Kent Army Cadet Force

Cadet force county of the United Kingdom

The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines for companies and organizations. Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention. If notability cannot be shown, the article is likely to be merged, redirected, or deleted.
Find sources: "Kent Army Cadet Force" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Kent Army Cadet Force

Active| March 1963?[1]–present
Country|  United Kingdom
Branch|  British Army

* Army Cadet Force

Type| Registered Volunteer Youth Organisation
Role| To provide pre-training and experience of life in the British Army
Size| County[a]
Part of| Headquarters South East
County HQ| Maidstone
Website| Kent Army Cadets
Insignia
Army Cadet Force Badge|

Military unit

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

[edit]

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]

* Kent Public Secondary Schools Cadet Battalion
* Kent Fortress Royal Engineers 1st Cadet Battalion
* Kent Fortress Royal Engineers 2nd Cadet Battalion
* 1st Volunteer Cadet Corps Battalion, East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)
* 1st Cadet Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
* 2nd Cadet Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment

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

[edit]

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  | Royal Tank 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  | Royal Tank 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  | Royal Tank Regiment  | Victoria Road Drill Hall, Margate | Thanet District  | Kent  | CT9 1NA
Sittingbourne Detachment  | Royal Regiment of Artillery  | 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* List of Army Cadet Force units
* Combined Cadet Force

## Footnotes

[edit]

### Notes

[edit]

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

### Citations

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

* v
* t
* e

Army Cadet Force

* Army Cadet Force
* The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
* Ranks of the cadet forces of the United Kingdom
* Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
* Cadet Training Centre, Frimley Park

Army Cadet Force Counties|

| Headquarters North East|

* Cleveland Army Cadet Force
* Durham Army Cadet Force
* Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force
* Northumbria Army Cadet Force
* Yorkshire North and West Army Cadet Force

|

Headquarters North West|

* Cheshire Army Cadet Force
* Cumbria Army Cadet Force
* Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force
* Isle of Man Army Cadet Force
* Lancashire Army Cadet Force
* Merseyside Army Cadet Force

|

Headquarters East|

* Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force
* Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force
* Derbyshire Army Cadet Force
* Essex Army Cadet Force
* Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Rutland Army Cadet Force
* Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force
* Norfolk Army Cadet Force
* Nottinghamshire Army Cadet Force
* Suffolk Army Cadet Force

|

Headquarters West Midlands|

* Herefordshire and Worcestershire Army Cadet Force
* Shropshire Army Cadet Force
* Staffordshire and West Midlands North Sector Army Cadet Force
* Warwickshire and West Midlands South Sector Army Cadet Force

|

Headquarters South West|

* City and County of Bristol Army Cadet Force
* Cornwall Cadet Battalion (The Rifles), Army Cadet Force
* Devonshire Army Cadet Force
* Dorsetshire Army Cadet Force
* Gloucestershire Cadet Battalion (The Rifles), Army Cadet Force
* Somerset Cadet Battalion (The Rifles), Army Cadet Force
* Wiltshire Army Cadet Force

|

Headquarters South East|

* Buckinghamshire (The Rifles) Army Cadet Force
* Hampshire and Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force
* Kent Army Cadet Force
* Oxfordshire (The Rifles) Army Cadet Force
* Royal County of Berkshire Army Cadet Force
* Surrey Army Cadet Force
* Sussex Army Cadet Force

|

Headquarters London District|

* City of London and North East Sector Army Cadet Force
* Middlesex and North West London Sector Army Cadet Force
* Greater London South East Sector Army Cadet Force
* Greater London South West Sector Army Cadet Force

|

Headquarters Scotland|

* 1st Battalion, The Highlanders Army Cadet Force
* 2nd Battalion, The Highlanders Army Cadet Force
* Angus and Dundee Battalion, Army Cadet Force
* Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Battalion, Army Cadet Force
* Glasgow and Lanarkshire Battalion, Army Cadet Force
* Lothian and Borders Battalion, Army Cadet Force
* West Lowland Battalion, Army Cadet Force

|

160th (Wales) Brigade|

* Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force
* Dyfed and Glamorgan Army Cadet Force
* Gwent and Powys Army Cadet Force

|

38th (Irish) Brigade|

* 1st Northern Ireland Battalion, Army Cadet Force
* 2nd Northern Ireland Battalion, Army Cadet Force

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template