Cadet Forces - Value to the Nation

Posted by FltLtElliott on May 21, 2010

The value of the cadet forces to the United Kingdom has recently been recognised in a report to Government.   The report highlights the value to wider government which covers the contribution of the cadet syllabus, key outputs and the contribution to Public Service Agreements. 

A summary of this report is below. 

Value to Wider Government 

Contribution of the cadet syllabus.  The Cadet Forces syllabus contributes to fulfilling a number of Government policies for youth, these include: 

1. Every Child Matters (DCSF, 2005).
2. Aiming High for Young People: A Ten Year Strategy for Positive Activities (DCSF, 2007).
3. Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives (Dept of Health, 2008).

Output.  Within Government youth policies, the Cadet Forces meet the following aims: 

1.  
   1. Personal development within a challenging, practical environment.
   2. Transportable, vocational qualifications leading to increased life chances.
   3. Enhanced social competence and integration.
   4. Social inclusion, through high quality opportunities at minimal or nil personal financial cost.
   5. Improved intra-community integration, strength and cohesion through good citizenship
   6. Better health and fitness.

Contribution to DCSF outcomes.  The Cadet Forces specifically contribute to DCSF’s “5 Outcomes”[1], namely: 

1. Staying Safe.
2. Being Healthy.
3. Achieving Economic Well Being.
4. Enjoying and Achieving.
5. Making a Positive Contribution.

Contribution to Public Service Agreements[2] (PSA)s. Cadets also contribute to the following PSAs: 

PSA 9               Halve number of children in poverty by 2010-11 on the way to eradicating child poverty by 2020 

PSA 10            Raise educational achievement of all children and young people 

PSA 11            Narrow the gap in educational achievement between children from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds 

PSA 12            Improve the health and well-being of children and young people 

PSA 13            Improve children and young people’s safety 

PSA 14            Increase the number of children and young people on the path to success 

Quality and Qualifications.  The Cadet Forces provide the opportunity to participate in a number of quality programmes and educational qualifications including the Duke of Edinburgh Award (in particular the cadets in the Community scheme), the St John Ambulance Life Saver Certificate, and the Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation’s (CVQO) BTEC First Diploma in Public Services.  Indeed, the CVQO BTEC is: 

1. A means to provide the cadets with greater opportunities in the work place.  Specifically designed to improve valuable life skills such as CV preparation, interviewing techniques, communication, first aid, adventure training, health and nutrition.  In so doing, significantly reducing the chances of a young person becoming a NEET[3].
2. Equivalent to 4 GCSEs at A*-C grades (Standard grades at levels 1-3 in Scotland).  Boosting the overall number of GCSEs and often achieved by students who were not expected to gain any qualifications at all.
3. At no cost to cadets.

CVQO also provides the means for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to gain a City & Guilds Senior Award –  86 graduated last year. 

Value to Society 

Minimizing Criminal Intent.  The percentage of cadets that re-offend or commit a serious offence is significantly less than the national average[4].  The number of 15-17 year old males cautioned, reprimanded or warned for an indictable offence was 5479 for every 100,000 of the population in 2004[5]. 

Youth Justice Board (YJB).  In 2008[6], the YJB spent some £260m a year on custody, with the ‘rehabilitation programme for young offenders’ costing between £550 and £650 per individual per day.  As an example, an Air Cadet costs less than £1000 per year; thus the tangible benefits to society that the Cadet Forces provide are significant. 

Community Cohesion.  The Cadet Forces are recognised by the Cabinet Office[7] as an integral contributing force towards building strong and stable communities within deprived areas. 

[1] Contained in DCSF’s Every Child Matters (2005). 

[2] Strategic Priorities Framework 2008-11 

[3] Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). 

[4] National Children’s Home Study, Get Happy – Children and Young People’s Emotional Well Being by Julia Margo and Sonia Sodha. 

[5] Ibid. 

[6] Taken from Comdt Air Cadets note dated 8 Feb 08.  £25m saving based on 1997 estimate of savings due to training and retention factors. 

[7] “Value of Cadets” to feature in Cabinet Office’s Social Exclusion Task Force study: Aspiration and Attainment Amongst Young People in Deprived Communities, 2009.