In 2023 we supported 23 cadet expeditions (details below) that included 63 adults who are veterans. We asked each one to provide feedback from those veterans who took part about the impact the expedition had on them. Here is a selection of the responses:
“I’m a veteran and CFAV with SE London ACF and was instructing paddlesports to cadets on Exercise Cockney Venture. As Complex PTSD sufferer as well, teaching cadets paddlesports takes my mind off the noise that normally exists within my head. Green space, doing something that you enjoy and helping to form youth into well rounded young adults is a great opportunity for a veteran.”
Lt Nick Lindsay | SE London ACF
Ex: Cockney Venture Novice 11 2023 | Greater London South East Sector Army Cadet Force
‘Exercise Coronation Jerboa afforded me the opportunity to widen my Cadet Corps and Veteran Network through interactions with ACF and CCF Instructors through the delivery of a challenging and rewarding foreign AT exercise. The benefit of the exercise being in Cyprus offered a welcome break from the rigours of work allowing me to recharge my batteries as well as focus some time on my mental, physical and spiritual self.’
Lt McInally RM (VCC) Ex Royal Marine Veteran
Ex: Coronation Jerboa | HQ Centre Region ACF, CCF and VCC Cadets
“As a veteran it gave me immense personal satisfaction and a sense of purpose and reward to be able to lead cadets on this expedition to the United States. Going from the regular army to being a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer has also enabled me to maintain my ties with the Army and, in fact, go back to my own roots as a cadet – in my case starting my time in uniform 40 years ago in SW London ACF. I think this has been really important to by sense of personal identity and self worth.”
Neil Mackintosh
Ex: Comal Venturer 2023 | Solihull School CCF, Oxford University Officer Training Corps
“As a veteran of 6 years in the RAF and a RAF cadet before that, my ambition was always to volunteer in a youth organisation and help young people as my Squadron Leader had helped me.
“As a CFAV in the ACF for over 18 years, I have seen the cadets grow in confidence and fulfill their potential through the activities and experiences they have had in the Army Cadets. Many of the cadets stay in contact with the organisation and we see the positive impact their cadet experience has had in their careers and life choices.
“During this trip to South Africa, it was so moving to see how the cadets interacted with the children at the school and the orphanages. It was evident they were moved by what they had seen. They engaged with all the rangers on Safari and showed genuine interest in conservation. They were also respectful at the Battlefield sites which was of particular importance to myself as a veteran.
“I believe that, because the cadets were well prepared for this trip, they were able to get the most out of the experience and make it that ‘once in a lifetime experience they will never forget’. It is through the hard work and dedication of all the CFAVs supporting this trip that made it the success that it was. I am proud to be part of this organisation and would like to thank the Ulysses Trust for their generous donation to help make it happen. Thank you.”
SMI Dave Roberts B Company
Ex: Legacy – Kwazulu Natal 2023 | Rockwood Academy (CEP) CCF & Warwickshire and West Midlands (SS) ACF
“I have been fortunate during both an RAF and ATC career to have enjoyed and benefited from many AT expeditions. These have covered various parts of the globe including deserts and arctic areas, from the Dead Sea, through remote forests and a wide range of mountainous terrains on several continents, including 18,000′ volcanoes. Yet, this sailing adventure ranks among the best of those expeditions.
“What is the point of an expedition? It is a journey with a purpose, that purpose often being an end point, a summit, a destination. It is also an exploration both of our external and internal worlds? Certainly, it ought to be an adventure, a journey with an unknown outcome. The RAF Air Cadet’s motto is Venture, Adventure. For me this perfectly captures many of my RAF experiences. Experiences where we would engage in bold and audacious exercises and operations in which we had little or no idea of the ending. Activities which pushed us physically, psychologically, and emotionally.
“This sailing expedition was both a reminder of those past experiences, and a confirmation of what can be achieved by novices when provided with the necessary ingredients for success. For most of the cadets, this was their first adventure, and for all of them it was their first adventure under sail and at sea.
“New environments and activities, require new routines. Attaining a daily ‘battle-rhythm’ is a crucial aspect of operational success, therefore establishing one on board a boat via the adoption of a watch system was a priority. Each watch was 4-hours, and revolved around either sailing, cleaning the ship and preparing meals or sleep and rest. It took a few days, yet quickly the lack of wi-fi, no battery charging, no internet, no social media faded. Such pursuits being replaced with everyone’s attention on meeting the ships and each other’s needs. With almost no complaint, everyone just got on with the tasks at hand. Success came in several forms. From undertaking a 20-hour day of sailing, through to less forthcoming cadets taking charge of the entire crew to raise and lower sails.
“The week’s sailing was truly wonderful to be a part of. Individuals thrived and flourished, and those individuals then came together, and bonded as teams. Harmonised around sailing, cleaning and the production of fabulous meals, all made from scratch. I’m confident the week’s experiences will remain with those cadets for a lifetime. Certainly they will remain with me, and as a veteran, it was a reaffirmation of what makes service life so memorable.”
Squadron Leader Paul Davison
Ex: Achieve Together 2023 | 1163 (Colne Valley) Squadron
“Teaching and leading cadets during Adventure Training provides a great opportunity to pass on skills and experience that I have learned during my service, both on exercises and operations. Hopefully the experience will inspire some of the cadets to take the skills learned and apply them in their lives, and maybe encourage them to join the military.”
SSI Thomas Blakey Wellingborough College CCF
Ex: Coronation Jerboa | HQ Centre Region ACF, CCF and VCC Cadets
“Being able to authorise and be part of, for some a life changing or life enhancing experience for cadets and CFAVs from across the West Midlands and Warwickshire is for me the most satisfying and humbling part of being veteran and serving CFAV.
Our cadets and CFAVs learnt a lot of valuable lessons about Community, Conservation, and Commemoration, which is something, I was taught when I served and to be able to share these values many many years later only strengthens my appetite to continue.
Building Resilience, Working as a Team, Selfless commitment and being part of a family were reflected in every single participant who made the journey to South Africa. I for one am very grateful to Ulysses Trust for supporting this Expedition, this support has changed or enhanced over 45 lives.
Thank you”
Colonel Delroy Tucker Commandant
Ex: Legacy – Kwazulu Natal 2023 | Rockwood Academy (CEP) CCF & Warwickshire and West Midlands (SS) ACF
| # | Expedition Name | Unit |
| 2964 | Dragon Highland EMU 2023 | East Midlands University Officer Training Corps |
| 2936 | Alpine Adventure 2023 | South West Region |
| 2963 | Canford Norway’23 2023 | Canford School CCF |
| 2923 | Venturer Stag XXV 17th – 26th Feb 2023 | The Royal County of Berkshire Army Cadet Force |
| 2997 | Telemark Challenger 2023 | HQ Regional Command Cadets Branch |
| 2949 | Achieve Together 2023 | 1163 (Colne Valley) squadron |
| 3007 | DofE 2023 Assessed | Derbyshire Sector RAFAC |
| 3014 | COCKNEY VENTURE NOVICE 11 2023 | GREATER LONDON SOUTH EAST SECTOR ARMY CADET FORCE |
| 3031 | Northern Ahawanee Warrior 23 2023 | AUOTC, TUOTC, CEUOTC, 3 Royal Welsh |
| 3045 | COMAL Venturer 2023 | Solihull School CCF, Oxford University Officer Training Corps |
| 2941 | RIVA ROSE 2023 | Rossall School CCF |
| 3005 | TAJA RAGAT 2023 | Stamford Welland Academy CCF, Ampleforth College CCF |
| 3053 | Y28/29P (Brixham-Gosport) 2 weeks (DofE Exped G & S) 2023 | Bollington and Macclesfield, Bournemouth, Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge, Bury and Radcliffe, Cheltenham, Chorley, Dunbar, Fishguard, Market Harbrough, Poole, Shirley |
| 3068 | The CVQO Westminster Award Cornwall Expedition 2023 | CVQO |
| 2968 | MOUNTAIN STORM 2023 | Bristol &Glos wing , West Mercian Wing, 637 VGS |
| 3069 | Venturer Oakham Telemark 2023 | Oakham School CCF |
| 3085 | KWAZULU-NATAL VENTURER 2023 | Greater London South East Sector ACF |
| 3061 | EPIC 23 2023 | 2387 (Pudsey), 44F(City of Bradford), 168 (City of Leeds) |
| 2790 | Legacy – KwaZulu Natal 2023 | Rockwood Academy (CEP) CCF & Warwickshire and West Midlands (SS) ACF |
| 3101 | NORTHERN JULISCHE ALPINE 23 2023 | Northumbrian Universities Officer Training Corps |
| 3039 | Poole Sea Cadets Annual Camp 2023 | Poole Sea Cadets |
| 3093 | TIGER MANASLU 2023 | MAS(A), HQ Army |
| 3096 | Coronation Jerboa BFC Oct 2023 | HQ Centre Region ACF, CCF and VCC Cadets |