AtHomeWithLorraineKelly2016 - 218

PROMOTION

Volunteering
for a real
adventure
You don't need to be
considering a career in the
military to be one of the
thousands who enjoy life
in the Army Cadets - and
that goes for adults, too

M
 

any young people are missing
out on the challenges and
adventures that could
transform their lives. The Army
Cadet Force (ACF) aims to change all
that by giving young people from all
walks of life access to fun, friendship,
action and adventure. With 41,000
cadets and some 9,000 adults in more
than 1,600 locations around the UK, the
Army Cadets makes a big impact on
individuals and communities.
Adult volunteers play a vital role in
the Army Cadet Force, acting as role
models for the cadets and teaching
young people all sorts of skills, from
ﬁeldcraft, adventurous training and
physical education to music and ﬁrst
aid. As well as the satisfaction of seeing
young people achieve what they never

You'd be amaz
ed
what you can ge
t
up to as a cade
t

imagined possible, volunteers learn skills
themselves, gain qualiﬁcations, grow
in conﬁdence and make new friends.
Army Cadet volunteers come from
all sorts of backgrounds - they don't
need to have military skills (although
ex-military personnel are welcome) and
they don't become part of the army.

'I have never looked back'

Carer Sally Anne Feary, 37, from Long
Sutton, Spalding, joined the ACF
after her daughter persuaded
her to help out at the local
cadet unit. Almost three
years later she is now
Commander of Long
As an Army Cadet you
Sutton detachment in
can try rock climbing,
Lincolnshire and has
mountain
biking, archery
helped hundreds of
cadets develop and
and more. You might end
grow into mature young
up
a little wet and muddy,
adults - including her
own two children.
but that's all part of
'Before I joined cadets, I
Sally also credits the
the fun.
suffered with depression and
friends she has made
anxiety, which led to my hair
within the ACF as having
falling out and not leaving the house
a big inﬂuence on her life: 'The
for four years. When my daughter came
biggest beneﬁt I have gained from
home from camp one weekend, she told
the ACF is friendship. There are
me there weren't enough female adults
adults both within my detachment
and asked if I would consider
and outside who have made the adult
joining. Of course, I said no,
training and cadet camps awesome,
but she persisted and later
not only by passing on their
on that year, I went to Long
knowledge and experience, but also by
Sutton detachment just to see.
letting me be myself and helping me
'That was the ﬁrst time I had
become much more sure of myself.'
left the house in a long time.
It took a lot of courage and I
Greater respect
have never looked back since.
Being in cadets with her son and
'Joining the Army Cadet
daughter has also strengthened their
Force has transformed me from
relationship. 'It has brought us much
the person I was then to who I
closer together than just being an
am today. I am so much more
ordinary family could,' says Sally. 'I no
conﬁdent in my own ability and
longer moan when they come home
no longer take life for granted.'
from camp as I now know it's not a

Not-so-clean fun
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