Kent Army Cadet Force

In 1863, along with the formation of the Volunteer Force, the first government sanctioned cadet groups were allowed to be formed. These groups would mostly be formed in connection with existing volunteer companies and battalions. Following the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 which organised the former Volunteer Force into a coherent organisation, known as the Territorial Force (TF), the cadets were expanded. Each company consisted of no less than 30 cadets, and four of these companies formed a "Cadet Battalion", the predecessors to the modern "Cadet County".Westlake 1984, pp. 1–3

Unlike their modern successors, the first cadet battalions were administered by their local County Territorial Force Associations, and rarely ever came under an "army command". However, following changes to the organisation of the Cadets, in 1923 all cadet forces were taken under complete control of the County Associations.Westlake 1984, pp. 1–3

Below is a list of the cadet battalions which had been formed in Kent during the reorganisation of the TF and into 1939:Westlake 1984, p. 32Westlake 1984, p. 69Westlake 1984, p. 20

• Kent Public Secondary Schools Cadet Battalion
• Kent Fortress Royal Engineers 1st Cadet Battalion
• Kent Fortress Royal Engineers 2nd Cadet Battalion
• 1st Volunteer Cadet Corps Battalion, East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)
• 1st Cadet Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
• 2nd Cadet Battalion, The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment

The first mention of the Kent Army Cadet Force was in 1964 in the London Gazette. The supplement for 9 October 1964 states the restoration of the former commander of the county to the Territorial Army, but does not provide an appointment date.{{London Gazette

| issue = 43459

| date = 9 October 1964

| page = 8639

| supp = y

| title = Second Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday, 9th October 1964

}} A further mention is made in the 15th March 1963 supplement showing an officer commissioned from the county.{{London Gazette

| issue = 42946

| date = 15 March 1963

| page = 2514

| supp = y

| nolink = y

}}

Under the Army 2020 programme, the 2nd (South East) Infantry Brigade was merged with 145th (South) Brigade to form the new 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East on 1 April 2014. Following these changes, the county left the control of 2nd (South East) Brigade and joined 11th Infantry Brigade as part of Headquarters South East.{{Cite web|title=Regular Army Basing Matrix by Formation and Unit|url=http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814181412/http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf|archive-date=14 August 2016|access-date=23 December 2021|website=Army Families Federation}}

As of December 2021, each Army Cadet Force county reports to their local brigade deputy commander, or in the case of independent regional headquarters the commander. However, for administrative duties each cadet county reports to Commander Cadets, who is a senior 1* Brigadier part of Headquarters, Regional Command.{{Cite book|title=Army Cadet Force Regulations, Army Cadets Order #14233|publisher=Headquarters, Army Cadet Force|series=Version 1.12|publication-date=February 2017}}{{Cite web|title=Cadets|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/the-armys-cadets/|access-date=2021-12-24|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=Regional Command|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/regional-command/|access-date=2021-12-24|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB}}

As of December 2021, the Kent Army Cadet Force consists of appx. 850 cadets and 200 adult volunteers in 35 detachments spread throughout the county of Kent.{{Cite web|title=Kent Army Cadets|url=https://armycadets.com/county/kent-acf/|access-date=2021-12-24|website=Army Cadets UK|language=en-GB}} Each Army Cadet Force 'county' is in-fact a battalion, and each 'detachment' equivalent to that of a platoon.

The organisation of the county{{Efn|name=county}} in 2021 was as follows:{{Cite web|date=2012-07-20|title=Our Detachments {{!}} Kent ACF {{!}} Army Cadet Force|url=http://armycadets.com/county/kent-acf/our-detachments|access-date=2021-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720024818/http://armycadets.com/county/kent-acf/our-detachments |archive-date=20 July 2012 }}{{Cite web|date=2012-07-30|title=About Us {{!}} Kent ACF {{!}} Army Cadet Force|url=http://armycadets.com/county/kent-acf/about-us/|access-date=2021-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730012722/http://armycadets.com/county/kent-acf/about-us/ |archive-date=30 July 2012 }}

• County Headquarters, at Yeomanry House, Maidstone
• Kent Army Cadet Force County Training Team{{Cite web|date=2020-07-20|title=COUNTY TRAINING TEAM {{!}} Kent ACF {{!}} Army Cadet Force|url=https://armycadets.com/county/kent-acf/about-our-county/county-training-team/|access-date=2021-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720012629/https://armycadets.com/county/kent-acf/about-our-county/county-training-team/ |archive-date=20 July 2020 }}

The Army Cadet Force is a national, voluntary, uniformed youth organisation. It is sponsored by the British Army but not part of it and neither the cadets nor the adult volunteer leaders are subject to military call-up.  They offer a broad range of challenging adventurous and educational activities, some of them on a military theme. Their aim is to inspire young people to achieve success in life and develop in them the qualities of a good citizen.

The ACF can be compared to their counterparts in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (USA), Hong Kong Adventure Corps, and Canadian Army Cadets, amongst others.

• List of Army Cadet Force units
• Combined Cadet Force

{{Notelist}}

• {{Cite book|last=Westlake|first=Ray A.|title=A Register of Territorial Force Cadet Units: 1910 – 1922|publisher=Sherwood Press|year=1984|isbn=978-0950853024|location=Wembley, Middlesex, United Kingdom|oclc=60073924}}

{{Army Cadet Force}}

Category:Military units and formations in Kent

Category:Military units and formations in Canterbury

Category:Military units and formations in Dover

Category:Army Cadet Force counties