In response to a recent parliamentary question, the Ministry of Defence has outlined its efforts to consult a variety of stakeholders to support the expansion of the UK’s cadet programme.
The question, posed by Gregory Campbell, Democratic Unionist Party MP for East Londonderry, sought clarity on which external organisations beyond existing cadets and adult volunteers were being consulted.
Al Carns, Parliamentary Under-Secretary and Minister for Veterans, confirmed that a wide range of advocates had been engaged to shape plans for the expansion of cadet numbers.
Carns detailed the breadth of input gathered during a December 2024 discussion, stating: “Opinion was canvassed from a wide range of existing cadet advocates, including senior military leaders, Honorary Colonels, Lord Lieutenants, council leaders and representatives from education and academia.”
These consultations included representation from all branches of MOD cadets—the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force.
The consultations focused on the activities and governance structures required to enable expansion across the cadet programme. The initiative aims to ensure inclusivity and accessibility while reinforcing the programme’s value to young people and communities.
The Minister also highlighted his recent meetings with key stakeholders. “I, myself met with Honorary Colonels before Christmas, and just last week with a leading academic in this field, who led the team who published the University of Northampton study on the social and economic benefit of cadets.”
Carns reiterated his commitment to advocacy and expansion, stating: “We have discussed how to work together to best advocate for our cadets, and I am committed to their expansion.”
Further updates are expected as the MOD develops actionable plans to support this initiative.
Is this a Capita recruitment initiative?
I was involved with the Air Cadets for many years on and off.
As each year passed H&S slowly reduced practical activities, empires were built so you couldn’t do anything without doing a course over several weekends. Great if you’re single but useless if you have a family.
I see the Sea cadets getting far more flying than the ACO, in RAF aircraft. The Army cadets doing lots of practical outdoor stuff.
Sadly, I think the Cadet forces, starting with the RAF AIR CADETS are killing themselves
Does this mean they’ll be reversing the budget cuts & the further cuts planned? More is spent on migrant hotels in a few days than on the 70,000 Army Cadets in an entire year.
Yeah, more is spent on the NHS, roads, prisons, parking fines and a thousand other things. Asylum housing, apart from being a UN standard, is ptetty small beer in the wider scheme of government expenditure. This forum is for folks interested in defence issues, there are lots of more suitable sites for obsessive political drum-banging.
The problem is that the reality of war is far more accessible and it can no longer be sugarcoated by recruitment tactics. The state of the world is fragile at the moment and young people know this. None of them want to sign up when there is a very real possibility that they may go to war and it’s closer than it’s been since WW2. Joining the cadets is a stepping stone to the army and many young people don’t want to die at war and also don’t want to fight for a country that they don’t believe it. This countries politics has suffered for so long now that not many young people have any faith in the government and in turn don’t want to fight for them.
Last time I looked the Sea Cadets were not a part of the MoD structure even with their I think it is called the Memorandum of Association.
Cadets have never ever been pre-service and it will be a shame if Labour try to make them so. Call me cynical but this smacks of politics.
It’s a long time since I have had any involvement with any of them. Wasn’t there some office in Semaphore Tower in HMNB Pompey? From what I remember mostly British kids with slightly more girls than boys. Like most youth organisations in the 90s they appeared to bend over to attract girls and consequently the number of boys started to decline. Some of the do good stuff, but many of them seemed to be for adults playing dress up.
I doubt much will come of it. Nothing burger.