
Ashford (Alamein) Detachment Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Chart Road, Ashford Borough of Ashford Kent TN23 3HX
Ashford (Tobruk) Detachment Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Chart Road, Ashford Borough of Ashford Kent TN23 3HX
Dover Detachment Royal Tank Regiment London Road, Dover Dover District Kent CT17 0SZ
Folkestone Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Ship Street, Folkestone Folkestone and Hythe District Kent CT19 5BE
Shorncliffe Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Church Road, Shorncliffe Army Camp Folkestone and Hythe District Kent CT20 3EL
Saint Mary's Bay Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Jefferstone Road, Saint Mary's Bay, Romney Marsh Folkestone and Hythe District Kent TN29 0SG
Tenterden Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Appledore Road, Tenterden Borough of Ashford Kent TN30 7BD
D Company[19]
D Company Headquarters Encompassing West Kent (Sevenoaks District, Tonbridge and Malling, Borough of Maidstone, and Borough of Tunbridge Wells) Kent
Boxley Detachment Kent and County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) – Royal Yeomanry Yeomanry House, Boxley Road, Maidstone Borough of Maidstone Kent TN17 3ES
Cranbrook Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Causton Road, Cranbrook Tunbridge Wells Kent ME14 2AR
Ditton Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment London Road, Ditton Tonbridge and Malling Kent ME20 6DB
Mascalls Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Mascalls School, Paddock Wood Tunbridge Wells Kent TN12 6NB
Moncktons Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment College Avenue, Maidstone Borough of Maidstone Kent ME15 6YJ
Sevenoaks Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Argyle Road, Sevenoaks Sevenoaks District Kent TN13 1HJ
Snodland Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Lee Road, Snodland Tonbridge and Malling Kent ME6 5NN
Tonbridge Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Hectorage Road, Tonbridge Tonbridge and Malling Kent TN9 2DR
Royal Tunbridge Wells Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Saint John's Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells Borough of Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 9UU
Wrotham Detachment Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Wrotham Tonbridge and Malling Kent TN15 7RA
Royal Engineers Squadron[20]
Royal Engineers Squadron Headquarters Encompassing North Kent and Medway (Borough of Dartford, Gravesham, Medway, and Borough of Swale)
Dartford Detachment Corps of Royal Engineers Mead Crescent, Dartford Borough of Dartford Kent DA1 2SH
Gillingham Detachment Corps of Royal Engineers Watling Street, Gillingham Medway Kent ME7 2AA
Gravesend Detachment Corps of Royal Engineers Grande Road, Gravesend Kent DA11 0EU
Rochester Detachment Corps of Royal Engineers Fort Clarence, Rochester Medway Kent ME1 3BG
Sheerness Detachment Corps of Royal Engineers The Bungalow, New Road, Sheerness Medway Kent ME12 1BW
Strood Detachment Corps of Royal Engineers Tamar Drive, Strood Medway Kent ME2 2EA
Swanley Detachment Corps of Royal Engineers Swanley Lane, Swanley Kent BR8 7LH
Walderslade Detachment Corps of Royal Engineers Walderslade School, Bradfield Avenue, Walderslade Medway Kent ME5 0LE
Woodlands Detachment Corps of Royal Engineers Watling Street, Gillingham Medway Kent ME7 2AA

ACF Mission

The Army Cadet Force is a national, voluntary, uniformed youth organisation. It is sponsored by the British Army but not part of it and neither the cadets nor the adult volunteer leaders are subject to military call-up.  They offer a broad range of challenging adventurous and educational activities, some of them on a military theme. Their aim is to inspire young people to achieve success in life and develop in them the qualities of a good citizen.

The ACF can be compared to their counterparts in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (USA), Hong Kong Adventure Corps, and Canadian Army Cadets, amongst others.

See also

Footnotes

Notes

  1. ^ a b c In the Army Cadet Force, a 'County' is equivalent to an army battalion

Citations

  1. ^ "No. 42946". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 March 1963. p. 2514.
  2. ^ a b Westlake 1984, pp. 1–3
  3. ^ Westlake 1984, p. 32
  4. ^ Westlake 1984, p. 69
  5. ^ Westlake 1984, p. 20
  6. ^ "Second Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday, 9th October 1964". The London Gazette (Supplement). No. 43459. 9 October 1964. p. 8639.
  7. ^ "No. 42946". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 March 1963. p. 2514.
  8. ^ "Regular Army Basing Matrix by Formation and Unit" (PDF). Army Families Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  9. ^ a b Army Cadet Force Regulations, Army Cadets Order #14233. Version 1.12. Headquarters, Army Cadet Force. February 2017.
  10. ^ "Cadets". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  11. ^ "Regional Command". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Kent Army Cadets". Army Cadets UK. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Our Detachments | Kent ACF | Army Cadet Force". 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  14. ^ "About Us | Kent ACF | Army Cadet Force". 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  15. ^ "COUNTY TRAINING TEAM | Kent ACF | Army Cadet Force". 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  16. ^ "PWRR Badged Cadets | Army Tigers". www.armytigers.com. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  17. ^ "A COMPANY | Kent ACF | Army Cadet Force". 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  18. ^ "B COMPANY | Kent ACF | Army Cadet Force". 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  19. ^ "D COMPANY | Kent ACF | Army Cadet Force". 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  20. ^ "RE SQUADRON | Kent ACF | Army Cadet Force". 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2021.

References

  • Westlake, Ray A. (1984). A Register of Territorial Force Cadet Units: 1910 – 1922. Wembley, Middlesex, United Kingdom: Sherwood Press. ISBN 978-0950853024. OCLC 60073924.
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