Cadet Forces
The Committee has requested a memorandum on
the cadet forces for its Duty of Care inquiry, to include how
cadets are dealt with in the Army Cadet organisations compared
with those recruits (of a similar age bracket) who join the military
forces and details of the welfare policy for Army cadets. This
memorandum outlines the nature and structure of the Cadet Forces,
before addressing the specific points raised.
THE NATURE
OF THE
CADET FORCES
1. The cadet forces are voluntary, community-based
organisations promoting the personal and social development of
young people. The focus is on bringing adventure and enjoyment,
with a view to steering the cadets towards responsible citizenship.
The cadet forces encourage valuable personal attributes and, using
military themes based upon the culture and ethos of the single
Services, foster confidence, self reliance, initiative, loyalty
and a sense of service to others.
2. There are currently over 130,000 young
people benefiting from the cadet organisations, supported by 23,000
adult volunteers. As with other youth organisations the cadet
forces meet on weekday evenings and attendance is voluntary. When
the cadets progress within the corps they are given the opportunity
to attend personal development training and adventure training
weekends. Annually they are given the chance to attend one or
two week long camps in order to consolidate the lessons learned.
The activities the young people engage in are geared towards the
award of nationally recognised academic and non-academic qualifications—for
example the cadet forces are the largest operating authority for
the Duke of Edinburgh Award and EDEXEL's most successful partner
in the delivery of the BTEC First Diploma in Public Services.
3. Although the cadet forces are sponsored
by the MoD, the cadets are not members of the Armed Forces, and
the vast majority of the instructors have no experience of the
regular Services. The cadet forces are subject to all national
and European legislation. As children aged 12 to 18 are the core
business of the cadet forces, they are very conscious of the duty
of care. When looking to develop regulations, the forces benchmark
against other youth organisations and where possible take best
practice from DfES and LEAs. There is also benefit from the fact
that each of the four cadet forces is a vibrant youth organisation
in its own right, and through a system of formal and informal
meetings are keen to exchange experiences, problems and solutions.
THE STRUCTURE
OF THE
CADET ORGANISATIONS
4. The four cadet forces are the Combined
Cadet Force (CCF), the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC). the Army Cadet Force
(ACF) and the Air Training Corps (ATC). Each organisation is the
responsibility of the parent single-Service and is financed, managed
and constituted in different ways. The SCC is the most independent
of the four. The relationship between the MoD and the Sea Cadet
Association (the governing body of the SCC) is governed by a Memorandum
of Agreement (MOA). The MOA names the SCA and the MoD as "sponsors"
of the SCC. Together; they set up the Sea Cadet Council, which
has full authority for directing SCC policy and strategy. The
Council's chairman is the chairman of the SCA. Members are drawn
from the SCA. SCC. MoD, RN and others. The sponsors allocate resources
to the Board of Trustees of the SCA. MoD's involvement with the
SCC is that they provide many physical resources such as boats,
kit pay and some staff. Whilst MoD provides "Area Staff'
for the SCC from the RN, SCC officers and uniformed instructors
are civilians they are not Crown Servants. The ACF and ATC are
almost entirely funded by MoD through the single-Services. Some
additional money does come from charitable donations. Their staffs
are appointed by MoD and their officers hold commissions in the
Territorial Army and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training)
respectively.
5. CCF units are based at various schools
throughout the country. They are essentially a partnership between
the individual schools and the MoD. Thus the headmaster of a school
may set the policy for membership of his CCF and recommend officers
and instructors (generally from the staff of the school) for appointment.
MoD pays the staff for undertaking certain cadet duties. MoD also
provides some kit, administrative support and inspects units to
ensure that they are organised and run according to regulations
and policy guidelines set by MoD.
TREATMENT OF
RECRUITS AND
CADETS
6. Those recruited to the Cadet Forces are
mostly aged 12 to 14 years. Most live at home, attend meetings
for two hours most weeks and may stay away from home for a couple
of weekend exercises or expeditions a year, and a one or two week
annual camp. By the time the cadets are 16 to 18 years old, they
are often in positions of responsibility over other cadets and,
although closely monitored, have a large say in the choice of
activities conducted within units. On reaching 18, the cadet is
classed as an adult and a special set of rules apply. For example,
in accordance with current legislation, they are not allowed to
sleep in the same dormitory as the younger cadets and do not have
unsupervised access to them.
WELFARE OF
CADETS
8. Within all the Cadet Forces, the safety
and welfare of the young people is of paramount importance. Child
protection is at the core of all the regulations, and is a major
part of the adult volunteer's training at every level. The adoption
of the correct ethos forms one of the major elements that must
be assimilated during any adult instructor's probationary period.
9. The MoD direction on Health and Safety
and on Risk Assessment procedures is cadet specific and reviewed
annually, as are the procedures for handling complaints from cadets
and instructors. Changing legislation and attitudes on such topics
as social inclusion, CRB disclosure, photography of children and
child protection are factored into our policy regulations and
practices. Regular contact with DfES, teachers' associations,
schools, LEAs and our own family law specialist ensures that we
maintain the correct youth emphasis in the work we do and the
policies we develop.
10. Adult volunteers within the Army Cadet
Force (ACF) are made aware of the "Safety and Responsibility
Guidelines for ACF Adult Leaders", which is part of the ACF
Manual, from the outset of their induction and throughout initial
training. The guidelines emphasise the following factors, many
of which are related to the Childrens Act 1989:
— The fact that the ACF forbids group
punishment; corporal punishment; detention; public humiliation;
and permanent confiscation of possessions
— How to be an independent listener
— How to counter physical and sexual
abuse; and
— How to counter misuse of drugs including
alcohol and tobacco.
11. The Cadet Training Safety Precautions
Pocket book provides an on the spot reference for all ACF adults
whenever they are training cadets, and summarises their particular
responsibilities concerning the cadet/adult relationship and countering
child abuse; Similar arrangements apply in the other Cadet Forces.
CONCLUSION
12. Cadets are civilians and not members
of the Armed Forces. The Cadet Forces are youth organisations,
with a focus on bringing adventure and enjoyment to young people
with a view to steering them towards responsible citizenship.
The welfare of young people is however of paramount importance
within all the CFs, and adult instructors are provided with comprehensive
training and guidelines emphasising the duty of care and discipline
aspects.
July 2004
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