We develop young people physically and mentally, improving self-confidence, teamwork, friendship and leadership. We welcome cadets of all abilities and backgrounds that are able to access the majority of our activities. We also aim to develop a sense of community in our cadets.

If you are aged between 12 and 18 and would like to know more, either read on or even better, come and see us any Wednesday evening from 1900 hrs to 2130 hrs where we’ll be happy to discuss our activities with you and show you around. We are located along Kirkham Gardens, Bromyard, HR7 4DZ. Alternatively, contact Sjt. Westlake on 07769 588402 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In the meantime, click on   this link to see what you are missing!

Bromyard Detachment

We currently have 16 Cadets on strength at Bromyard, with ages ranging from 13 to 16 years. New recruits are always welcome.

In addition, we have 3 permanent Instructors headed by Sjt. Westlake as Detachment Commander and assisted by Sjt. Wood and female Instructor Colour Sergeant Goodman.

Our training facilities at Bromyard include our own indoor air rifle range, parade hall and training rooms. We also have access to 500 acres of countryside for training purposes just a couple of miles away.

The Army Proficiency Certificate (APC)

The APC syllabus forms the basis of a structured training program designed to progress Cadets in community and activity based skills. It is taught at 5 different levels, from basic, through 1 Star to 4 Star and addresses the following subjects:

Drill, Turnout and Military Knowledge
Skill at Arms and shooting
First Aid
Map and Compass
Fieldcraft
Cadet and the Community
Expedition
Physical Achievement

We also encourage and support participation in the Duke of Edinburgh award and Cadet Vocational Qualifications.

Forthcoming Events

Bromyard Mountain Expedition, June 09

We're currently training for a weekend expedition into the Black Mountain 5th to 7th June 09. We'll be camping out for a couple of nights and venturing into the hills to locate a couple of wartime aircraft crash sites. This will be a true test of our navigation and expedition training as well as being a full on fun weekend. We're well underway with route planning, stores and equipment provisioning etc.

Recent events

 New Recruit intake and training program 06 to 09 April 09

Following a recruiting drive at the QE on Thurs 02 April, we conducted a 4 day training and induction course, taking advantage of the school holidays. New recruits underwent 4 days of basic training in subjects such as weapon handling, marksmanship, camouflage and concealment and first aid. Highlights of the event were a full day out "in the field" eating from Army 24hr ration packs and air rifle shooting on our indoor range.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome the following recruits into the Platoon.

Rct Morris

Rct Davis

Rct Eckley

Rct Reynolds

We still have a few positions vacant so new recruits are still welcome to join.

Promotions. 01 April 09

In line with our expansion plans for the Detachment, Cadets Shephard E and Shephard D were both promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal at parade this evening. This now takes our Cadet Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) strength to one Corporal and three Lance Corporals. Congratulations go to L/Cpl Shephard E and L/Cpl Shephard D on this well deserved promotion.

Map and Compass training exercise 12th March 09

With his 3 Star Map and Compass testing board due on 21st and 22nd March, Cpl Jones recently undertook a navigation training exercise in the Black Mountains in the area of Hay Bluff. As part of the exercise, Cpl Jones decided to try and locate the 1946 crash site of an RAF Airspeed Oxford training aircraft. Research indicated that there was no wreckage remaining at the site, but that a large scar in the ground was still visible though it was difficult to distinguish from the naturally occurring erosion scars. Despite poor visibility due to low cloud and the featureless nature of the area, Cpl Jones used micro navigation techniques to locate the site which still contained numerous small pieces of wreckage.

This was an excellent demonstration of how to use conventional navigation techniques to a high degree of accuracy in low visibility conditions.

Bromyard Platoon wish Cpl Jones good luck with his forthcoming testing board.

Footnote- Congratulations to Cpl Jones for passing his 3 Star testing board.

Cpl Jones examines pieces of wreckage from the 1946 crash site of Airspeed Oxford PH242 near the top of Hay Bluff.

Exercise Highland Venturer 14th to 21st Feb 09

Highland Venturer was a week long Adventure Training exercise in the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland involving 32 cadets from across the county. Bromyard Platoon was represented by Cadets Lane and Baker, together with Instructors Sjt. Woods and Sjt. Westlake. In true ACF fashion, we were involved in a wide range of winter mountain activities right from the start- mountain expedition, ice axe arrest, traversing and climbing ice walls using crampons and ice axes, skiing and making emergency shelters. After just 4 days, the mountain skills instructors deemed us competent enough to spend a night out in the mountains in snow holes which we had to dig ourselves. The whole exercise was an outstanding success and we're planning a similar event for next year already.

Cadets practice making emergency shelters in the snow.

Cdt Baker demonstrating his breakdancing on skis routine

Sjt. Wood's team on the summit of Cairn Gorm

This exercise was typical of the standard of Adventure Training provided by the ACF- it's what the organisation is all about. Thanks to the vast resource and logistics support available, we were able to run this exercise for a charge of just £50 per cadet. This included all transport, food, accomodation, equipment etc. All that the cadets had to bring was a weeks worth of clothes and a sense of adventure!

County CEO, Major Sandison, singlehandedly challenges 32 Cadets to a snowball fight..........   Guess who didn't win!

Sector training weekend 24th & 25th Jan 09

This was one of our periodic training weekends at our Weekend Training Centre (WETC) Tiddesley Wood, near Pershore. These weekends provide the opportunity to carry out some concentrated training using resources and facilities not normally available at Detachment level. This particular weekend was a good example in that the main focus was live firing with the 5.56mm L98A1 GP Rifle on the 100m ranges. In addition to marksmanship training, we also conducted 1, 2 and 3 Star testing plus selection for the forthcoming March and Shoot competition. Bromyard Platoon had a highly successful weekend with Cpl Jones and Cdt Shephard D both passing their shooting tests (3 and 2 Star respectively) as well as being selected for the county shooting team and March and Shoot squad- an excellent result.

Cdts Lane and Baker both passed Map & Compass with Cdt Lane also passing Skill at Arms- all at 1 Star level. Recruit Tonks completed his Basic training which qualified him to wear the Rifles cap badge and progress to the rank of Cadet. Well done to all- this was an outstanding weekend for Bromyard.

L/Cpl Styles gathers up empty shell cases.

Cdt Skipp takes aim for a 5 round zeroing practice

Promotion- Lance Corporal Styles

Cadet Styles was awarded promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal at Detachment Parade on 21st Jan. Such promotions are only awarded following prolonged periods of regular attendance at both Detachment parade and weekend training events, consistently smart turnout, a willingness to assume responsibility and a demonstrated ability to set a standard which others can aspire to. Congratulations go to L/Cpl Styles for meeting these demanding criteria and we now look forward to her playing a part in the smooth and efficient operation of the Detachment.

L/Cpl Styles receives her first stripe.

2 Star First Aid training and test 17th & 18th Jan 09

Cdts Shephard E, Shephard D, and Styles attended this event at WETC Tiddesley Wood. The 2 Star 1st Aid syllabus covers subjects such as primary and secondary survey, CPR, treatment of wounds etc and is recognised by the award of a St John Young First Aider certificate. Congratulations to the 3 Bromyard cadets for passing this rigorous training and assessment weekend thereby bringing potentially life saving skills into the Bromyard community.

Xmas Camp 5^th – 7^th Dec 08

Traditionally at Xmas Camp we take a break from APC based subjects and just have a weekend of sports and activity based events. This year continued this forum and included activities such as mountain biking, clay pigeon shooting, cross country, football, tug of war, climbing wall, archery, target shooting and Dismountable Close Combat Trainer (DCCT).

Well done to the following Bromyard Cadets for participating:

Cpl Jones, Cdt Shephard, D, Cdt Shephard, E, Cdt Lane, Cdt Baker, Cdt Styles & Rct Tonks

Congratulations go to Cdt. Shephard, E and Cdt. Styles for winning medals in the cross country and tug of war.

Bromyard Cadets and Sjt Wood at Christmas Camp

Exercise Sidewinder 23^rd Nov 08

Exercise Sidewinder was a Detachment training day held in the local area. It involved cadets from both Bromyard and Ledbury Detachments operating against each other in a military defence and reconnaissance scenario.

Bromyard Cadets in a single file patrol formation

The operational objective was to locate a top secret AIM32-LX Air to Air missile which had fallen from a Typhoon fighter. Bromyard Platoon then had to mount a defensive cordon around it whilst Ledbury Platoon were tasked with conducting an intelligence gathering mission on the defending force.

The AIM32-LX missile was located in a small copse

We ended the day with a welcome hot meal from 24hr Army ration packs cooked on hexamine burners on the side of a hill in complete darkness.

Cooking lessons Al Fresco!

We didn't announce a winning Platoon for the day as it was too close to call. However, Bromyard have an AIM32-LX Air to Air missile hanging on their Detachment wall!

CRV(T) Scimitar visit 13 Nov 08

Our Cadet Executive Officer took advantage of a visit by a Scimitar light tank to the Hereford TA Centre by arranging for some of the ACF Detachments to pay a visit and “crawl all over it”

Corporal Jones in the turret of the scimitar

We got hold of the Sector minibus and took the Detachment over to Hereford on the Thursday evening. The Scimitar crew took every cadet through each crew position, explaining how all of the controls and systems worked. We also got plenty of pictures of the Cadets sitting in the driver’s position and in the turret.

Cadets Lane (left) and Baker with Scimitar

Highlight of the evening was when the crew took all of the cadets, two at a time in the turret, for a drive around the compound. They obviously took it nice and slowly - so slowly in fact that Cdt. Shephard’s beret blew off!

Useful links

Army Cadet Force website www.armycadets.com

Hereford & Worcester ACF Blogger site http://hwacf.blogspot.com/