Three-point Cadet Action Plan strategy unveiled as minister pledges more support for force

The upcoming Cadet Action Plan will have three key aims to help boost the force by the end of the decade.

Defence minister Louise Sandher-Jones set out the broad objectives of the strategy to help boost membership by 30% by 2030.

The plan will be officially unveiled during the first-ever National Cadets Week in October but the minister outlined the areas that it will focus on during Defence Questions in the Commons.

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The former Army Intelligence Officer told MPs that the plan aims to focus on the recruitment and support of adult volunteers, make sure the force has the correct assistance and infrastructure it needs as well as raise awareness of the opportunities in the cadets to more young people.

She said: "Cadets – particularly for those who are at risk of not going on to further education, employment or training – provides a fantastic opportunity for young people to have a go at something that isn't school and to gain confidence to find out what it is that they want to do.

"The Cadet Action Plan will have three key aims. 

"Firstly, is to how we can recruit and support adult volunteers – without whose amazing work we wouldn't have the cadets at all. 

"Secondly, to make sure that we have the correct support including support to infrastructure for our cadets.

"Thirdly, to make sure that every young person in this country is aware of the amazing things that they can gain from the cadets."

The Government has invested £70m into its '30 by 30' campaign that was launched in August last year to boost the number of cadets by 40,000 by the end of the decade.