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Running The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) A Guide for CFAVs The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an internationally recognised certificate at Bronze, Silver and Gold and immediately opens opportunities for employment, further and higher education. The transferrable skills developed by young people are vast and include team working, leadership, organisation, communication and self-reliance. It is unlikely that many cadets will have had to work and live in such close proximity to their peers before undertaking their Award, and this is often a catalyst for allowing them to explore their personal boundaries and to mature into well-rounded citizens in a relatively short space of time. The Army Cadet Force as one of the leading youth organisations in the UK, in conjunction with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award can give cadets that vital tick in the box to supplement academic or vocational qualifications. It should be noted that all sections of the DofE can be facilitated through the Army Cadet Force and with effort and enthusiasm from the cadet, their choice of sectional activities can either allow them to further develop a specific aspect of their cadet interest, or even allow them to experience something completely different. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award can be undertaken at any level by cadets and CFAVs up to the age of 25 regardless of gender, religious, social or economic background.

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Process for Participant Enrolment to DofE

Participant Enrolment Form is completed and handed to detachment staff – don’t forget to enter an email address!

Form and enrolment fee sent to County/Battalion/Sector HQ to be processed. For guidance to current costs to doing your DofE, visit https://www.dofe.org/costs-and-timescales

Registration email sent directly to participant once set up on eDofE which includes username and password. This should take no longer than two weeks

Process for Participant Completion

Cadet should discuss their choice of sections with their Leader first

Participant then logs on to eDofE to enter information and submits to Leader for approval

DofE Leader should check progress regularly both on eDofE and face-to-face with the cadet

Any outstanding actions should be completed as soon as practicable including the writing and uploading of assessor’s reports, approving evidence and approving the section

Participant completes their level of Award via eDofE

eDofE record sent online to nominated leader to review as necessary

Once approved by Company Reps e DofE record sent to County/Battalion/Sector DofE Officer for authorisation (Bronze), Brigade/District DofE Rep (Silver) or the ACFA DofE Manager (Gold)

Once approved Westminster updated by County

Badges sent direct to Detachment for presentation ASAP

Certificates sent for presentation at an appropriate time and location

DO’s and DON’Ts on the Participant enrolment form:

DO

Ensure that the writing is legible

Make sure that there is an email address on the form

Tick for any previous Awards gained

Ensure that the form and monies are sent to County/Battalion/Sector HQ without delay

DON’T

Leave the enrolment form in your office whilst awaiting more forms. The form can only be backdated for 3 months, early posting to County/Battalion/Sector HQ is important.

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Have you been asked to be an assessor? If so, there are many ways that you

can complete the assessor report for your Participant:

Go online to www.dofe.info/assessor - you will need to have the Participants eDofE ID number. Follow the prompts!

If you have access to eDofE, you can write your assessor report on a word document. Then, upload to the Participant’s account, or if they are not within your group, e-mail to their Leader to upload. A blank template and example reports are available in the resources section of eDofE

You can complete your report on the tear off slip from the Participant’s Welcome Pack. The cadet can then scan and upload to their account.

Please include the following on the Assessor’s Report:

Please describe the achievements of the participant as they undertook this section. Say how they met their goals, what skills they have developed and mention any memorable things that they accomplished

Please include the start and end dates that the young person undertook their activity

Expedition Assessors: Please include your assessor accreditation number and (if applicable) the team’s expedition notification number in your report

Please remember to keep your comments personal, positive and encouraging

Use first names for the participants. Remember to include your position

Always finish off on a high note

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APC and The DofE DofE Section Bronze Silver Gold

Volunteering Volunteering as an Army Cadet appropriate to rank and experience Cadet & Community can contribute at all levels

Expedition A Bronze Expedition will automatically qualify for a Two Star Expedition Training

A 3-star expedition could count as a Silver practice Expedition Silver Qualifying is 4-star APC Expedition

Post 4-star activity

Skill Programmes which involve ACF activities Skill at Arms & Shooting, Marksmanship, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Ceremonial Drill, Military Insignia, Music, Signalling Map Making, First Aid, Casualty Simulation, Military History & Leadership

Physical APC 2-star Physical Recreation – must last for period appropriate to DofE level

APC 3-star Physical Recreation – must last for period appropriate to DofE level

Residential SCIC Course Cadet Leadership Course & Master Cadet Course Attachments to Regular Army or Army Reserve MoD/District Courses AT Courses, such as CCAT AIs Course & KGVI Course Annual Camp – subject to certain conditions

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Volunteering as an Army Cadet

The ACF is a voluntary organisation, and cadets and young CFAVs can count their voluntary work in the Cadet Forces towards their Volunteering Section when they make a contribution to the organisation. Activities which could count towards Volunteering as an Army Cadet are:

Mentoring Younger cadets

Running the Detachment Tuck Shop

Helping to improve the Detachment HQ inside and/or outside

Looking after the stores

Keeping First Aid kits up to date

Maintaining records

Dealing with administration

Instructing cadets in APC subjects

Practical DofE Leadership

Leading cadets in specialist activities

Developing Training Aids

Undertaking a 3 star Cadet & Community project

Adopting a war memorial and keeping it maintained

Establishing links with ex-service organisations and assist in fundraising, visiting etc.

Assessment could be made by appropriately qualified officer in the County/Battalion/Sector. Where outside assistance is required the assisting organisation should be asked to assess.

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Physicals for Army Cadets

There are a number of disciplines which are of particular interest to Army Cadets. Programmes can be downloaded from the DofE web site. These include:

Paddlesports*

Rock Climbing*

Snow Sports*

Mountain Walking*

Fitness activities

Walking

Running

Cycling

Mountain Biking

Physical Achievement *Opportunities to undertake proficiency courses in these activities are offered by the Cadet Centres for Adventurous Training (CCAT). Visit the AT web site for details – www.armycadetadventure.info Physical Achievement may be undertaken in conjunction with the Physical Recreation syllabus in the APC (ACF).

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Skills for Army Cadets

Skill at Arms and Shooting (Games & Sports) Ideas

Undertake Skill at Arms Training at basic and 1-star level both theoretical and practical

Know the rules for firing on miniature ranges and 25/30 metre ranges

Be a second class shot with the air rifle or .22 rifle as laid down in the current APC (ACF) syllabus

Continue Skill at Arms training at APC (ACF) 2 star level

Know the rules for firing on all ranges

Be a first class shot with the air rifle or .22 rifle

Continue Skill at Arms training at APC (ACF) 3-star level.

Follow the appropriate elements of the APC(CCF) Basic and Advanced Skill at Arms and Shooting syllabi

Learn the use of the Target Rifle

Take part in recognised postal and other shooting competitions

Fieldcraft and Leadership (Life Skills) Ideas

Gain personal skills such as camouflage and concealment, movement, night work, sentries and living in the field

Further develop personal skills such as judging distance, recognition of targets, fire control orders, and harbours

Develop team skills such as patrolling, section battle drills and orders

Develop leadership skills and command a section or patrol

Study the career of a well known military leader

Drill & Turnout (Performance Arts) Ideas

Carry out basic foot drill movements as part of a drill squad

Wear uniform correctly and be well turned out

Carry out basic movements of arms drill with the Cadet GP rifle

Be able to carry out Cane Drill or Sword Drill

Be able to drill a squad, demonstrating movements and correcting errors

Work with a squad on a 10 minute silent drill routine

Take part in local parades such as Remembrance Day, ACF Sunday, Church Parades on special days etc.

Study a major event involving drill such as Trooping the Colour, Changing the Guard, a Remembrance Day Parade at a large town or city

Make a study of military uniforms and/or badges during a selected period

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Military Knowledge (Learning & Collecting) Ideas

Know the structure of the County to which the Detachment belongs and be able to name the key appointments and who holds them

Know the structure of the CCF Contingent and be able to name the key appointments and who holds them

Know the rank structure of the British Army, and be able to give examples of a role fulfilled by each rank

Know the key events in the history of the ACF or CCF

Study the history of the Regiment or Corps to which the Detachment is affiliated or a Regiment or Corps of the participant’s choice

Select a senior Commander of the British Army, Royal Air Force or Royal Navy and give a summary of their achievements

Study the tactics of a battle or campaign since the end of the Second World War

Visit a Regimental Museum and produce a report on the visit (may be verbal, photographic or written)

Cadet Music (Music) Ideas This option is specifically intended for participants who are playing in a Military Band or Corps of Drums. Those who are playing a musical instrument outside this should follow the “Music - playing an instrument” guidance on the DofE website. Ideas For the purpose of this document, Cadet Music includes Military Bands, Wind Bands, Pipes and Drums, Corps of Drums, Buglers or any ensemble of cadet musicians. Cadet Force Musicians must show competency and proficiency in the following areas in line with the Army Cadet Force Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) Music

Syllabi: Understanding of Music Notation and Music Theory

Solo and Ensemble performance

Understand the mechanics of Musical events and performances

Personal musical development, goal setting and achievement Cadet Signals (Science & Technology)

Ideas

Undertake elements of the National Training Package.

Basic 1-star

2-star Cadet Radio User

Cadet Radio User - Direct

Cadet Lineman

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Cadet Signaller

Undertake Signals Instructor Training

Practical use of radios in cadet training

CFAV Signals Instructor training

Instruct cadets in Signals Visit www.cadetsignals.org.uk for details of training First Aid (Life Skills) First Aid may be undertaken in conjunction with the First Aid syllabus in the APC but care must be taken that it fulfils the conditions. Examples of how this can work are:

APC (ACF) 2-star Youth certificate = 8 hours. 3 month section requires 13 hours, 5 hours of practical required.6 month section requires 26 hours, 18 hours practical required

APC (ACF) 3-star Lifesaver, 4-star Activity FA = 6 hours for each. 3 months section requires 13 hours 7 hours practical required 6 months section requires 26 hours - 20 hours practical required The hours spent must span the full time requirement of the section

Practical work could include:

Training for and taking part in first aid competitions

Helping with casualty simulation

Teaching first aid to cadets

Acting as a first aider Cadets who complete Basic and 1-star during the period of involvement can add 2 hours for each course to the training time. The APC (ACF) First Aid syllabus can be found on Westminster. This would require 8 ½ or 21 ½ hours of practical for 3 or 6 months duration.

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DofE Expeditions for Army Cadets

The Army Cadet Force rightly considers Expeditions to be part of normal business and it is included in both the APC (ACF) and APC (CCF) syllabi. This allows the APC expeditions to contribute towards achieving a DofE expedition, and there are a number of points of contacts with the APC. However it must be clearly understood that there are some significant differences in the requirements for DofE and those for APC, so they are not interchangeable. The following paragraphs are intended to highlight the differences. The DofE Expedition:

Must have a stated Aim

Must be unaccompanied at the Qualifying stage

Must be planned and organised by the participants (with guidance)

Must be self-sufficient

Requires at least one practice journey at each level

Has minimum hours of planned activity

Requires a presentation to be made after the qualifying expedition

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Residentials for Army Cadets

There are a number of Residential opportunities offered by ACF training and activities. Some examples follow: Learning:

SCIC course

Cadet Leadership Course

Master Cadets Course

Basic Course (CCF)

Week long courses at CTC, Frimley Park

MoD/Brigade courses

DofE Leadership Residentials (these will include one or more modules of the DofE Leadership Programme, interspersed with other activities)

Activity based:

Attachments to Regular Army or Army Reserve

Courses at CCAT or other AT Centres Service to others:

Annual Camp – subject to certain conditions – see below If the cadet or young CFAV wishes to count Annual Camp as their Residential, then they must be separated from their usual companions, and this must include off duty hours. They should be given specific duties which will challenge them and extend their experience. Attendance at the Annual Camp of another ACF County would be ideal

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Notes

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