There are some 4,000+ cadets and over 1,000 volunteer adult instructors in the North East who enjoy fun with friends at more than 160 unit locations spanning the length and breadth of the region.
Through exciting activities and adventurous training, cadets from all walks of life gain new personal and practical skills to use in everyday life, which often takes them to new places.
Each cadet unit is a part of the wider, national, voluntary youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the three Services. Their mission is not to act as a recruitment tool for the Armed Forces, although the positive experiences many have while with them lead some to join once they finish their education.
Cadet organisations combine youth work with military-themed training and community-based activities. They improve the health of cadets through a variety of outdoor activities and sport. Young people can be a part of the cadets from the age of 12-19 years old depending on the organisation they join.
His Majesty The King sends "warmest congratulations and best wishes to all cadets, adult volunteers, families and supporters of cadet services across the United Kingdom during this inaugural National Cadets Week...." Find out more
Thousands of young people across the UK will take part in the first-ever National Cadets Week from 5 to 11 October 2026, a national celebration of the Cadet Forces. Find out more
Last weekend, the Defence Relationship Management team, along with senior members of the North of England Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, had the privilege of hosting a number of Defence-supportive employers and partner organisations from across the North of England at the King's Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) at Horse Guards, London. Find out more
13 North East companies were part of the 331 employers recognised nationally with Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Awards for supporting the armed forces community. Find out more
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Wg Cdr Steve Fry as the new Regional Commandant for North Region. Wg Cdr Fry joins the RAF Air Cadets from his current post as Officer Commanding, No 600 (City of London) Squadron, RAuxAF at RAF Northolt. Find out more
Defence Minister announces First-ever National Cadets Week. Find out more
HMS CALLIOPE hosts engagement event to thank employers, family and friends of Reservists. Find out more
Monkseaton JCC progressing well. Find out more
A new Joint Cadet Centre is on its way. Find out more
Dr Caroline Pryer, Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland, presented her Lord Lieutenant’s Certificates for Meritorious Service to members of the Reserve Forces, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and members of the civilian staff on Tuesday 24 March 2026. Find out more
On Tuesday 17 March, the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Ms Lucy Winskell OBE presented her Lord Lieutenant’s Certificates for Meritorious Service to members of the Reserve Forces, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and civilian staff, and 4 Star Certificates to members of the Cadet Forces. Find out more
Mr Michael Poole, Vice Lord Lieutenant for County Durham, represented Dame Susan Snowdon, Lord Lieutenant for County Durham, at the ceremony for the presentation of her Lord Lieutenant’s Certificates for Meritorious Service on Tuesday 10 March 2026. Find out more
Brigadier David Maddan DL, represented Mrs Joanna Ropner, Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire on Tuesday 3 March 2026, to present Certificates of Meritorious Service to Reservists. Find out more
The King has been pleased to appoint Michael Butterwick, CBE, DL, as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Durham on the retirement of Dame Susan Snowdon, DCVO, on 1st April, 2026. Find out more
Congratulations to four amazing north east employers who were recognised for their outstanding support to the Armed Forces community at a ceremony held at the Hotel Indigo, Durham on 25 September. Find out more
Dame Susan Snowdon, DCVO, Lord Lieutenant of Co Durham and Vice President NE RFCA salutes the Armed Forces Find out more
"A landmark shift in our deterrence ..... " Find out more
As part of the national events celebrating VE Day 80, Northumberland County Council in association with SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, held a memorial service at Hexham Abbey on 8 May. Find out more
Headquarters North will be formally established on 1st August 2024 when the
current Headquarters North East (based in Catterick and embedded in
Headquarters 4 Light Brigade Combat Team and HQ NE) and Headquarters
North West (in Preston) are merged. Find out more
The NE RFCA region saw our local authorities and communities join the rest of the country in flying the Armed Forces Day flag in support of our Armed Forces. Find out more
Mrs Sue Snowdon, Lord Lieutenant of County Durham and Vice President North of England RFCA commemorates the D-Day 80th Anniversary with a letter to all Cadet Forces within her County. Find out more
Tues 5 Mar 24, Mrs Sue Snowdon, Lord Lieutenant of County Durham and Vice-President NE RFCA, presented her Lord Lieutenant's Certificates for Meritorious Service to members of the Reserves, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and civilian staff from all 3 Services Find out more
On Tuesday, 27 Feb 24, Mrs Jo Ropner, Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire and Vice-President North of England RFCA, presented her Lord Lieutenant's Certificates for Meritorious Service. Find out more
The Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations' (RFCA) annual conference on 8 November attracted a diverse audience from the RFCA networks. Find out more
“A credit to the County and the cadet movements they represent”. Lt Col Barney Barnbrook, Regional Director North East and Yorkshire Army Benevolent Fund, said of the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets who took part in the Festival of Remembrance Service at Durham Cathedral on Saturday,
11 November 2023. Find out more
After a year of 'studying space', 9 Cadets and Staff from 2505 (Bishop Auckland) Sqn RAF AC go on the trip of a lifetime to Florida with help from the Viscount Ridley's Cadet Forces' Trust. Find out more
As one of our supportive employers and a Silver Award winner of the MOD’s Employer Recognition Scheme, Northumbria Police Force was invited to send a representative to observe members of the Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) on their cold-climate training programme in Bardufoss, Norway in March this year. That ‘lucky volunteer’ was Deputy Chief Constable Debbie Ford, who joined 14 other organisations from London, Highland RFCA and Lowland RFCA on a different sort of exercise……. Find out more
Longbenton Air Cadets are flying on cloud nine after receiving the 2021 Prince of Wales’s Expeditionary Award. Find out more
Polam Hall School and Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College CCFs were devastated when they did not get a CTT Central Camp slot this year and it looked as though their annual camps would not take place. Find out more
Redcar Cadet, LCpl Daniel Loader, a member of Cleveland ACF, had gone over to France with his Dad, for the memorial events early in June, and had even taken his cadet uniform to wear when paying his respects. He was swiftly spotted by The Yorkshire Regiment and included in their group, and was ‘roped’ in to help with events. Find out more
Boldon School welcomed Commodore Phil Waterhouse ADC RN, Deputy Mayor Cllr Joe Amar, and Ms Lyn Blair, Deputy Mayoress, to the official opening ceremony of Boldon School Royal Navy Combined Cadet Force Section. Find out more
The Duchess of Northumberland presented her Lord Lieutenant’s Certificates for Meritorious Service to Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from all three Services on Tuesday 5 April 2022. In congratulating recipients on their awards the Duchess said she was “greatly impressed by the outstanding work carried out over many years by Volunteers who had achieved great things and given unconditionally of their spare time”. The Duchess also presented Cadet Proficiency Awards to members of the Army Cadet Force and appointed her Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets for 2022. Find out more
