Armed Forces Cadet Movement
I commend my colleague Elizabeth Smith for her motion and congratulate her on securing the debate. Like Stuart McMillan and other colleagues, I had the pleasure of meeting representatives from the cadet forces earlier today and was impressed by them.
I associate myself with the comments that Elizabeth Smith and Jim Hume made about the Knox academy Combined Cadet Force. It would be a tragedy if we lost that resource now.
As we have heard, the cadet forces are voluntary youth organisations for boys and girls aged 12 to 18, and the central aim of the cadet movement is to promote citizenship and team building, which provides youngsters with a real sense of achievement. I cannot commend the movement enough. I take this opportunity to thank all of the adult volunteers who are involved with the movement, make it work so well and give up their time for the youngsters.
In my region of Mid Scotland and Fife, we are fortunate to have a large number of cadet detachments. In Perth and Kinross, there are detachments in Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Dunkeld, Kinross, Perth and Stanley, as well as numbers throughout Angus, Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Fife. Having the opportunity to take part in military and adventurous activities is a highlight for the youngsters who are in the cadets, who are also actively involved in helping their communities. It is clear that those young people highly value being part of a detachment and feel pride in their accomplishments.
Blairgowrie has a tremendous local detachment that I have had the pleasure of visiting on a number of occasions. Like many in the area, it is part of the Black Watch battalion Army Cadet Force, which is mentioned in Elizabeth Smith’s motion. Young people from the Blairgowrie detachment get involved in an astonishing range of opportunities, from adventure weekends to military training to flying planes.
Such has been the success of the detachment that it is helping to set up a new detachment in Pitlochry. The initiative is spearheaded by Major Douglas Pover, John Gregory and other volunteers, who have held three open nights so far to introduce the Army Cadet Force to Pitlochry. So far, 21 young people have registered to be involved. Since February, the detachment has held training nights in Pitlochry high school, with youngsters regularly attending. Senior cadets from Blairgowrie are helping out and training the new cadets, to ensure that there will be a successful new detachment. The previous detachment at Pitlochry closed in the mid 1970s, whereas the nearby detachment at Aberfeldy shut down in 1980, so the cadet movement is reforming in Highland Perthshire. That will be much to the benefit of the area, given that at present the nearest detachment is some miles down the A9, in Dunkeld.
What is happening in Pitlochry goes to show that the hard work and dedication of a few individuals can have an enormous effect on a whole town of youngsters. I pay tribute to individuals such as Major Douglas Pover and John Gregory for their work, which is having a lasting and positive impact. I also put on record my thanks to the commandant of the Black Watch army cadets, Colonel Martin Passmore, whom I had the pleasure of meeting earlier today; the honorary colonel of the Black Watch battalion Army Cadet Force, Lorraine Kelly; and the Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross, Brigadier Mel Jameson. It is tremendous that individuals of that calibre are prepared to give up their time to support this worthwhile cause.
The Black Watch is a proud regiment that is intertwined with the Tayside area. All soldiers of the Black Watch throughout its history would be proud of our current cadets. I doubt that those cadets would seek any higher honour.
17:28
That is right.
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S3M-5633, in the name of Elizabeth Smith, on 150 years of the armed forces cadet movement. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament congratulates the armed forces’ cadet movement on its 150th anniversary; considers that the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force have given great opportunities to young people to develop self-confidence, teamwork, leadership and responsibility through a wide range of activities, including sport, adventure training, first aid, military skills training, community activities and military music groups, including the Black Watch Battalion Army Cadet Force, which covers Perth and Kinross and Fife, and further notes that, through Cadet150, the 131,000 current cadets will be taking part in events across the United Kingdom, with a notable programme of events in Scotland and events overseas.
17:07
I welcome the opportunity to take part in the debate. The armed forces cadet movement brings together young men and women from across Scotland and the UK. The respective groups teach teamwork, instil discipline and build key life skills such as self-confidence and responsibility.
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency, which I represent, has a variety of cadet groups that bring together young people from across the area. Much of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders battalion Army Cadet Force F squadron is based in my constituency. Three of the five detachments are based in Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Condorrat. Under the direction of Major Lockhart, that Army Cadet Force squadron develops the attitude and physical side of young people in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth area. Attitude is an important issue. The cadets in my area and across Scotland are being taught the value of community and the notion that they are part of something larger than their individuality. Those young people learn those values, and in the process they give something back to their home communities.
The cadet force goes on four weekend training sessions a year as well as to an annual camp during the summer, which provides exciting and adventurous activities for the young people. The young folk I have spoken to enjoy that immensely. They are proud to take part, they take it seriously, and it stands them in good stead for the rest of their lives.
The Army Cadet Force is just one branch of the cadet movement. The Air Training Corps 2496 squadron is based in Carbrain in Cumbernauld, and we also have young people involved in the Combined Cadet Force. All branches try to get the best out of the young people who are under their wing.
Young people in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth and across Scotland can get a bad reputation. Some people complain about their insolence and lack of respect. As members know, that applies to a minority, but sadly, in many cases, our young people are tarred with the same brush. Like Stuart McMillan, my experience of the young people who are involved in the cadets in my constituency could not be further from that. The fact is that those young people are a credit to their units, their parents and their communities. They do voluntary work in the community throughout the year and not just when it comes round to the poppy collection.
The tens of thousands of cadets across the UK are a testament to the qualities of young people. They are role models to their peers, and an example of great potential for the next generation. I thank Elizabeth Smith for her motion, and for bringing to the attention of the Parliament the fact that we should congratulate the armed forces cadet movement on its fabulous milestone of 150 years in service to our communities. That shows that the movement has staying power.
Sadly, Presiding Officer, I have to attend a meeting that started nine minutes ago, so I do not have staying power. With your permission, I will leave directly after sitting down.
17:20
I join colleagues in congratulating Liz Smith on securing the debate and allowing Parliament to recognise formally, in the Official Report, the contribution that the cadets have made to Scotland over the many years of their existence. I declare an interest as the convener of the cross-party group on supporting veterans in Scotland and a member of the Lowland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. Through those, I recognise fully the contribution that the cadets make, which we have perhaps taken for granted but which we all appreciate.
Today, there have been ceremonies in London, on HMS Belfast, to mark Russia’s formal recognition of those who contributed to the Arctic convoys. Many in Scotland have been represented there. In my capacity as the convener of the cross-party group, I had the privilege of having a discussion with a veteran who had taken part in the Arctic convoys. I was humbled—we use that word too much, but I was genuinely humbled—by the bravery and dedication that that individual had shown. The young people in our cadet force are also familiar—as we should be—with the sacrifices that are made by those in our armed forces.
Elizabeth Smith and Jim Hume rightly recognised the cadet movement’s appreciation of the military right across the services. The cadet movement is now a recognised youth movement. It is right that the Parliament should recognise its contribution in that regard. As Karen Whitefield, Elizabeth Smith and Stuart McMillan said, uniformed youth groups have a profound importance on the lives not only of young people but the communities of which they are a part and society as a whole. I pay tribute to them. The previous debate on the contribution of the uniformed services was on the 100th anniversary of Girlguiding Scotland. In the debate, Karen Whitefield and I shared the recollection that neither of us had been in the Guides—which is easier to understand from my perspective than hers. I think she said that she was in the Girls Brigade.
I, too, congratulate Elizabeth Smith on securing the debate, which I am very proud to sum up on behalf of the Scottish Government.
We are celebrating over 150 years of the cadets. It is absolutely fascinating to look back over some of their early history. The cadets began way back in the 1850s with the formation of several forerunners to the existing organisations. Despite the rumours, I was not around at the time.
The Cadet Corps, the forerunners of the Combined Cadet Corps, was first formed in schools as a means of training young people to support the masses of volunteers who were required to boost army numbers following heavy losses in the Crimea and given the possibility of further war. The Cadet Corps was recognised by the then War Office and permitted to wear the uniforms of their parent volunteer battalions, which were later combined to become the Territorial Army. Gradually, additional battalions developed outwith schools and, as the threat of war receded, some Cadet Corps battalions developed into rifle clubs, and cadet battalions that were not associated with schools became social welfare organisations, the forerunners of the current Army Cadet Corps.
In the meantime, also during the 1850s, a number of orphanages were established to look after children who were orphaned as a result of the Crimean war. Those were run with the help of sailors returning from the Crimea. An organisation was then formed called the Naval Lads Brigade. Over the next 50 years or so, 34 brigades of boys were established and, in 1919, were granted recognition by the Admiralty. The title Navy League Sea Cadet Corps was adopted.
Taking us forward to 1938, a retired officer from the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force, Air Commodore Chamier, had the foresight to see the need for people trained in airmanship and started the Air Defence Cadet Corps. That comprised units that were set up in schools to provide part-time training for young men who intended to join the Royal Air Force. They were hugely successful and their value was noted by the Government of the time, including Winston Churchill. Having developed from the Air Defence Cadet Corps, the Air Training Corps was formed in 1941 by royal warrant. By 1942, the other cadet forces started to thrive once again and were heavily supported by the Government. That has been the case until today, when the cadet forces are still heavily supported by the UK Government and the Scottish Government.
Although many cadets join the armed forces, it is a myth that there is pressure on them to do so. The Ministry of Defence accepts that the cadet forces add value to the youth of today, and for that reason it continues to support them, as we do, whole-heartedly. There is no compulsion to engage in a military career because of one’s involvement in cadet forces.
As Elizabeth Smith pointed out, the four cadet forces in Scotland have a total population of 11,000, with 700 adult volunteer instructors and 400 officers who provide training. In the UK, there are 131,000 cadets, with 25,000 adult volunteers in more than 3,000 units—numbers that we hope will be enhanced over the coming years. All four cadet forces—the Army Cadet Force, the Combined Cadet Force, the Sea Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps—are military-themed youth organisations in which participants have to undertake public service tasks to rise through the ranks, and in which there is a strong emphasis on social inclusion. As others have said, the cadet movement is based on principles of equality, fairness, teamwork and public spirit. Thus, it is a force for good that brings training, teamwork skills, community spirit, discipline and a sense of worth to thousands of young people in Scotland. Business and Technology Education Council qualifications were developed in public service and music, and are recognised by colleges and universities, which enhances opportunities for Scotland’s young people. To date, 1,000 have studied for their BTEC in music, mainly piping.
I hope that the cadet movement continues to flourish and to foster a spirit of adventure and that, at the same time, cadets continue to develop the qualities of leadership and good citizenship. Through its tailored training, the cadet movement will continue to instil and promote in our young people the qualities of responsibility, self-reliance, resourcefulness, endurance, perseverance and a sense of service to the community. We cannot ask any more of our young people, and we are proud of them. The cadet experience is invaluable for young people of all social backgrounds, and we encourage young people to participate. Membership helps to develop life skills, and it is excellent experience, as well as being fun and enjoyable.
I invite my ministerial colleagues to participate in the 150th anniversary events throughout the year. In addition to the events that have already been mentioned, there are three others. First, cadets will plant 150,000 trees that have been supplied by the Woodland Trust as part of the celebrations. Secondly, first world war remembrance activities will be given a special cadet 150 flavour this year. Finally, teams of air cadets from Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland are hoping to be joined by cadets from throughout the country in the Scottish poisk 2010, helping to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the cadet movement. The Scottish poisk is the original air cadet mountain endurance event, which takes the form of a continuous journey through mountain fell, moorland forest and water, broken down into various stages, with a strong element of navigation throughout. Needless to say, I have never participated in such an event.
We encourage all members of Parliament to support the 150th anniversary and the celebrations that go with it. I hope that we can congratulate, on a cross-party and all-party basis, the cadet forces on their 150 years of success. They deserve every plaudit that comes their way. We have every reason to be proud of their achievements.
Meeting closed at 17:45.
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I am pleased to have secured this debate to mark the 150th anniversary of the Army Cadet Force. I warmly welcome the representatives of the Combined Cadet Force in the gallery and thank the cadets who turned up this morning to meet MSPs. In particular, I congratulate the cadets from Loretto school whose CCF celebrates its centenary this year.
The Army Cadet Force is one of the United Kingdom’s oldest, largest and most successful youth organisations, and Scotland has played a unique role in its history. Kirkcaldy—for which I have special affection, as the birthplace of my father—was home to the first detachment in Scotland. From that early foundation, the cadet movement has gone from strength to strength, and is now able to boast more than 47,000 cadets, who are part of the 1,700 local detachments throughout the UK.
As all members who will participate in the debate are well aware, those detachments help young people between the ages of 12 and 18 to develop personally and physically by providing them with a wide range of challenging and exciting opportunities and activities, and training them in the skills that they need for later life. The Combined Cadet Force is renowned for its ability to instil a sense of discipline, leadership and community spirit in our young people. That can only be a good thing, particularly when it can help to turn around the lives of some of our more troubled young people as well as inspire thousands more to achieve their ambitions, including, in many cases, to join the forces. Perhaps one of the greatest assets of the cadet movement is its ability to provide a positive framework for young people of all ages and backgrounds so that it provides them with confidence and self-esteem, strong social bonds and lasting friendships.
Many recent debates in the Parliament have made us focus on the need to improve young people’s skills. Colleges, universities and employers often tell us that we need to do much more in that respect. That is precisely why we should celebrate the success of the cadets and all those who work for them. Whether they learn map and compass skills for the Duke of Edinburgh award, perform in a military band or help with voluntary work in the community, the skills that they learn are hugely important, and they can use them for the rest of their lives. It is a testament to the cadet force’s success that it has become one of the largest music educators of young people in Scotland. Some 800 young people in the cadet force are taught piping and drumming each year; one in every 14 cadets learns to play the pipes or drums.
We should recognise the significant contribution that the cadet force makes in our communities. Community projects enrich local knowledge, encourage good citizenship and provide support for many community events and groups. It is encouraging to see the work that is being done in schools, where the emphasis is on citizen service for all 16-year-olds, which gives young people opportunities to play a leading role in their communities.
In what will inevitably be a difficult financial period in the coming years, it is vital that we do not lose such opportunities. Jim Hume lodged a motion last week in which he rightly asked:
“That the Parliament notes with concern the plans to close the Combined Cadet Force ... at Knox Academy in Haddington, the only CCF remaining in a state secondary school in Scotland”.
I hope that all stakeholders, including East Lothian Council and the Ministry of Defence, will enter into constructive discussions to ensure that that cadet force remains at the school.
The cadet force’s greatest strength is its many volunteers and instructors, who provide experience and specialist skills to develop cadets’ talents. Without the support of such people, which is given selflessly and with unrelenting enthusiasm, we would have great difficulty in supporting our young people. That is why it is a matter of considerable concern that the current economic climate is forcing the United Kingdom Government to make savings of £4 million in the Army Cadet Force training budget, which will inevitably have a detrimental effect on the staffing of cadet courses. There are encouraging signs among all parties in the Parliament that we acknowledge the need to do more to encourage and support volunteers throughout Scotland, but we need to turn our words into action.
A 150th anniversary is an important milestone in any organisation’s history. In the case of the Army Cadet Force, it brings a timely reminder of the strength of our young people when they are motivated to succeed. I hope that the many events throughout the UK, including the aptly named cadetfest in Glasgow in April, the cadet forces piping event in Inverness in the first week of April and the parade at Buckingham palace on 6 July, as well as the hugely important parade at Edinburgh castle on 12 June, will be widely supported by all members and will provide a showcase for the cadet movement in every part of the UK.
I wish all cadets a successful year of celebrations to mark their 150th anniversary. I wish them well in the future. I hope that we can do our bit to ensure that during the next 150 years the Army Cadet Force will be as successful as it has been in the past.
17:12
I congratulate Elizabeth Smith on securing the debate and I welcome the Combined Cadet Force representatives to the public gallery.
I was only too happy to sign the motion when it appeared in the Business Bulletin. I firmly believe that organised activities for younger people, such as are provided by the armed forces cadet movement, the Boys Brigade, the Girls Brigade and the scouting and guiding movements, play an important role in providing additional education, instilling discipline and enabling young people to learn a great deal about other people and cultures. There is also the small matter of having fun, through fantastic experiences and building up camaraderie, which helps younger people to develop.
I was never a member of the cadet movement, although I was in the Boys Brigade. I am sure that cadets’ experiences are sometimes more exotic than the experiences of members of other organisations. When I was researching the matter for today’s debate, I read that there is an opportunity for cadets to go to Lesotho.
In my previous job, when I worked for an MSP, we had a great deal of contact with the west lowland battalion A company detachment at Port Glasgow. The young people were a credit to themselves, their families and the company. They had won the award for best detachment for about four years in a row and the officers were rightly proud of them. They were invited to the Parliament and they thoroughly enjoyed their day out. I was struck by their discipline. Every young person was impeccably behaved and respectful towards the officers and the Parliament.
I had a similar experience earlier this afternoon, when I had the pleasure of meeting cadets from Mid Scotland and Fife, which is not my region. Once again, I was taken by the cadets’ manners and discipline. One cadet, who has been a member for four years, started as a bass drummer in the pipe band and is now the drum major. His experience and leadership role will stand him in good stead in future. I am a piper myself, so I know only too well the demands that are placed on bass drummers and drum majors. I have every respect for what that young man is doing. The remarkable thing about him is his maturity. He is still only 16 years old, but his maturity is well beyond his 16 years.
I am also very jealous of him. We chatted about some events that he has played at, and he told me about his experience of playing at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh castle. My experience as a civilian piper in a Territorial Army band did not stretch to playing at the castle. I could not afford the four weeks off to rehearse and play all the time. Unfortunately, the way the tattoo is organised, people have to be there for the full four weeks; they cannot just do a week here and there. So I am extremely jealous that he, as a 16-year-old, has achieved something that I have not been able to achieve in my 37 years. That young man and others will have similar wonderful experiences with the armed forces cadet movement.
I wonder how many people in the past 150 years have gone through the cadets and on to great things. I also wonder how many have gone through the cadets and, due to receiving a little bit of discipline, have managed to keep themselves on the straight and narrow and thus have not had an impact on other elements of the public sector.
All in all, I whole-heartedly welcome the 150 years of the armed forces cadet movement, and I sincerely wish it every success in future.
17:16
I, too, congratulate Elizabeth Smith on bringing the topic to the chamber for debate and thank her for mentioning my motion on the cadets in her opening remarks.
The cadet force—whether air, sea, army or combined—is a huge boon to our young people. We should be immensely proud that it exists, and it is perhaps an indication of the enthusiasm of cadets, schools, parents and others that we celebrate the movement’s 150th anniversary this year. I also send my congratulations to the movement.
As the motion states, the cadet forces provide young people with leadership and other skills that will doubtless benefit them in years to come. When we speak to young cadets, it is obvious that, apart from any practical skills that they learn, they gain a huge amount of confidence, a great deal of comradeship and a sense of belonging and working together as part of a close-knit cadet team—apparently, that was demonstrated during the cadets’ visit to the Parliament today, which unfortunately I was unable to attend due to parliamentary business. Those soft skills can be translated into later life.
My eldest son benefited from the air cadets in his early teenage years—I know that I look far too young to have a kid that old, but there we go—so I know the value that is attached to such groups for young people. The cadet forces cut across all boundaries: race, gender, age, colour and creed. For that reason alone, they are an ideal vehicle for giving our young people a balanced view of the world. It is true that the life of a cadet is filled with adventure and new experiences—Stuart McMillan mentioned some of those—but cadet forces are underpinned by a firm set of principles: equality, fairness, teamwork and public spirit. Those are all qualities that we want to instil in our young people.
Not only that, the cadet forces keep alive the memory of our armed forces personnel who fought in the past and who are currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, for example. The cadet forces are a link between the armed forces and our young people. They maintain the memory of the bravery that our servicemen and women have shown over the years. On a dangerously solemn note, I propose that the cadet forces are a tribute to that bravery and a continuation of the memory of every one of those servicemen and women.
I am grateful for the opportunity to speak, because the cadet forces resonate with many in East Lothian constituency, which is in my South of Scotland region. As Elizabeth Smith mentioned, the uncertainty over the future of Knox academy Combined Cadet Force has been a prominent issue for many months. Knox academy has been fortunate to benefit from a cadet force for many years, and indeed has just celebrated its centenary. It is the only state school in Scotland with its own cadet force, which brings me back to my earlier comments about crossing social boundaries. Unfortunately, in recent times, the future of that cadet force has been unclear. Indeed, the MOD now intends to remove funding as of 1 April.
It is difficult to know the precise cause of the problems in that situation, but I ask the local authority, the school staff and the MOD to work together to come to some sort of reasonable conclusion that will not leave the young people without a cadet force. Everything must be done to reach a solution. Local campaigners—including my colleague, the Haddington provost Councillor Sheena Richardson—have been working hard to come up with alternative ideas. There have even been discussions about a community-based cadet force, for example, or even going into collaboration with a private school—in fact, Loretto, which Elizabeth Smith mentioned. No matter which route is taken, buy-in from all stakeholders will be essential.
It is incumbent on us to ensure that our young people are given the valuable opportunities that cadet forces afford them. Let us hope that the cadets go on for at least another 150 years.
17:24
As other members have done, I congratulate Elizabeth Smith on securing tonight’s debate. There was a time, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, when the armed forces cadet movement was perceived to be on the uncool side of youth development. I am pleased to say that that perception, which was never accurate, no longer holds. The opportunities that the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force, the Air Training Corps and the Combined Cadet Force offer to young people throughout Scotland are now widely recognised.
The core of the corps—if members will pardon the pun—is that they combine personal development with a strong sense of team and community. That is vital for members of our armed forces and if we are to build thriving, caring communities. My local cadet corps is the Airdrie and Coatbridge unit of the sea cadets. The unit’s headquarters are located in Airdrie, and all of its boating activities take place at Hillend reservoir near Caldercruix.
I am proud to tell members that the Airdrie and Coatbridge unit is the most improved sea cadet unit in the United Kingdom. That is not just the boast of their local MSP: it is a fact. Last year, the unit was awarded the Indefatigable cup, which is awarded annually by the Indefatigable Old Boys Association. It is only the third occasion on which the cup has been awarded to a sea cadet corps. Being the most improved unit in Scotland is a fantastic achievement for the unit. It is also recognition of the hard work and dedication of the adult volunteers who support the corps and look after the young people in their care. It is remarkable that they did all of that at the same time as they restored the cadet headquarters, which were falling down around them. It is a real achievement.
Although winning the cup was deserved recognition of the unit’s achievements, it is important to remember what the cadet force offers to young people. That is what matters to all the volunteers who give up their time for it. One of the cadets, Michelle, talks about her experiences in the Airdrie and Coatbridge unit on its website. She says:
“I joined the Airdrie and Coatbridge sea cadets when I was 12 years old. ... During my time in cadets I have made many friends from all over Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England. ... While I have been in the sea cadets I have gained many qualifications and life skills that I could not gain anywhere else at my age ... Being a sea cadet is far from boring, as not only do we have the opportunity to attend sea cadet camps where we can gain many qualifications but we are also allowed to attend marine cadet camps too.”
Michelle clearly gets a lot out of her involvement with the sea cadets. Having visited them on several occasions, I know just how enthusiastic all the young people are.
It is important, however, that the wider community also gets a great deal out of organisations such as the cadet corps in Airdrie. The unit places great emphasis on personal development and on responsibility. I am always struck by the young people who attend the remembrance day services at the cenotaph in Airdrie, who show their respect along with other members of the community for their ancestors who gave up so much for our country. That awareness of history and that respect for the sacrifices of others in the past can only be a good thing in building confident and responsible young women and men.
I congratulate Elizabeth Smith and join her in celebrating 150 years of the armed forces cadets. I look forward to their next 150 years.
17:33
Members have mentioned the contribution that the uniformed youth services make to discipline, self respect, respect for others and knowledge of community and society. On a more contemporary note, the services show consistency on education reform, including on curriculum for excellence, and they acknowledge the recognition in our qualifications system of voluntary service. I credit the Lowland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for putting the organisation four-square behind Scottish Government initiatives, whether it is the national performance framework, specific outcomes such as national outcome 4 or qualifications more generally. It was no surprise therefore that the Confederation of British Industry Scotland and Institute of Directors Scotland, the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Scottish Government worked together to make a tripartite advertisement to encourage young people to be part of the cadets. If business organisations and leaders, unions and Government can come together to recognise the contribution of the cadet movement, it is only right that the Parliament should recognise it, too.
The cadets provided a very interesting publication for members, “Service Cadets in Scotland”, which highlights the contribution that adult volunteers make across all constituencies. It is interesting to note the 3.5 per cent rise in the number of Army Cadet Force adult volunteers over the past year, while other parts of the voluntary sector struggle to find adult volunteers. In conclusion, I will quote from the introduction to that publication:
“Cadets have gone on to climb Mount Everest, cycle across continents and sail over the roughest seas. All readily admit that the cadet experiences taught them resilience, courage, determination, independence and self confidence; all qualities that help young people make their way in the world.”
Let us give thanks for the cadet movement and cadets who not only empower themselves but make better all of society as a result of their contribution.
17:38