The Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association
Supporting the Reserve Forces and Cadets in the Highlands of Scotland
WHAT AND WHERE WE ARE
Highland RFCA is a Crown Agency, established by Act of Parliament (under the Reserve Forces Act 1996) as one of 13 separate independent and autonomous Tri-Service corporate bodies, to support the Reserve Forces and Cadets in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Highland RFCA is one of two RFCAs in Scotland. Our area covers 22,000sq miles and stretches from Campbeltown in Argyllshire to Lerwick in Shetland, and from Aberdeen to the Western Isles, across which there is population of 2.2 million. The main centres of population are located in the towns of the Central Belt including Dumbarton and Stirling, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. Governance is exercised by a Ministerial Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Defence, through the Council of RFCAs, to Highland RFCA. Funding for Highland RFCA’s activities is derived from MOD Stakeholders which include the Defence Staff, HQ Fleet, HQ Land Forces, HQ Air Command, and Defence Estates.
Highland RFCA has a Management Board and four Area Committees.
The Association Membership is made up of:
- Lord Lieutenants (Ex-Officio President and Vice Presidents)
- Ex-Officio unit and sub-unit commanders of the Naval, Marine, Army and Air Force Reserves, and the Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps
- Selected Regular and Reserve personnel with interests in the Reserves and Cadets
- Representatives of Local Government, Universities, Employers, Employees and all four Cadet organisations (SCC, ACF, ATC, and CCF)
- An Executive based in Dundee, with outstations in Inverness and Aberdeen
MISSION
To provide support to the Reserve Forces and Service Cadet Organisations across the Highlands of Scotland in order to enhance their effectiveness, and through representation by the Association to inform and influence the wider community on issues relating to the Armed Forces-in-Society
TASKS AND ACTIVITIES
Highland RFCA is mandated by the Ministry of Defence to perform the following tasks:
- Promote the Armed Forces in Society – through its widespread network across the Highlands, Highland RFCA aims to promote wider understanding of the need for defence and the role of each of the Armed Forces. In particular Highland RFCA fosters the Volunteer Reserve Forces of each Service, ensuring that their interests are represented to Government, the Ministry of Defence and to the community at large.
- Employer Engagement and Support – with the support of the SaBRE and National Employers Advisory Board (NEAB) campaign, which operates both at a national and regional level, it aims to heighten the awareness of the Volunteer Reserve Forces amongst Employers and encourages their support. Importantly it acts as a 2-way flow of views between Employers and the MOD. It explains how transferable skills acquired by Reservists benefit the civilian workplace. It provides advice and support to both Reservists and Employers about their commitments and liabilities.
- Recruiting Support – Territorial Army units are provided with advice and support in line with the Army’s One Army Recruiting policy. Highland RFCA works in close cooperation with HQ 51 Scottish Brigade to achieve this. An important aspect of our work is the recruiting of Adult Instructors and Officers for the Army Cadet Force without whom the ACF could not flourish.
- Cadets and Youth – Highland RFCA supports the four Service Cadet organisations – the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force, the Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force. These are all youth movements, not junior elements of the Armed Forces, albeit they derive support in varying degrees from the Ministry of Defence.
- The ACF - Highland RFCA provide direct support to each of the five ACF Battalions and two Independent Cadet Batteries in the Highlands and Islands by employing a Permanent Staff for each of the units who manage the day to day running of these volunteer organisations, and maintaining their facilities. Highland RFCA works closely with HQ 51 Scottish Brigade and the Army Cadet Force Association (Scotland) to promote cadet activities which aim to develop citizenship and life skills as well as providing fun and adventure. Apart from a military proficiency syllabus, training offered includes the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, St John’s Ambulance First Aid Courses, the opportunity to obtain National Vocational Qualifications (BTEC First Diploma in Public Service, the equivalent of four Standard Grades), and piping and drumming qualifications.
- The Other Cadet Forces - direct support is provided to the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Forces in the Highlands and Islands, and, due to its independent charitable status, indirect support to the Sea Cadet Corps.
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Arbroath TA Centre | Fort William Joint Cadet Centre |
- Estate and Facilities Management – a total of 36 centres for the TA and Reserves, and 135 for the Cadets are constructed, maintained, furnished and managed. The property management budget for 2007/8 was £2.73M and for 2008/9 is £1.9M.
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Brigadier Alastair Doward LLB NP TD Chairman | Colonel A K Miller CBE Chief Executive |