
Cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV) showcased their activities during a tri-Service Cadet Open Day in Dundee on 28 September.
Local cadet units set up stands in City Square, showcasing the benefits and available opportunities within the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC), Army Cadet Force (ACF), and Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC). Cadets from all three Cadet Forces took part in the opening display with a parade from the High School of Dundee to City Square.
- Cadets marching.
- The tri-Service parade.
- Cadets marching to City Square.
- The parade on Reform Street.
- Army Cadets marching.
- RAF Air Cadets marching.
- Cadets gathered at City Square.
- The opening display.
- Cadets standing to attention.
The free event, which ran from 11 am to 3 pm, gave insight into the Service Cadets and the readily transferable skills they learn. This was the second consecutive year the Cadet Open Day was held at the same location, following last year’s successful event on 3 June 2023.
- Highland RFCA’s Head of Engagement, Michelle McKearnon, with HRFCA’s mascot, Sergeant Major George.
- Cadets were delighted that Max from one of HRFCA’s Forces-friendly employers, Nae Limits, stopped by.
- Nae Limits has an Armed Forces Covenant and a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Bronze Award.
- The tri-Service cadets and Adult Volunteers.
- Army Cadets in front of the Caird Hall.
- RAF Air Cadets in front of the Caird Hall.
The Sea Cadets brought along a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) and a Marine Engineering Pod. The mobile workshop tours schools and colleges across the UK, inspiring and engaging young people about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects as an exciting future career choice. Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets, part of the Sea Cadets family, from the Fife & Tayside District also set up stands.
- Sgt Maj George on board the RIB.
- The Sea Cadets RIB.
- A Junior Sea Cadet.
- The Marine Engineering Pod.
- The Sea Cadets STEM display.
- A CFAV teaching two Sea Cadets.
- A STEM lesson for aspiring engineers.
- A CFAV giving insight into the SCC.
- The Fife & Tayside District SCC stand.
The Army Cadets displays included bowling and tag archery.
- The tag archery stand.
- Sea Cadets trying tag archery.
- Tag archery proved to be popular.
- Cadets helping each other.
- One of the Army Cadets stands.
- An Army Cadet having a go.
- Cadets mingling at one of the stands.
- One of the Army Cadets stands.
- The bowling stand.
The RAF Air Cadets displayed a mobile flight simulator, a Hawker Siddeley Harrier jet, and a first aid stand.
- The RAF Air Cadets first aid stand.
- Cadets demonstrating CPR.
- A friendly CPR competition.
- A CPR lesson.
- Cadets teaching CPR.
- The Hawker Siddeley Harrier aircraft.
- Passersby enjoying the Harrier.
- The cockpit photo opportunity.
- All cadets were keen to have a go.
- Cadets taking a seat in the Harrier.
- The mobile flight simulator.
- Getting a taste of what flying is like.
Army Cadets and RAF Air Cadets participated in drill displays throughout the day. The Army Cadets were represented by the Angus and Dundee Battalion Drill Display Team. The Air Cadets were from Central Scotland Wing. Drill equips cadets with the skills to march, be part of a team, and self-discipline.
- The Drill Display Team.
- Army Cadets marching.
- Cadets standing to attention.
- The ACF drill display.
- Cadets being reviewed.
- Cracked a smile!
- Showcasing drill skills.
- Army Cadets saluting.
- Central Scotland Wing RAFAC.
- The RAFAC drill display.
- Central Scotland Wing Air Cadets.
- Air Cadets standing to attention.
- Air Cadets during the drill.
- Air Cadets marching.
- Showcasing a slow march.
Drummers from the Dundee Sea Cadets Band also performed for the crowd. The Band included Royal Navy Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets, both part of the Sea Cadet Corps.
- The musicians marching.
- The Sea Cadets Band.
- The drummers performing.
Cadets also took part in a fitness challenge, led by a Royal Marines Cadets Physical Training Instructor. The physical demonstration culminated in an intense press-up competition. An impressive Army Cadet remarkably blew both the competition and the crowd away by beating all contestants, including the Physical Training Instructor.
- Time for the fitness session!
- Sprint drills.
- Physical demonstration.
- Holding a press-up at the top…
- …and pausing on the way down.
- Walking it off whilst stretching.
- Stretching at the end of the session.
- The press-up competition.
- The cadets gave it their all.
- The winner just kept going!
- The last cadet standing.
- Congratulations to the winner!
The event was rounded off with an action-packed webbing competition, which involved three teams dismantling and reassembling webbing kit. Sea Cadets from Training Ship (TS) Duncan won last year’s competition, but Angus and Dundee Battalion Army Cadets came out on top this year at the very close competition.
- A pre-competition brief.
- Army Cadets team huddle.
- Let’s go team!
- Competition in full swing.
- A cadet figuring out the webbing.
- Multitasking at its finest.
- The teams worked efficiently.
- Teamwork on display.
- Team Captain rallying the team.
- Staff testing out the webbing.
- It was a close call until the end.
- The Army Cadets team.
- The Sea & Royal Marines Cadets team.
- Celebrating the victory.
- The staff team placed third.
- The second-placed team.
- Time for the prizes.
- The proud winning team.

The winning Army Cadets team of the inter-Services competition.
Thank you to the cadet units that took part on the day: Dundee (No 113) TS Duncan SCC, Angus and Dundee Battalion ACF as well as Central Scotland Wing RAFAC’s 1145 (Dunfermline) Squadron, 1232 (City of Dundee) Squadron, and 2450 (Dudhope) Squadron.
Find out more about the Sea Cadets.
Find out more about the Army Cadets.