Combined Cadet Force


The Combined Cadet Force is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, which operates in schools, and normally includes Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections. Its aim is to "provide a disciplined organisation in a school so that pupils may develop powers of leadership by means of training to promote the qualities of responsibility, self reliance, resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance".
One of its objectives is "to encourage those who have an interest in the services to become Officers of the Regular or Reserve Forces", and a significant number of British military officers have had experience in the CCF.
Before 1948 cadet forces in schools existed as the junior division of the Officers' Training Corps framework, but in 1948 Combined Cadet Force was formed covering cadets affiliated to all three services. As of 2019 there were 42,720 cadets and 3,370 Adult Volunteers. The MOD provides approximately £28M per year of funding to the CCF.

History

The CCF was created in 1948 by the amalgamation of the Junior Training Corps and the school contingents of the Sea Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps. CCFs are still occasionally referred to as "The Corps". On 12 May 1859, the Secretary of State for War, Jonathan Peel, sent out a circular letter to the public schools and universities inviting them to form units of the Volunteer Corps. The first school cadet corps was established at Rossall School in February 1860, initially as an army contingent only. Felsted already had an armed drill contingent at the time of the War Office letter under the command of Sgt. Major Rogers RM; its claim on these grounds to be the oldest school corps was upheld by Field Marshal Earl Roberts in a letter to the Headmaster of 1904. In February 1861 the Oxford City Rifle Cadet Corps was founded, with five companies, the first of which was composed of pupils of the Linden House School, a private school in Headington, and the second composed of pupils from Magdalen College School. In 1908, the units were re-titled the Officer Training Corps. A school contingent may have any combination of Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and sometimes Royal Marines sections, the army section is almost invariably the largest.

Independent and state schools

The CCF movement is dominated by the independent sector with 200 contingents still being based in independent schools with only around 60 in state schools. It was reported in 2008 that some independent school CCF detachments would be opened to pupils of local state schools One case of a fee-charging school allowing state school pupils to join the cadet force was Aldenham School in Watford, Hertfordshire linking its Cadet Force with the nearby state school Queen's to form a joint Cadet force.
Unlike established CCFs, the MoD's model to expand cadet forces into schools require new schools with cadet units to either sponsor their own cadets or find a third party sponsor who can meet some of the cost to the MoD of funding and training Cadet Forces. Therefore, costs to schools involved are considerable, at over £200 per cadet per year and many thousands of pounds more for a cadet force to become an independent unit.

Investigation into sexual abuse

In 2012 payouts made to victims of sexual abuse across all Cadet Forces, including the CCF, totaled £1,475,844. In 2013 payouts totaled £64,782, and in 2014 payouts totaled £544,213.

Identity

CCF Contingents are part of the CCF, but are also part of their own school and as such are semi-autonomous organisations, run by internal school or school-related staff, supported by armed forces personnel. Army sections may wear their own capbadge, this might consist of the school or college logo or crest. However, Army headgear is worn with this capbadge. Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections wear the appropriate RN/RAF other rank and officer capbadges.

Uniform

Royal Navy Section

They may be issued with combat uniform if required and some schools have No 1 uniform for senior cadets. Number 3 uniform is normally the parade uniform for the CCF and consists of a white Shirt, black tie, blue trousers, and blue heavy wool jersey, worn with plain black shoes, a Brassard should be worn on the right arm, displaying qualification badges. Number 4 uniform is the standard working uniform of the Royal Navy, in one form or another it has been in existence for over 60 years. This uniform is fire retardant and consists of a blue shirt, blue trousers, blue heavy wool jersey, beret, with CCF badge and black boots.
2013. Showing the RAF Section No. 1 uniform and Army Section No. 2 uniform

Royal Marines Section

Royal Marines sections wear the bronzed Royal Marines badge with a red "tombstone" backing on a blue beret with MTP clothing, and either brown or black boots. They may also wear a version of No.1 Ceremonial Uniform with Cadet insignia for special occasion.

Army Section

Working uniform
The Army Section dress regulations are set out in Army Dress Regulations. Army Section Cadets wear a Multi-terrain Pattern uniform for most occasions. A contingent badge may be worn on the left blanking plate underneath the Union Flag. All cadets wear a rank slide with the word "CADET" in embroidered red capital letters at the top, any rank is then shown underneath in black. Cadets may be given permission to wear a stable belt of CCF, school, or affiliated unit pattern.
Ceremonial uniform
No. 2 Dress/Future Army Dress may be worn for ceremonial or other relevant uses and is to be worn in accordance with the dress regulations mentioned above.

Royal Air Force Section

RAF cadets wear a version of the No.2 dress. This consists of either light blue shirt and tie or a dark "working" blue shirt, blue-grey trousers or skirt/slacks, a blue-grey jumper: V-neck or round neck version, and an RAF blue beret with the RAF cap badge. They also wear a brassard to distinguish themselves as cadets. Except for the cap badge, this is identical to the uniform of the ATC and regulations for its wear can be found in AP1358C. Most RAF sections issue cadets with combat clothing, formally the CS95 DPM standard, but now are issued with Multi-terrain pattern uniform.

Cadets

The MOD Sponsored Cadet Forces Statistics are published annually. Statistics are provided for the Community Cadets, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps ) and the Combined Cadet Force. The Volunteer Cadet Corps is included in these statistics for the first time, as its status changed to become the fifth MOD sponsored cadet force in 2017.
SectionCadets
Army28,390
Royal Air Force8,160
RN/RM6,170
Total42,720

In October 2007 the under-secretary of state for defence gave details of the total number of CCF sections, and the number present in state schools.
As of 2012 under the Cadet Expansion Programme 100 new CCF Units were created in State Schools.
SectionNo. of sectionsNo. in state schools
Army359161
Royal Air Force19941
Royal Navy11012
Royal Marines181
Total686215

Cadet ranks

Most Cadet ranks are standard non-commissioned ranks, prefixed by "Cadet", for day-to-day administration the "Cadet" prefix is often omitted. The highest rank depends on the size of the contingent, but are usually Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major, and Cadet Warrant Officer.
Some contingents may have Junior Under Officers. Cadet Under Officers' rank badges are blue bands 12 mm wide across each shoulder slide, with the addition of the letters CCF underneath..
The "Cadet" prefix is omitted from all ranks during the day-to-day running of activities. Cadet Warrant Officers are to be addressed as "Warrant Officer" and all other cadets by their rank, "Flight Sergeant", "Sergeant" or "Corporal", as the case may be. In some contingents, it is a tradition for cadets to refer to Cadet Warrant Officers and Cadet Company or Regimental Sergeant Majors as "Sir or Ma'am".
Cadets are promoted on their level of experience and their level of commitment to the cadet force. Also cadets are promoted on excellent or merit. Senior cadet's duty is to help the running of parades etc and to help their Contingent Commander or another officer of their contingent.
The Naval Cadet that is in command of the naval section can also be called Coxswain.
Army cadets ranks share associated regiment's equivalent rank title
The CCF is separate from the Community Cadet Forces namely the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps, and the other MOD recognized cadet force Volunteer Cadet Corps. Pupils normally join at the age of 13 or 14, with both sexes able to take part.

Cadet Force adult volunteers (CFAV)

Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, who are the uniformed civilian staff that work in the school contingents and provide training to the cadets. Unlike the other cadet organisations, most adult volunteers are commissioned officers, the exception often being the School Staff Instructor and the newer position of Sergeant Instructor.

CCF Officers

CCF officers are not members of the armed forces and are usually teachers or other school staff, as such they are not subject to military law, but are subject to CCF Regulations they are subordinate to officers in the Armed Forces whether Regular or Reserve. Until 2017 CCF and CCF officers were in special categories of the reserves of their service whereas CCF Officers were 'appointed' and did not hold commissions. However, on 1 December 2017, the Cadet Forces Commission was introduced and since then this type of commission has been held by all CCF officers

Training

All CCF adult induction/basic/initial courses cover the basic skills needed for CFAVs who wish to serve in the CCF, such as drill and turnout, leadership and teamwork tasks, weapon training, navigation, etc.

School Staff Instructors (SSI)

Supporting officers in the running of the Contingent is the School Staff Instructor - usually a retired Senior Non-commissioned Officer or Warrant Officer. Although they are civilians, they retain their rank as a courtesy and are employed by the school to instruct and assist in the running of the Contingent. Whilst the majority of the SSIs are SNCOs it is also possible for them to be a commissioned officer. There is usually only one SSI per Contingent and they are also supported by other external staff, including the RN's Area Instructors, various Brigade Cadet Training Teams and RAF TEST SNCOs.

Civilian Instructors (CI)

Like the community cadet forces, some Contingents may have one or more Civilian Instructors. These are adult volunteers who may instruct in either a specialist or more generalised role when the establishment level of officers does not include sufficient suitably qualified and experienced personnel to teach these subjects. They receive no pay for time spent with cadets but may claim reimbursement for expenses at the Contingent Commander's discretion. Many are members of the academic or support staff at the school.

Adult Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)

In 2018 the role of "Sergeant Instructor" was introduced for CCF sections, this is the first occasion that adults other than SSIs have been appointed as an NCO rather than a commissioned rank in the CCF. Similarly to the ACF the role of the SI is to support the CCF officers. Whilst not holding a commission. SIs are uniformed, paid for their activities, have to undertake vetting/background checks and the CCF Basic Course at Cadet Training Centre Frimley Park.

Adult Strength

SectionCFAV
Army2,050
Royal Air Force690
RN/RM620
Total3,370

Officer ranks

CCF ranks are the same as for RN officers with the suffix ' RNR', but their rank braid is 'wavy' as used in the past by the RNVR.
CCF officers wear a "CCF" legend on their rank slides in addition to any insignia of affiliated Army regiment or Corps.
CCF Officers wear 'RAF Air Cadets' on their rank sides.
Since the introduction of the Cadet Forces Commission, ranks do not indicate membership of the British Armed Forces. Instructors joining the Army section are initially appointed as "Adult Under Officer" whilst awaiting commissioning.

Cadet Training

The different sections have different syllabuses with a degree of overlap. All the sections learn drill and all cadets are trained to fire the L98A2 5.56 mm Cadet General Purpose rifle, a semi-automatic only version of the L85A2 used by the UK armed forces. There are also opportunities to fire the L144 A1 Cadet Small Bore Target Rifle and the L81 Cadet Target Rifle.

Royal Navy section

Cadets in the Royal Navy section receive instruction in boat-work and other naval subjects. The Royal Navy also offers many CCF courses during the school holidays which are open to any members of any CCF.
CCF RN Ships CCF RN Ships CCF RN Ships CCF RN Ships CCF RN Ships
NameTypeClassLength -
MV Blue SwanMotor BoatTalisman49-
MV Black SwanMotor BoatTalisman49-
MSY Cornish AirSloopRustler36-
STC AmaryllisSloop-
TS DragonSloop-
TS PhoenixSloop-

Royal Marine Section

The Royal Marines section, although a part of the Navy, tend to train independently, covering battle drills, weapons handling and marksmanship, fieldcraft, camouflage and concealment and the history of the Royal Marines.

Army section

The Army section follows the Army Proficiency Certificate subjects such as drill and turnout, skill at arms, shooting, map and compass, fieldcraft and first aid.

Royal Air Force section

As CCF sections form part of the larger Royal Air Force Air Cadets, they are eligible to undertake the same syllabus and training opportunities as the Air Training Corps:
RAF section cadets are given the opportunity to fly in both powered aircraft, most notably the Grob Tutor and in unpowered gliders such as the Grob Viking; their training and flying courses are identical to those available to members of the Air Training Corps. As well as that the Cadets can also be involved in a multitude of battle training and tactics as well as opportunities to fly in various aircraft from the RAF and allied nations. The section also will learn about aerospace management, the structure of aircraft and propulsion, engineering, air power as well as an opportunity to see how most RAF stations, sections and wings or squadrons operate. As well as practical learning, RAF cadets also follow an academic syllabus. Cadets are usually taught "Part 1" before being expected to complete Parts 2 - 4 by themselves through the medium of Ultilearn. Completing Part 4, also known as the Master Cadet Award, leads to a BTEC Level 2 in Aviation Studies being awarded.

Further training

All sections can undertake leadership courses at Frimley Park, Nesscliffe, or RAF Cranwell, as well as adventurous training. There are also other courses available for cadets to enhance their skills, such as Junior and Senior Cadet Instructor Courses and Method of Instruction.