Major Huw Roberts has been appointed as the Cambridgeshire ACF County Staff Officer. This is a temporary new role which will initially run for four months as the Cadet Organisation prepares to return to training after the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Major Roberts will be assisting the Commandant and other senior staff with a variety of duties.
Major Roberts has been a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer (CFAV) since 2002. Since that date, he has served in a number of roles, including Contingent Commander, at Oundle School Combined Cadet Force (CCF). He has participated in National Cadet Leadership Courses, working with both ACF and CCF Cadets and CFAVs. He notes that there are some subtle differences between the ACF and CCF, but recognises that both organisations seek to provide cadets with the opportunities to participate in enjoyable training activities and, in doing so, to enable the cadets to develop valuable personal qualities which will endure into adulthood.
Left, during his RAF years, and Right, Major Roberts at a Remembrance event, 2018.
Prior to his CFAV career, he served for 16 years in the Royal Air Force. Commissioned in the Engineer Branch of the RAF in 1986, and specialising in communications systems engineering and electronic warfare, he undertook a variety of command, staff and training appointments. The majority of his service took place in UK, but overseas tours and detachments took him to the Middle East, Cyprus, the Balkans, Germany, USA and the Falkland Islands. During the course of his RAF career he served with, and alongside, the Royal Navy and the Army, including tours with the Royal Signals and Intelligence Corps, and two tours in Joint Headquarters. Other experience included Independent unit command of a RAF Signals Unit, and instructing at the RAF College Cranwell. It was this experience that was influential in his decision to train and qualify for a second career as a teacher of physics. He then joined the staff of Oundle School in 2002 and it was at this time that he transferred from the RAF regular service to the Army Section of the CCF.
Left, Major Roberts at a graduation ceremony at Sandhurst, having completed a Professional Recognition Award through the CVQO in 2019.
Major Roberts is looking forward to working the Cadets and Adults in Cambridgeshire ACF. He has commented, ‘The absence of cadet activity during the pandemic has reminded me of what we have all been missing and of just how much fun and value can be gained from a cadet career. Therefore, the return to training will require some hard work but gives us all an opportunity to return to what we do best.’
