Battalions, Counties & Sectors
The Army Cadets have over 1590 detachments all over the UK that are organised into 55 groupings, known as Battalions, Counties and Sectors.
Inside the Structure of the UK Army Cadets
The Army Cadets is one of five cadet forces sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The term “Army Cadets” includes both the Army Cadet Force (ACF) and the Army sections of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).
It’s important to note that the Army Cadets is not part of the Armed Forces.
How the Army Cadets Are Organised Across the UK
Discover how the Army Cadets are structured nationally and locally, from leadership to charities, supporting thousands of cadets across the UK.
Army Cadet Force (ACF): 39,260 Cadets and 8,470 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs)
Combined Cadet Force (Army): 34,120 Cadets and 3,120 CFAVs
The Army Cadets operate under the command of Major General James Senior, General Officer Commanding Regional Command – a serving regular Army officer.
Day-to-day responsibility for the Army Cadets is delegated to the Deputy Commander Cadets, Brigadier Gary McDade, who leads the Cadets Branch within Regional Command. Brigadier McDade works closely with Colonel Ashley Fulford OBE, the National Colonel Cadets, who is the most senior adult volunteer in the Army Cadets.
At a national level, the organisation is supported by 99 employed staff drawn from the British Army, Army Reserves, Crown and Civil Services, ACCT UK, and CCFA. This team is complemented by a network of national-level volunteer appointments covering key functional areas and wellbeing initiatives.
Two key charities – ACCT UK and CCFA – work in partnership with Regional Command. These organisations support non-core military areas, including music, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), sport, STEM, Adventurous Training through the Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training and first aid, as well as the Army Cadets’ marketing, communications, and digital services.
Across the UK, Joint Military Command (JMC) Commanders work under Regional Command and are supported by senior volunteers who lead the local delivery of the programme. There are:
- 54 ACF Counties with over 1,400 community detachments
- Over 400 CCF (Army) contingents based in schools
A volunteer Commandant leads each ACF County with extensive cadet experience. Counties are further supported by professional staff, employed through the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA), who manage the day-to-day running of cadet activities and administration at the local level.
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