Success Story - Jordan Potter

“The Cadets Shaped Who I Am Today”: Jordan Potter’s Journey from Cadet to Estates Manager

Meet Jordan Potter, a former cadet who currently works as an Estates Manager for a group of independent girls’ schools, a role he has held for the past four years. He has also spent eight years in private practice as a chartered building surveyor.

With a professional background rooted in leadership, technical skill, and resilience, Jordan is quick to credit the Army Cadets with helping him build the foundation for his career and values. In this interview, Jordan reflects on the skills, experiences, and opportunities he gained during his time in the Army Cadets—and why he believes every young person should consider joining.

What skills do you think you’ve gained as a cadet that you have taken through into your adult life?

Some of the key skills I gained through the cadets include resilience. That’s a really important one. The Army Cadets puts you in situations that push you to dig deep, especially during difficult moments on camp. Resilience, and being able to get up again the next day and keep going, even when it’s tough—that’s something I’ve carried into adult life. It mirrors the working world, where you’ve got to get up, face the day, and tackle whatever challenge lies ahead.

Another huge one is teamwork—working in a group towards a shared goal is a big part of what I do in my job now, and it’s something we did constantly in the cadets. The crossover between the two is massive. Learning how to get the best out of teams, થી lead and support them, is something I began doing in cadets and continue to do in my role today.

The Army Cadets also taught me about leadership, perseverance, and progression. You work your way up through various training levels and ranks—from a basic cadet to a four-star cadet—and each stage is different. Just sticking with it and continuing to grow makes a big difference.

Another thing, which might not be seen as a formal skill but is definitely valuable, is public speaking. I’ve had to speak at GCSE and A-level presentations, at university, and now at work—it’s something that comes up time and time again. Whether it’s at weddings or professional meetings, being comfortable speaking in front of others is vital.

The cadets helped me develop this skill from the very start. You pick it up naturally from your instructors and then build on it during formal courses like the Junior Cadet Instructors’ Course and Senior Cadet Instructors’ Course. I remember attending the Cadet Leadership Course, where there was a strong focus on public speaking and leadership—those experiences really stayed with me.

What experiences did you have as a cadet that fuelled passions in adult life?

A major one for me was adventurous training, especially skiing. I learned to ski through the Army Cadets. We had an annual Ski Cadet programme, and it was an incredible opportunity. I absolutely loved it and have made it a goal to ski every year since.

I wouldn’t have had that chance without the cadets. That same sense of adventure extended to water sports as well—things like canoeing and kayaking. We had Canoe Cadet every year, which included a sailing component. I’d never sailed before, and suddenly I was learning how. Now I can sail, and I still enjoy it.

It really was awesome to take part in all of that. On top of that, I also developed a love for mountaineering, hill walking, and camping. I still go out with friends now and again for those kinds of activities. I learned a lot from those early cadet experiences.

What is a piece of advice or a reason why you think children or young adults should get into the cadets?

One word comes to mind: opportunity.

There are so many things you can do in the cadets that you just wouldn’t be exposed to in a typical youth group. You’re placed in new situations, alongside others your age and from similar backgrounds, and you’re encouraged to get stuck in.

It really makes you a better person—those experiences and opportunities shape you in ways that stay with you for life.