South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (SE RFCA) is one of 13 RFCAs UK-wide, SERFCA is a Ministry of Defence (MoD) Crown body, responsible to the Defence Council, but separate from military chains-of-command.
SE RFCA gives support to the Reserve Forces and Cadets from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force in the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, East and West Sussex.
The majority of the Association comprises volunteers, presided over by the Lord-Lieutenant of each county, ranging from high-ranking serving and retired military officers, through local councillors to enthusiastic locals, with no military experience, but with a will to support the Armed Forces and Cadets; so it can be seen that the Association has close links with the Community because it is part of that Community.
Managing the volunteer estate
Through building new centres, maintaining current ones to the required legal standards and ensuring that all sites are kept in good order, fit for purpose and secure: SERFCA as an organisation aims to provide an attractive environment in which to recruit and train.
SE RFCA is responsible for the upkeep of 29 Army Reserve Centre’s, seven Careers Offices and University Officer Training Units (which are tri-service), 264 Cadet Centres including 58 Joint Cadet Centres, seven Cadet Training Centres all on behalf of the MoD.
Along with our own estate Jersey Camp on the Isle of Wight.
Encouraging support for the Reserves and Cadets
Through engagement events, briefings, awards evenings, social media and other publicity, allowing us to actively inform, influence, engage and create a positive but lasting change with gatekeepers and others who hold influence within their county.
This includes giving support to, in particular, Reservists by engaging with Employers and supporting Employers of Reservists who seek more information or who have Reservist Employees deployed on operations.
Supporting Cadets
Each year the Combined Cadet Force, Volunteer Cadet Corps, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Royal Air Force Air Cadets encourage thousands of Cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteer’s develop qualifications, soft skill’s, a good work ethic and a positive outlook on both life and work.
We as SE RFCA promote and support the permanent Army Cadet Force staff and also promote the Cadet Experience and support for Cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from all five cadet forces.
The Reservists and Cadets are under command of their respective military chains-of-command, but the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations support the MOD by providing an independent view on the state of the Reserves and Cadets, and their issues, recommending solutions through annual statutory reports to Ministers.