The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is one of the UK's oldest, largest and most successful youth organisations. It has a long and proud history of preparing youngsters for all walks of life and encouraging an active involvement in local communities.

The ACF has 47,000 cadets in over 1700 Cadet Centres spread across the UK. The ACF is administered by a small team of permanent staff based in each county whilst the training and running of its extensive programme of activities is run by 8000 cadet force adult volunteers.

Throughout its history, the ACF has had a reciprocal relationship with the Regular and Territorial Army and today the ACF is an autonomous organisation. It has preserved its military heritage for which it is justly proud and operates the same rank system as the British Army. However, no ACF Cadets, Adult Instructors or Officers will ever be called upon for duty with the Armed Forces, and whilst some Cadets do follow a career in the Armed Forces, the ACF is not used as a recruiting opportunity.