New Officer Commanding Cambridgeshire’s No.3 Coy
Captain Dan Baker will be the next Officer Commanding (OC) No.3 (Ironside) Company. He will take over the role from the present OC, Major John Kell MBE, at the end of Annual Camp, and will also be promoted to the rank of Major.
Captain Baker first joined us as a cadet, twenty-six years ago, at Waterbeach Detachment. He was extremely successful, going on to Yaxley Detachment and becoming Cadet Company Sergeant Major for No.1 Coy. He took part in an ACF trip to Gibraltar, an experience he described as: “phenomenal. We went caving, rock climbing, and speedboating, things I wouldn’t have got to do anywhere else”
(above) Dan Baker as a young adult instructor (left with rifle) marching in a parade at Ely, for the 150th Anniversary of the ACF, 2010.
Having reached the age of 18 in 2006, he rejoined straight away as an adult instructor with 1 Coy, later becoming Detachment Commander at Yaxley and Fletton before becoming Coy Training Officer in 2018. The following year he took a break from the ACF for family reasons, before rejoining us in 2024. He said: “I thoroughly missed the organisation. I missed teaching, and I missed the cadets!”
He quickly became County Shooting Officer and was promoted to the rank of Captain at Annual Camp last year. He has also embarked on an impressive series of training courses, completing Skill at Arms Instructor, Adult Leadership and Management, the blank firing exercise qualification M Qual, and shooting range qualifications long and short range and K Qual, as well as The Area Commander’s Course.
(Above) As a Lieutenant in 2017.
In his day job, Captain Baker works in sales, promoting Diplomas in Health and Social Care to care providers, work which has developed his management and people skills and honed his ability to get the best out of a team.
He said: “I wanted to be an OC because I wanted to impart my knowledge to cadets and adults and I wanted to affect change”.
As OC, he will have responsibility for all eight 3 Coy Detachments, 23 adult instructors and around 180 cadets.
(Above) Instructing cadets in the field, 2026.
The present Officer Commanding 3 Coy, Major John Kell MBE, said: “A huge congratulations to Capt Baker on stepping up as No 3 (Ironside) Company Commander! It has been an honour to lead Ironside Company through the challenges of the post‑COVID years, navigating changes in training and staffing with the unwavering support of our incredible CFAVs and HQ team.
“Ironside Company thrives because of its people, and with Capt Baker at the helm, I have every confidence the company will continue to grow, excel, and uphold the traditions that make it truly exceptional. This is an exciting new chapter, and I’m proud to see it in such capable hands.”
He was also warmly welcomed to the role by our Commandant, Colonel Deacon, who said: “I am delighted to welcome Captain Baker to the senior county team. He brings with him a new set of ideas and skills, and will be a great asset to 3 Company.”
(Above) Being promoted to Captain, August 2025.
Captain Baker said: “The ACF is like no other organisation. We are a diverse group of people, and the organisation brings us all together and uses all of those different skills to create incredible opportunities for our cadets. I am excited to take on the position as OC3, to lead such a great Company through an exciting time for the ACF. I am looking forward to working with the team to deliver the cadet experience.”
Text by 2Lt Doug Stuart. Photos by 2Lt Stuart and provided by Captain Baker.