The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is over 100 years old and is a national voluntary youth movement. It is sponsored by the Army and aims to provide opportunities for young people to build their personal skills and self confidence so that they become responsible and caring citizens. Cadets and ACF adults are provided with army uniforms and ACF Officers hold the Queen's Commission.

The ACF is all about helping 12-18 year olds to learn new skills and improve themselves in many different ways. It's an opportunity for young people to stretch themselves away from school and to find out how much they can achieve and have a lot of fun in the process.

Cadets units meet one or two evenings a week to train and learn skills that include first aid, navigation, field craft, survival and skill at arms. Potential cadets parade for a number of weeks to allow them to see if they really fancy having a go with the ACF, and to let the ACF see if they are serious about taking part.Should they make up their mind to participate, their training starts immediately and they will find themselves on the way to achieving that first badge. Initial training takes place at a local detachment, or out in the country or at camps and training centres during weekends. It's here where they'll get stuck into practical training.

The highlight of Cadet training is annual camp. This is a two-week adventure where Cadets practise field craft and have fun with other detachments from all over the county.

There are three basic types of activities:-

The first activity is Green training, which means all the military activities, training and shooting, visits to military establishments and exercises.

The second covers civilian and Adventurous Training activities, including sports like football, hockey, netball, rugby, athletics, as well as hill walking, mountaineering, caving, climbing, quad biking. In all these events, cadets take on responsibility - and senior cadets even organise some activities themselves within the detachments.

The third activity is Community Service, a very important part of the Army Cadets and of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Unit Websites

There are 6 ACF units within the NW RFCA region: - Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Isle of Man, Lancashire and Merseyside ACF.