I joined the Surrey Army cadets club and found it is more than obstacle courses and weapons training


There are not many Surrey clubs for children where throwing yourself in headfirst is a literal requirement. But at the one I took on, which included weapons training and obstacle courses, it was a necessity.

For Brigadier Gary McDade, “lifelong success” is the main aim for his Cadets and Through a unique combination of military and non-military activities, this unusual kids club has been reported to improve the school performance and wellbeing of its members.

Aimed at 12-17 year olds there are around 74,000 Army Cadets across the UK. Over the course of one day I got a sense of what youngsters in Frimley get up to, from marching around a courtyard to dangling off a high wire.

It was a jump into the unknown. At the beginning of the day my group was kitted out in green overalls, walking boots, and hard hats, a sign of the tasks to come. To ease us in we started off with a STEM activity meant to work our brains rather than our bodies.

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The mental side is something that the cadets are keen to stress. Brig. Gary McDade told SurreyLive: “There is evidence that Cadets are more likely to stay on to further education, so more likely to go on to A levels or go on to study Btec’s or something similar to give them a better foundation for adult life. Former Cadets are less likely to be a burden on the health service or the justice system and they're more likely to hold down good jobs and be responsible human beings.”

This was not obvious from my group. The task was to assemble a seemingly random collection of kit into a device to transport a cup of water over an obstacle course. Our instructors had to double the amount of time we had, but still our wheelbarrows looked very wobbly.

Victoria lays on wall
Victoria dived head first into cadet training -Credit:Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror

Even though I had very few engineering skills I could see what the activity was trying to teach. Creative thinking, physics and ingenuity were all required to be successful and I could see what a teenager would get out of it.

The day then moved to something completely different. Music is a key part of the cadets and we were treated to a drum and bagpipe performance as well as the opportunity to try on the famous red uniform and bearskin caps seen during military parades. Cadets can perform on some of the biggest stages including at the Coronation

Perhaps the most difficult activity we got up to was drill, which was confusing as it looked the simplest. We only got into the simplest turns and marches but were left out of sync and breath. I was assured that the cadets loved drill, and performed it a lot better.

Victoria attempts a salute
Victoria found out that drill is a lot harder than it looks -Credit:Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror

With an activity that had more obvious military origins I was left in two minds. The benefits were clear, teamwork while marching, leadership when calling out instructions. However, I wasn’t sure if getting children to march around like soldiers glamorised the army in a way that made me uncomfortable.

Some cadets do end up pursuing a career within the army, but we were told the vast majority did not, instead going on to a range of roles elsewhere. Some opt to give back as an adult volunteer while working with the cadets.

The day ended with an assault course. From climbing over walls, balancing on ledges and climbing down ropes, it certainly tested me in a way I had never been tested before. While I felt sore the next day, I could definitely see how it would push a teenager into testing their limits in a safe environment. Completing it would certainly give you a confidence boost.

Victoria sits at top of drop
Victoria prepares to climb down rope -Credit:Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror

What I didn’t see on my day out, was what else the cadets get up to. Youngsters go on summer camps, as well as foreign exchanges giving them the opportunity to meet and befriend a diverse range of people. Prices are kept as low as possible to encourage all to take part.

Those who love it will love it, and it is definitely a different sort of activity camp. You can learn more about the cadets here.

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