23/05/2026
FIRST EVER NATIONAL CADETS WEEK TO CELEBRATE CADETS AND RECONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE ARMED FORCES
Tens of thousands of young people across the UK will have the opportunity to discover the cadet forces as the government announces the first ever National Cadets Week, taking place from 5-11 October 2026.
The week will celebrate the UK’s cadet community – one of the country’s most effective youth organisations – and the tens of thousands of young people and adult volunteers who make the cadets a success.
Throughout the week, cadet units across the UK will open their doors to schools, families, and local communities. Cadets and volunteers will take part in outreach activities, delivering presentations to schools and places of work to raise awareness of the programme.
With a strong focus on first aid training, activities will showcase the opportunities available, inspire new cadets, attract new volunteers, and demonstrate how cadet experiences help prepare young people for adult life.
As part of the Strategic Defence Review’s whole-of-society approach to defence, National Cadets Week aims to deepen the bond between the Armed Forces and communities across the UK.
Under the Government's ‘30 by 30’ campaign launched in August 2025, the MOD is expanding cadet opportunities for a new generation of young people – boosting the cadet forces by 30% by 2030.
This will deliver over 40,000 more cadets across the UK, supporting the government’s commitment to break down the barriers holding back Britain’s young people.
The initiative will showcase the opportunities available through the MOD-sponsored cadet forces: the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, Volunteer Cadet Corps and Combined Cadet Force.
A new Cadets Action Plan will be published during this week, setting out the government’s long-term vision to expand high-quality, accessible cadet provision and ensure more young people from all backgrounds can benefit. This will include modernising the cadet experience, providing an attractive offer to retain and recruit adult volunteers, and ensuring that cadets and volunteers have the right resources and support.