Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to support the recruitment and retention of Cadet Force Adult Volunteers.

Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) are the lifeblood of our Cadet Forces – without whom the fantastic benefits of being a cadet could not be enjoyed by many thousands of young people.

Work is currently underway to determine how the 30% increase in cadet numbers recommended in the Strategic Defence Review will be delivered. This includes the proposition we are able to make to attract and retain CFAVs. The success of the Cadet Forces is intrinsically linked to the adult volunteers, and we are assessing how best to support them.

The responses from a recent extensive survey of CFAVs are helping to inform our approach to improving recruitment and retention in order to deliver expansion. This involves a range of work strands such as exploring more flexible ways to volunteer, reviewing and modernising recognition and reward, and looking at measures to reduce CFAVs’ day‑to‑day administrative burden.

We are committed to providing a compelling and appropriate offer for CFAVs in recognition of their contribution and as part of our drive to expand the Cadet Forces, we are holding the first National Cadets Week starting on 5 October 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate, publicise, and support the outstanding contributions of our adult volunteers.

We will also be launching a new Cadets Action Plan during National Cadets Week. This will set out our long-term vision for the Cadet Forces and will focus on the need to ensure that our adult volunteers have the right resources and support.