1859

With Britain under threat of a French invasion the Volunteers were formed since most units of the British Army were serving in India following the Indian Mutiny.  A number of Volunteer units formed Cadet Companies.

1860

Queen Victoria carried out a review of the Volunteers.  One unit, the Queen’s Westminster’s, paraded their cadets.

Schools had also started to form units and at least eight were in existence by this time.

Social reformer, Miss Octavia Hill, assisted in the formation of Southwark Cadet Company and wrote: “There is no organisation which I have found that influences the boys so powerfully for good as that of our cadets … and if such ideals can be brought before the young lad before he gets in with a gang of loafers it may make all the difference to his life”.

1908

The title Cadet Force was introduced.  The Volunteers became the Territorial Army and administration of the Cadet Force was taken over by Territorial Army Associations.

1914

There was a massive expansion of the Cadet Force.  The War Office took over administration of the organisation.

1923

The government withdrew financial support for the Cadet Force and control and administration reverted to the Territorial Army Associations.

1920s

The British National Cadet Association (BNCA) was formed in an attempt to ensure the survival of the Cadet Force and to win back government support.

1932

The BNCA was permitted to run the Cadet Force under the guidance of the Territorial Army.

1939-1945

The Second World War saw another big expansion of both Army Cadets and Sea Cadets and the creation of the Air Training Corps.

1942

The War Office re-assumed the administration of the Cadet Force and the title Army Cadet Force was introduced.

An estimated 100,000 Army Cadets attended camp for one week that summer. 

1945

The BNCA changed its name to the Army Cadet Force Association (ACFA).

1948

100 school-based units left the ACF in order to join the newly-organised Combined Cadet Force (CCF).

1956

With the war over and National Service coming to an end, the government set up the Avery Committee to report on the future organisation and training of cadets.  Citizenship training was one of the needs identified.

1956

The ACF participated in a pilot scheme for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and remains an operating authority of the Award today.

1957

The Avery report was published.  Its recommendations continue to provide the basis of cadet training today.

1959

The Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park was established, as a result of the Avery report.

1960

The ACF celebrated its 100th anniversary with a review of the ACF and CCF in the grounds of Buckingham Palace by Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.  The Duke of Edinburgh also presented a banner to the Force.

Mid 1980s

Girls were formally enrolled into the ACF following pilot schemes by a number of counties over many years.  Today almost 30% of Army Cadets are girls.

Today

The 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.

This year promises to be one of the most memorable and fun-packed years in the Cadet Forces' history, and with very good reason: 2010 is our 150th birthday, known as Cadet150 will be marked at all levels of the Cadet Forces and in many different ways across the country.