Combined Cadet Force

The CCF movement is dominated by the independent sector with 200 contingents still being based in independent schools with only around 60 in state schools.[9] It was reported in 2008 that some independent school CCF detachments would be opened to pupils of local state schools[10][9] One case of a fee-charging school allowing state school pupils to join the cadet force was Aldenham School in Watford, Hertfordshire linking its Cadet Force with the nearby state school Queen's to form a joint Cadet force.[11][12]

Unlike established CCFs, the MoD's model to expand cadet forces into schools require new schools with cadet units to either sponsor their own cadets or find a third party sponsor who can meet some of the cost to the MoD of funding and training Cadet Forces. Therefore, costs to schools involved are considerable, at over £200 per cadet per year and many thousands of pounds more for a cadet force to become an independent unit.[13]

In 2012 payouts made to victims of sexual abuse across all Cadet Forces, including the CCF, totaled £1,475,844. In 2013 payouts totaled £64,782, and in 2014 payouts totaled £544,213.[14]

CCF Contingents are part of the CCF, but are also part of their own school and as such are semi-autonomous organisations, run by internal school or school-related staff, supported by armed forces personnel. Army sections may wear their own capbadge, this might consist of the school or college logo or crest. However, Army headgear is worn with this capbadge. Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections wear the appropriate RN/RAF other rank and officer capbadges.

Badge of the Royal Navy section.

They may be issued with combat uniform if required and some schools have No 1 uniform for senior cadets. Number 3 uniform is normally the parade uniform for the CCF (RN) and consists of a white Shirt, black tie, blue trousers,[15] and blue heavy wool jersey, worn with plain black shoes, a Brassard should be worn on the right arm, displaying qualification badges.[16][17][18] Number 4 uniform is the standard working uniform of the Royal Navy, in one form or another it has been in existence for over 60 years. This uniform is fire retardant and consists of a blue shirt, blue trousers, blue heavy wool jersey, beret, with CCF badge and black boots.[17]

Cadets during commemorations in Jersey 2013. Showing the RAF Section No. 1 uniform (left) and Army Section No. 2 uniform (right)

Royal Marines sections wear the bronzed Royal Marines badge with a red "tombstone" backing on a blue beret with MTP (Multi-Terrain Pattern) clothing, and either brown or black boots.[19] They may also wear a version of No.1 Ceremonial Uniform with Cadet insignia for special occasion.[20][18]

Combined Cadet Force Army Stable Belt

Working uniform

The Army Section dress regulations are set out in Army Dress Regulations, Part 8 (Cadets).[21] and Cadets wear the No. 8 Combat Dress - Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP) uniform ('combats') for most occasions.[15]

All cadets wear a rank slide with the word "CADET" in embroidered red capital letters at the top, any rank is then shown underneath in black. Cadets may be given permission to wear a stable belt of CCF, school, or affiliated unit pattern. CFAVs wear rank slides with "CCF" underneath.[22]

Tactical Recognition Flashes are not to be worn by Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) or cadets of the Combined Cadet Force irrespective of any affiliation to a Corps or Regiment.[23] Cadets and CFAVs do wear county and contingent flashes.[23] However, CFAVs can wear two shoulder flashes. One is the CCF logo (in purple) and the other is the School/Contingent flash.[24]

Ceremonial uniform

No. 2 Dress (also known as Future Army Dress (FAD)) may be worn for ceremonial (e.g. Remembrance Days) or other relevant uses (such as drill or duty cadets) and is to be worn in accordance with the dress regulations mentioned above.

Evening Dress

Mess Dress is also worn, by CFAVs only and at personal expense only, it is not an issued item. Rank (depending on regimental custom) is sometimes worn, but a "CCF" pin must be worn.[25]

Parade and church service in Saint Peter Port, featuring ATC and CCF cadets, Guernsey, 16 September 2012

RAF cadets wear a version of the No.2 dress. This consists of either light blue shirt and tie or a dark "working" blue shirt, blue-grey trousers (male cadets) or skirt/slacks (female cadets), a blue-grey jumper: V-neck or round neck version, and an RAF blue beret with the RAF cap badge.[16][26][27] They also wear a brassard to distinguish themselves as cadets.[26] Except for the cap badge and brassard badge, this is identical to the uniform of the ATC and regulations for its wear can be found in AP1358C.[26][27][15] Most RAF sections wear combat clothing, formally the CS95 DPM standard, but many now wear Multi-terrain pattern uniform (MTP).[19] Officers wear the RAF tactical recognition flash, Adult Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers wear the RAFAC Staff formation flash, and cadets wear RAFAC Cadet formation flash.[28]

The strength of CCF CFAVs is published every year by the Office for National Statistics, usually in April.[30]

In October 2007 the under-secretary of state for defence gave details of the total number of CCF sections, and the number present in state schools.[35] As of 2012 under the Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) 100 new CCF Units were created in State Schools.[36]

Most Cadet ranks are standard non-commissioned ranks, prefixed by "Cadet", for day-to-day administration the "Cadet" prefix is often omitted. The highest rank depends on the size of the contingent, but are usually Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major, (Army and RM Sections) and Cadet Warrant Officer (RN and RAF Sections). Some contingents may have Junior (and sometimes Senior) Under Officers. Cadet Under Officers' rank badges are blue bands 12 mm wide across each shoulder slide, with the addition of the letters CCF underneath.[37]

The "Cadet" prefix is omitted from all ranks during the day-to-day running of activities. Cadet Warrant Officers are to be addressed as "Warrant Officer" and all other cadets by their rank, "Flight Sergeant", "Sergeant" or "Corporal", as the case may be. In some contingents, it is a tradition for cadets to refer to Cadet Warrant Officers and Cadet Company or Regimental Sergeant Majors as "Sir or Ma'am".

Cadets are promoted on their level of experience and their level of commitment to the cadet force. Also cadets are promoted on excellent or merit. Senior cadet's duty is to help the running of parades etc and to help their Contingent Commander or another officer of their contingent.

The Naval Cadet that is in command of the naval section can also be called Coxswain.

UK cadets	Officers	Cadet senior NCOs	Cadet junior NCOs	Cadets	Recruits
	CDT 8	CDT 7	CDT 6		CDT 5	CDT 4	CDT 3		CDT 2		CDT 1	CDT (R)
CCF Navy Cadets
	Under Officer	Warrant Officer Cadet	Chief Petty Officer Cadet		Petty Officer Cadet	Leading Cadet	Able 3* Cadet		Able 2* Cadet	Able 1* Cadet	Naval Cadet	New Naval Entry
	UO	WOCDT	CPOCDT		POCDT	LCDT	A3*CDT		A2*CDT	A1*CDT	NCDT	NNE
UK cadets	Officers	Cadet senior NCOs	Cadet junior NCOs	Cadets	Recruits
	CDT 8	CDT 7	CDT 6		CDT 5	CDT 4	CDT 3		CDT 2		CDT 1	CDT (R)
CCF Royal Marines Cadets (Part of the CCF RN)												No insignia
	Under Officer	Cadet Warrant Officer First Class	Cadet Warrant Officer Second Class		Cadet Colour Sergeant	Cadet Sergeant	Cadet Corporal		Cadet Lance Corporal		Cadet	Recruit
	UO	CDTWO1	CDTWO2		CDTCSGT	CDTSGT	CDTCPL		CDTLCPL		CDT	RCT
UK cadets	Officers	Cadet senior NCOs	Cadet junior NCOs	Cadets	Recruits
	CDT 8	CDT 7	CDT 6		CDT 5	CDT 4	CDT 3		CDT 2		CDT 1	CDT (R)
CCF Army Cadets												No insignia
	Under Officer	Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major	Cadet Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant	Cadet Company Sergeant Major	Cadet Staff Sergeant	Cadet Sergeant	Cadet Corporal		Cadet Lance Corporal		Cadet	Recruit
	UO	CDTRSM	CDTRQMS	CDTCSM	CDTSSGT	CDTSGT	CDTCPL		CDTLCPL		CDT	RCT
UK cadets	Officers	Cadet senior NCOs	Cadet junior NCOs	Cadets	Recruits
	CDT 8	CDT 7	CDT 6		CDT 5	CDT 4	CDT 3		CDT 2		CDT 1	CDT (R)
CCF RAF Cadets	No equivalent		No equivalent								No insignia	No equivalent
		Cadet Warrant Officer			Cadet Flight Sergeant	Cadet Sergeant	Cadet Corporal		Cadet Lance Corporal		Cadet
		CWO			Cdt FS	Cdt Sgt	Cdt Cpl		Cdt LCpl		Cdt

Army cadets ranks share associated regiment's equivalent rank title (e.g. Corporal in the Royal Artillery becomes Bombardier.)

The CCF is separate from the Community Cadet Forces namely the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps, and the other MOD recognized cadet force Volunteer Cadet Corps. Pupils normally join at the age of 13 or 14 (Year 9), with both sexes able to take part.

CCF officers are not members of the armed forces and are usually teachers or other school staff, as such they are not subject to military law, but are subject to CCF Regulations[38] they are subordinate to officers in the Armed Forces whether Regular or Reserve.[38] Until 2017 CCF (Army) and CCF (RAF) officers were in special categories of the reserves of their service whereas CCF (RN) Officers were 'appointed' and did not hold commissions. However, on 1 December 2017, the Cadet Forces Commission was introduced and since then this type of commission has been held by all CCF officers[39]

• Officers in the Naval section of the CCF, undertake the six day CCF Royal Navy officer induction course training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. It is commanded by a course officer (regular Naval Service) and at least two CFAVs to assist. The training is delivered by regular sailors.[40]

• Unlike officers in the Army Cadet Force, CCF (Army) officers do not attend the Cadet Forces Commissions Board of the Army Officer Selection Board and are commissioned based on recommendation from the Headmaster of the employing school and confirmed by the relevant Army Brigade. Prospective officers may be appointed as an "Adult Under Officer", awaiting commissioning.[21]

• CCF (RAF) officers attend the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre and undertake the five day RAF Air Cadets Officers' Initial Course at RAF College Cranwell, as officer cadets. Upon successful completion of the course, they are commissioned as RAF CCF Officers.[41] Formally, they were known as Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Training branch (RAF VR (T)) officers. However, recently all RAF cadet organisation staff have been re-syled/branded as being part of the one umbrella "RAF Air Cadets" organisation. Their rank slides are thus emblazoned with the legend 'RAF Air Cadets'.[42]

All CCF adult induction/basic/initial courses cover the basic skills needed for CFAVs who wish to serve in the CCF, such as drill and turnout, leadership and teamwork tasks, weapon training, navigation, etc.

Supporting officers in the running of the Contingent is the School Staff Instructor (SSI) - usually a retired Senior Non-commissioned Officer (SNCO) or Warrant Officer. Although they are civilians, they retain their rank (without "CCF" titles) as a courtesy and are employed by the school to instruct and assist in the running of the Contingent.[43]

Whilst the majority of the SSIs are (former) SNCOs it is also possible for them to be a Cadet Forces commissioned officer. There is usually only one SSI per Contingent and they are also supported by other external staff, including the RN's Area Instructors, various Brigade Cadet Training Teams (CTTs) and RAF TEST SNCOs.

Chief Petty Officer (School Staff Instructor)	CPO

Like the community cadet forces, some Contingents may have one or more Civilian Instructors (CI). These are adult volunteers who may instruct in either a specialist (first aid, signals, etc.) or more generalised role when the establishment level of officers does not include sufficient suitably qualified and experienced personnel to teach these subjects. They receive no pay for time spent with cadets but may claim reimbursement for expenses at the Contingent Commander's discretion. Many are members of the academic or support staff at the school.[44]

In 2018 the role of "Sergeant Instructor" (SI) was introduced for CCF (Army) sections, this is the first occasion that adults other than SSIs have been appointed as an NCO rather than a commissioned rank in the CCF.[44] Similarly to the ACF the role of the SI is to support the CCF officers. Whilst not holding a commission. SIs are uniformed, paid for their activities, have to undertake vetting/background checks and the CCF Basic Course at Cadet Training Centre Frimley Park.

Army (Cadet Forces)
Sergeant Instructor	SI

The strength of CCF CFAVs is published every year by the Office for National Statistics, usually in April.[45]

CCF (RN) ranks are the same as for RN (and RNR) officers with the suffix '(CCF) RNR', but their rank braid is 'wavy' as used in the past by the RNVR.

CCF (Army) officers wear a "CCF" legend on their rank slides in addition to any insignia of affiliated Army regiment or Corps.

CCF (RAF) Officers wear 'RAF Air Cadets' on their rank sides.

Since the introduction of the Cadet Forces Commission, ranks do not indicate membership of the British Armed Forces.[50]

RN ((CCF) RNR)		Army (Cadet Forces)		RAF (RAFAC)
Commander (CCF) RNR		Lieutenant Colonel		Wing Commander
Lieutenant Commander (CCF) RNR		Major		Squadron Leader
Lieutenant (CCF) RNR		Captain		Flight Lieutenant
Sub Lieutenant (CCF) RNR		Lieutenant		Flying Officer
		Second Lieutenant		Pilot Officer
		Adult Under Officer		Acting Pilot Officer
				Officer Cadet

Cadets in the Royal Navy section receive instruction in boat-work and other naval subjects (including flying with the Fleet Air Arm). The Royal Navy also offers many CCF courses during the school holidays which are open to any members of any CCF.

CCF RN Ships
Name	Type	Class	Length (ft)
MV Blue Swan	Motor Boat	Talisman	49
MV Black Swan	Motor Boat	Talisman	49
SV Cornish Air	Sloop	Rustler	36
STC Amaryllis	Sloop
TS Dragon	Sloop
TS Phoenix	Sloop

The Royal Marines section, although a part of the Navy, tend to train independently, covering battle drills, weapons handling and marksmanship, fieldcraft, camouflage and concealment and the history of the Royal Marines.

The Army section follows the Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) subjects such as drill and turnout, skill at arms, shooting, map and compass, fieldcraft and first aid.[51]

As CCF (RAF) sections form part of the larger Royal Air Force Air Cadets, they are eligible to undertake the same syllabus and training opportunities as the Air Training Corps:

RAF section cadets are given the opportunity to fly in both powered aircraft, most notably the Grob Tutor and in unpowered gliders such as the Grob Viking; their training and flying courses are identical to those available to members of the Air Training Corps. As well as that the Cadets can also be involved in a multitude of battle training and tactics as well as opportunities to fly in various aircraft from the RAF and allied nations. The section also will learn about aerospace management, the structure of aircraft and propulsion, engineering, air power as well as an opportunity to see how most RAF stations, sections and wings or squadrons operate. As well as practical learning, RAF cadets also follow an academic syllabus. Cadets are usually taught "Part 1" before being expected to complete Parts 2 - 4 by themselves through the medium of Ultilearn. Completing Part 4, also known as the Master Cadet Award, leads to a BTEC Level 2 in Aviation Studies being awarded, although CCF cadets, unlike those in the ATC, have to pay to receive this BTEC.

All sections can undertake leadership courses at Cadet Training Centre, Frimley Park, Nesscliffe, or RAF Cranwell, as well as adventurous training. There are also other courses available for cadets to enhance their skills, such as Junior and Senior Cadet Instructor Courses (JCIC, SCIC) and Method of Instruction (MOI).