Continuing our short series on different roles within the ACF this time we look at the County Duke of Edinburgh Award Officer.
The County DofE Officer Role is like an iceberg, with 90% of the role behind the scenes. Key requirements include raising awareness of the Award by attending Company weekends and detachment parade nights to deliver presentations on the DofE, encouraging cadets and young adults to enroll, and supporting them to set their sections and progress their awards: in line with the #EveryCadet project, enrolling cadets onto the eDofE platform, and updating Westminster with the DofE details, dealing with queries from adults about DofE, and supporting them to get their cadets enrolled and progressing. Reviewing all cadets enrolled on eDofE at least weekly, to approve new evidence cadets have submitted. Continue to develop own DofE knowledge and skills: award verifier, expedition supervisor, and assessor, DofE leadership certificate. The DofE Officer also works hand in glove with Expedition Officer to plan, organise and lead DofE expeditions and works to develop a team of Company adult leads, to support cadets locally.
The Army Cadets gives cadets, and adults, if they're under the age of 25, the opportunity to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Around 6,000 cadets and adult volunteers take part in the programme every year, with around 2,000 gaining Bronze, Silver, and Gold DofE awards. As well as various other activities, we provide the opportunity to undertake the DofE Award.
Tracey Cooper Clwyd and Gwynedd Duke of Edinburgh Award Officer has been a key player in helping cadets progress through the awards, particularly during the lockdown period. There have been recent successful awards at the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. Tracey says “Lots of the skills gained during DofE cross-over with what is undertaken whilst continuing the ACF syllabus, sort of killing two birds with one stone. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is very much complementary to normal cadet activities providing that extra something for cadets to take forward in their careers.”
