Complete Your Bronze DofE with Army Cadets
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award is the first level of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), giving young people the chance to try new things, develop their skills, support their community and take on an expedition.
With the Army Cadets, many of the activities you take part in could contribute towards your Bronze DofE. From перша допомога і навігація до спорт, volunteering and пригоди на свіжому повітрі, there are plenty of opportunities to work towards your Award while developing confidence, teamwork and independence.
You can start your Bronze DofE in the school year in which you turn 14. To complete the Award, you’ll need to complete four sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition.
How Army Cadets Can Help You Complete Bronze DofE
Depending on what is available locally, Army Cadets can support you with:
- activities that could count towards your Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections
- navigation and expedition training
- choosing suitable activities and setting achievable goals
- identifying appropriate Assessors
- recording your progress and evidence
- preparing for your expedition alongside other cadets
- developing the outdoor skills and confidence you need for your expedition.
Activities must meet the official DofE requirements and should be agreed with your DofE Leader before you begin. Not every Army Cadet activity will automatically count, and DofE opportunities can vary between detachments, counties and regions.
What Is the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award?
Bronze is the first of the three DofE levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Your Bronze DofE programme is personal to you. Rather than competing against other people, you’ll set your own goals, work towards them regularly and demonstrate how you have developed.
There are four sections to complete:
Give your time to benefit your community, an organisation or a cause
Duration: 3 months
Take part in an activity and improve your fitness
Duration: 3 months
Develop a practical, creative or personal skill
Duration: 3 months
Plan, train for and complete a team expedition
Duration: Two days and one night
You’ll also need to continue one of your Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections for an additional three months. This means your Bronze DofE will take a minimum of six months to complete.
Completing Your Bronze DofE Volunteering Section
The Volunteering section is your opportunity to give your time to help other people, your community or an approved cause.
Through Army Cadets, potential activities could include supporting community events, environmental projects, fundraising, Remembrance activities or helping an approved charity or community organisation.
You may also be able to support younger cadets or activities within your detachment where this is appropriate and has been agreed as suitable for your DofE programme.
Whatever you choose, your volunteering needs to benefit others and have a clear goal. You’ll need to take part regularly, record your progress and have an appropriate Assessor who can confirm what you have achieved.
Remember that simply attending Army Cadets does not automatically count as volunteering. Speak to your DofE Leader and get your chosen activity approved before you begin.
Completing Your Bronze DofE Physical Section
Your Physical section is about getting active and improving your fitness.
You can choose something completely new or set yourself a goal to improve at an activity you already enjoy. Potential activities through or alongside Army Cadets could include:
- running
- hiking and walking
- swimming
- cycling
- canoeing and kayaking
- скелелазіння
- team and individual sports
- other approved adventurous activities.
Your aim should be to make measurable progress over the course of the section rather than simply taking part.
Army Cadets also provide opportunities to experience a range of adventurous training activities and develop your confidence in the outdoors.
Completing Your Bronze DofE Skills Section
The Skills section gives you the chance to develop a new skill or improve one you already have.
Army Cadets provides training in a wide range of subjects, so you may already be taking part in something that could be suitable for your DofE Skills section.
Examples could include:
- перша допомога
- музика
- navigation and map reading
- photography
- communication
- cooking
- public speaking
- coding and digital skills
- other suitable Навчальний план кадетів
Choose something you’re interested in and set yourself a clear goal for what you would like to achieve. You’ll then develop your ability over time and record your progress.
Cadet activities do not automatically qualify for DofE, so always check with your DofE Leader before starting your chosen Skills activity.
What Is Involved in the Bronze DofE Expedition?
The Expedition section is often one of the most memorable parts of Bronze DofE.
You’ll work as part of a team to plan, train for and complete an expedition lasting at least two days and one night, with at least six hours of planned activity each day.
Before setting off, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills you need to complete your expedition safely. This can include:
- route planning and navigation
- choosing an expedition aim
- understanding safety and emergency procedures
- selecting and carrying suitable equipment
- choosing appropriate clothing
- planning food and cooking
- camping and overnight arrangements
- working effectively as a team.
Army Cadets’ navigation and expedition training can help you develop many of the skills you need, from map reading and route planning to camping and working as a team outdoors.
Bronze teams must complete the required training before undertaking their qualifying expedition. This will usually include a walk and a night camping out. Unlike Silver and Gold, a separate practice expedition is not a DofE requirement at Bronze level.
What Army Cadet Activities Could Count Towards Bronze DofE?
There are plenty of ways your Army Cadets experience could support your DofE programme.
Community projects, fundraising, Remembrance or approved civic activities.
Hiking, running, paddlesport, fitness or cadet sport.
First aid, music, navigation, communication or photography.
Route planning, navigation training and an approved expedition.
These are examples rather than automatically approved activities. Your choices must meet official DofE requirements, so discuss them with your DofE Leader before you start.
How Long Does Bronze DofE Take?
Bronze DofE takes a minimum of six months to complete.
You’ll spend at least three months on each of your Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections, plus an additional three months on one of those sections. Your Expedition lasts at least two days and one night.
DofE is about regular participation and personal development, so you cannot complete all your required hours in a few days. For Bronze, you would normally spend an average of around one hour a week working towards each section.
Some cadets may take longer than six months, and that’s fine. The important thing is to keep working towards your goals and recording your progress.
How to Start Bronze DofE Through Army Cadets
Ask your detachment commander whether Bronze DofE is currently available and who coordinates DofE locally.
Your detachment or local Army Cadets team can explain how to register and any applicable registration costs.
Decide what you would like to do for your Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections. Your DofE Leader can help you make sure your choices meet the requirements.
Decide what you want to achieve, how long you’ll complete each activity for and who will assess your progress.
As you complete your activities, keep evidence of your progress and upload the required information to eDofE. Your Assessors will also need to provide reports confirming what you have achieved.
Complete the required training before putting your navigation, camping and teamwork skills into practice on your qualifying expedition.
Why Complete Bronze DofE with Army Cadets?
Completing your Bronze DofE through Army Cadets allows you to combine your Award with activities and skills you may already be developing as a cadet.
You can benefit from:
- support from trained adult volunteers
- opportunities to develop navigation and expedition skills
- working towards your goals alongside other cadets
- practical activities and outdoor experiences
- opportunities to build confidence, teamwork and independence
- skills and experiences you can talk about in education, employment and wider life.
Completing Bronze can also be the start of your DofE journey, with the opportunity to progress to Silver and eventually Gold.
What Happens After Bronze DofE?
Once you have completed your Bronze Award, you can take your next step with Silver DofE.
Silver follows the same four sections but requires a greater time commitment and a longer expedition. The experience and skills you gained at Bronze, particularly your ability to set goals, work independently and complete an expedition, can give you a strong foundation for the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bronze DofE
You can start your Bronze DofE in the school year in which you turn 14.
Bronze DofE takes a minimum of six months. Volunteering, Physical and Skills are completed for at least three months each, with one of these sections continuing for an additional three months.
You need to complete Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition.
Yes, suitable Army Cadet activities may count towards your DofE if they meet the official requirements. Always agree your activities with your DofE Leader before starting.
DofE support and opportunities can vary locally. Speak to your detachment commander to find out what is currently available. Some activities and expeditions may also be organised at county or regional level.
Your qualifying expedition lasts at least two days and one night, with at least six hours of planned activity each day. You’ll work as part of a team, use navigation and outdoor skills and be self-reliant throughout your journey.
No. You will complete the required training before your qualifying Bronze expedition, helping you develop the skills you need to take part safely and confidently.
There is a registration fee to take part in DofE through Army Cadets, although funded or subsidised places may be available for some young people. Other costs can vary depending on local arrangements, so speak to your detachment team before registering.
You will need suitable clothing and equipment for your expedition, including footwear, a rucksack and camping equipment. Your local DofE team will provide a kit list and can explain what equipment is available locally.
Your Assessor should be someone with suitable knowledge of your chosen activity who can support you and confirm the progress you have made. Agree your Assessor with your DofE Leader before you start.
You’ll use eDofE to record your programme and provide evidence of your progress. Once you have completed a section, your Assessor will provide a report confirming your achievements.
Yes. If your chosen activity is no longer suitable or available, speak to your DofE Leader before making a change. They can help you make sure your new activity meets the requirements and advise you how to record the change.
Yes. You can start Silver DofE in the school year in which you turn 15. Completing Bronze first gives you useful experience to build on as you progress to the more challenging Silver Award.
Find Your Nearest Detachment
Ready to start your Bronze DofE?
Whether you’re already an Army Cadet or thinking about joining, your local detachment is the best place to find out about DofE opportunities in your area.
Your local Army Cadets team can help you understand the requirements, choose suitable activities, prepare for your expedition and work towards completing your Award.
Find your nearest Army Cadet detachment
You can also explore the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with Army Cadets to discover more about Bronze, Silver and Gold DofE.