Shropshire Army Cadet Force

11/10/2026

Battlefield Tour – Ex Wireless Ridge, London

Over the weekend, B Company organised a trip to London to give their team some well-deserved time away and, more importantly, to say a massive thank you for all their hard work, commitment and continued support the company.

The weekend was made possible thanks to Squadron Corporal Major (SCM) Richard Hendy of the Household Cavalry, who kindly hosted the team at Hyde Park Barracks.

The visit was packed with opportunities to learn, explore and enjoy some well-earned downtime. Col Neville, Commandant of Shropshire ACF, led a fascinating crime walk around London, providing a real insight into how modern detective work has evolved.

SCM Hendy then took the team around some of London’s historic sites, including the Guards Museum and Horse Guards Parade, where they witnessed the King’s Life Guard four o’clock inspection behind closed gates that is normally closed to the public. There was also an opportunity to let off some steam at an electric clay range, followed by some good food and music, German style!

Sunday morning saw SCM Hendy give the team a tour of the stables, providing access to the magnificent horses that many of us would normally only get to see on television or during ceremonial parades. The weekend concluded with a visit to the National Army Museum and the Royal Hospital Chelsea before everyone headed home.

A fantastic weekend was had by all, and it was a great opportunity for the team to spend time together outside of their usual commitments.

The Army Cadet Force isn’t just about the cadets; it’s also about recognising and looking after the adult volunteers who give up so much of their own time to support them. Our CFAVs work incredibly hard behind the scenes, and weekends like this are a small way of recognising that commitment and giving something back.

We would like to say a massive thank you to all our CFAVs for everything they do for Shropshire ACF. A special thank you goes to Col Neville, SCM Hendy and the Household Cavalry for their hospitality and for making the weekend such a memorable experience.

Thank you all for everything you do. It is very much appreciated!

Shropshire Army Cadet Force Trust Shropshire Army Cadet Force Shropshire Lieutenancy The Household Cavalry

09/10/2026

National Cadet Week – Celebrating Shropshire Army Cadet Force!

This National Cadet Week, we’re celebrating the incredible young people and dedicated adult volunteers who make Shropshire Army Cadet Force what it is today.

Being an Army Cadet is about so much more than learning military skills. It’s about building confidence, developing leadership, learning teamwork, challenging yourself and making friendships that can last a lifetime.

From fieldcraft, navigation and first aid to adventurous training, music, sport and community events, our cadets have opportunities to learn new skills, discover their potential and achieve things they might never have thought possible.

Behind every cadet is a team of committed adult volunteers who give up their own time to support, encourage and inspire the next generation. Their dedication helps create an environment where young people can grow, develop resilience and become confident, responsible members of their communities.

Across Shropshire, our detachments provide a place for young people to challenge themselves, try something new and be part of something bigger. Every parade night, training weekend and camp is another opportunity to learn, grow and create lasting memories.

This National Cadet Week, we say a huge thank you to our cadets, adult volunteers, instructors, families and supporters. Your commitment and enthusiasm help make Shropshire ACF the organisation it is today.

Interested in becoming a cadet or volunteering with us? There’s a place for you in Shropshire Army Cadet Force. Come along, discover what we do and be part of the adventure!

09/10/2026

A massive well done to the team at Bishops Castle on reopening the detachment after a prolonged period of closure!

This is a fantastic achievement and a clear sign of the strength, commitment and continued growth of Shropshire ACF. It’s great to see another detachment reopening its doors, creating new opportunities for young people and strengthening our presence in the local community.

Congratulations to everyone involved in making this happen!

05/10/2026

Musical Collaborations

What a fantastic Sunday for music, teamwork and learning as musicians from Warwickshire and Shropshire came together for a joint training day at Copthorne Barracks.

The day brought together cadets from across the two counties, giving them the opportunity to develop their musical skills, learn from experienced instructors and, most importantly, enjoy making music together.

The training day concluded with a special visit from the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, who thoroughly enjoyed the cadets’ performance and commented on how wonderful their music was. It was fantastic to see the cadets showcasing their talent and the progress they have made.

A huge thank you to all the CFAVs who travelled from across the region, helped with transporting cadets and supported the day, as well as the musical instructors who gave up their time to provide additional training and guidance.

Well done to every cadet involved, you should all be incredibly proud of yourselves!

Want to join Shropshire Band & Bugles?

You don’t need any previous musical experience!

Shropshire Band & Bugles parade at Copthorne Barracks every Thursday, 19:00–21:00, and are open to all cadets across Shropshire ACF.

You’ll receive:
Your own instrument
Professional tuition and support
The opportunity to work towards the ACS Music Syllabus (1★–4★)
The chance to use music as a DofE Skill
Opportunities to perform and work alongside cadets from across the region

It’s a fantastic way to develop new skills, build confidence, make friends and get even more from your time in the Army Cadet Force.

Never played an instrument before? No problem, we’ll teach you!

📍 Copthorne Barracks
📅 Every Thursday
⏰ 19:00–21:00

🎶 Come and give it a go! 🎶

30/09/2026

Regional First Aid Competition – 27 September

An early start for our cadets on Sunday morning as they headed to Tiddesley Wood for the Regional First Aid Competition.

The cadets were put through their paces, dealing with a wide range of simulated casualties and injuries, including CPR, burns and crush injuries, putting their first aid knowledge, teamwork and decision-making to the test.

We’re incredibly proud to say that our teams came away with 3rd place and 4th place!

For most of these cadets, this was their first-ever regional competition, and they absolutely did themselves proud. They represented the County brilliantly and showed great commitment, confidence and teamwork throughout the day.

A massive well done to every cadet who took part, you should all be extremely proud of your achievement!

And finally… a special thank you from the cadets to a certain kind person who would like to remain anonymous, but who treated them to McDonald’s on the way home as a thank you for giving up their time to represent the County.

Your generosity was very much appreciated, although we suspect the cadets may remember the McDonald’s almost as fondly as the competition! 😂

Well done, everyone!

28/09/2026

Shropshire’s Ri**es Cup Team – What an Effort!

A massive well done to our Ri**es Cup team!

The team were put through their paces across a challenging range of activities, including:

🔹 Break Contact Drills – including some advanced techniques
🔹 Command Tasks
🔹 Weapon Handling & Familiarisation
🔹 Section Attacks
🔹 Medical Stands
🔹 Night Optics
🔹 Mine Clearance
🔹 Observation Lane

They tackled every challenge with determination, teamwork and professionalism, putting into practice the skills they had developed and pushing themselves throughout the competition.

And the result… 5th place overall!

Even more impressive, the only points dropped across the competition were on the Medical Stand and Command Tasks, an outstanding performance against some very demanding activities.

Massive congratulations to the whole team. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves, you did yourselves proud!

Well done, team!

10/09/2026

https://www.instagram.com/p/Db5xfBzok1W/?stkn=eDNrOGc5MnQyYWxu

Please have a look at the latest Shropshire ACF Trust Newsletter.

Shropshire Army Cadet Force Trust thank you for all you do to support us, we’re very grateful and we really appreciate your unwavering commitment to our CFAVs and Cadets.

03/09/2026

28/08/2026

Thank you for your service!

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morningWe will remember them”