Volunteer roles & opportunities

We have thousands of enthusiastic and committed adult volunteers who help to lead, guide and inspire our cadets, but we need more.

When you speak to our adult volunteers, they will tell you they do it because they love it. They enjoy the fun, friendship, action and adventure the Army Cadets provide. They also enjoy making a real difference to young people in their community – helping to inspire them to achieve, building their confidence, and encouraging them to think for themselves and to act for others.

Joining the Army Cadets is a great way to meet like-minded people and have fun and in return for your time and effort, we will give you the chance to learn new skills, gain new qualifications and help develop your leadership potential.

There’s no set profile for an Army Cadet adult volunteer, and you don’t have to have any military experience. Our volunteers come from all walks of life; what matters is that you enjoy working with young people and want to help them grow into confident, responsible adults.

If you’re ready to dedicate two evenings a week and want to do something truly rewarding with your free time, the Army Cadets might just be what you’re looking for.

By supporting young people and encouraging them to take part in challenging and inspiring activities, you’ll not only make a difference in their lives but also enjoy a strong sense of personal achievement. Plus, you’ll have the chance to work as part of a team, meet new people, and make lasting friendships.

We encourage you to start the process today by finding your nearest detachment and completing an expression of interest form. Your nearest local Army Cadet HQ will then be in touch with you for an informal chat.

We know that once you’ve joined, you’ll never look back.

We look forward to hearing from you. We look forward to you joining us.

Civilian Assistant

You will typically begin as a Civilian Assistant if you join the Army Cadets as an adult volunteer without recent cadet experience. During this stage, your Army Cadet County will guide you through a familiarisation and assessment process. This is designed to provide an insight into the organisation and assess your suitability for volunteering in a youth-focused role. At this stage, you won’t usually wear a uniform.

Probationary Instructor

After formally enrolling, you’ll hold the rank of Probationary Instructor (PI). You’ll work alongside experienced AIs at your local detachment, learning to work with cadets and familiarising yourself with topics from the Army Cadet Syllabus (ACS). You’ll also attend induction courses within your county and alongside new AIs from nearby counties. This period lasts up to two years, after which you’ll be able to train cadets at the Basic, 1-Star, and 2-Star levels.

Sergeant Instructor

As a Sergeant Instructor (SI), you will have a solid understanding of the Army Cadets and begin to take on responsibilities within your detachment. To progress to Staff Sergeant Instructor or Lieutenant, you will need to successfully complete the Skill at Arms (SAA) courses at Cadet Training Centre Frimley Park. The same course will qualify you as a Cadet Force Skill at Arms Instructor.

Staff Sergeant Instructor

As a Staff Sergeant Instructor (SSI), you will have a greater amount of responsibility at the detachment and play a central part in decision-making when it comes to planning the cadets’ activities.

Sergeant Major Instructor

As a Sergeant Major Instructor (SMI), you may be appointed to a position such as Company Sergeant Major, where you carry responsibilities for a number of detachments in your area.

Regimental Sergeant Major Instructor

The highest rank for an Adult Instructor, RSMI, is awarded after the demonstration of leadership and management skills. By this stage, you’ll have extensive experience and an in-depth knowledge of the Army Cadet organisation.

In order to gain a commission as an Army Cadet Officer, you need to successfully complete the Cadet Force Commissioning Board (CFCB) at Westbury. Your county will help you prepare for the CFCB, and you should also talk to other Army Cadet Officers you know about their own experiences there.

Second Lieutenant

Once you have reached the rank of Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt), you are likely to be given your own detachment to command.

Lieutenant

As an experienced Army Cadet adult volunteer, you will by now be capable of taking charge of a range of activities.

Captain

Captains often command large detachments or take on county-wide roles, such as County Training Officer, organising activities and overseeing the annual camp programme.

Major

Majors typically command a Company, overseeing a group of detachments in a specific area and reporting directly to the Commandant.

Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel

You would hold a position such as Deputy Commandant or Commandant of your Army Cadet county and would be responsible for the management of the ACF county as a whole. This involves close liaison with other parts of the Army Cadet ‘family’, such as the Army, your regional RFCA, and the Army Cadet Force Association.

Your progression through the ranks depends on the time you wish to dedicate to the Army Cadets. There is no requirement to seek promotion – it’s up to you how far you want to go. Volunteering should fit around your professional and personal life, and beyond a minimum time commitment, there are no obligations.

Whatever rank you hold and whatever level of commitment you can offer, there will be opportunities to undertake courses and gain new qualifications. In short, being an adult volunteer should prove a rewarding experience for everyone who wants to be part of one of the UK’s biggest and most successful voluntary youth organisations. To get started on your Army Cadets journey, find a detachment and send us an expression of interest form.