The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Wales

RFCA for Wales is the enabling voice for reserves and cadets in Wales. It maintains the estate, provides support to the three Services and connects defence with society through the provision of an extensive ‘network of networks’.

Latest news

RoyalOutstanding recognitionservice forand eightdevotion peopleto duty recognised by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan

Eight Two people have been awarded the Lord-Lieutenant’s Certificate of Merit by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of SouthMid GlamorganGlamorgan, MrsProfessor MorfuddPeter Meredith.Vaughan QPM CStJ.

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The Cadetsefforts andof Rickfour Hallettpeople offrom theacross ReservePowys Forces’have andbeen Cadets’recognised Associationby the King’s representative for Wales.the county.

TheyTwo people were presentedawarded withthe theirLord-Lieutenant’s awardCertificate of Merit by Mrs Tia Jones in recognition of their outstanding service and devotion to duty, atin the Lord-Lieutenant’sceremony annualat awardthe ceremonyElephant heldand HMSCastle CAMBRIAHotel in CardiffNewtown Bay on Thursday, 2211 FebruaryJanuary.

The 2024.achievements of her two Lord-Lieutenant cadets were also recognised and celebrated during the event attended by around 50 people.

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Outstanding

Seven servicepeople and devotion to duty recognised by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of MidWest Glamorgan

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The Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan Mrs Louise Fleet JP appointed the Lord-Lieutenant’sfour annualat awardan awards ceremony at PontypriddJohn ArmyChard ReserveVC CentreHouse, Swansea on Thursday 820 February 2024.April.

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FifteenTen people recognised by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of West GlamorganClwyd

The efforts of 15ten people, including foureight young cadets, from across WestClwyd Glamorgan have been recognised by the King’s representative for the county.

Cadet Sergeant Owen Brumby of St Brigid’s School Combined Cadet Force, Cadet Corporal Alun Hughes of No 2 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets and Cadet Flight Sergeant Lewis Hughes of No 2 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets have been appointed as Lord-Lieutenant cadets for Clwyd for 2023.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Clwyd, Henry George Fetherstonhaugh OBE FRAgS appointed the three at an awards ceremony at Hightown Barracks, Wrexham, on Thursday 30 March.

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Young people honoured by Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed

InFour recognition young people from Dyfed have been appointed as Lord-Lieutenant Cadets for 2023 at an awards ceremony in Carmarthen.

Leading Cadet Annis Henton of theirFishguard outstandingSea serviceCadet Corps, Leading Cadet Ben Power of Milford Haven Sea Cadet Corps, Petty Officer Cadet Luke Coburn of Tenby Sea Cadet Corps and devotionStaff toCadet duty,Warrant elevenOfficer peopleCharlie Edwards of No 3 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets were awardedpresented with the Lord-Lieutenant’sbadge Certificateof their appointment, which will last for one year.

They were appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant of MeritDyfed, Miss Sara Edwards, at an awards ceremony at Picton Barracks, on Thursday, 16 March.

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Royal recognition for two young people

Two teenagers have been appointed as Lord-Lieutenant cadets for South Glamorgan for 2023.

Cadet Flight Sergeant Kevin Titus of No 1 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets and Able Cadet Sean Edwards of Barry Sea Cadet Corps were appointed by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Sir Brooke Boothby, on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant Mrs LouiseMorfudd FleetMeredith JP,at ina ceremony held on Thursday, 2 March at Maindy Barracks, Cardiff.

The role which lasts for a year includes attendance with Mrs Meredith, who acts as the King’s representative, at a number of official engagements such as Remembrance events, Royal visits and parades.

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Twelve Welsh organisations strike Gold at Hensol Castle

Twelve employers have been presented with the prestigious Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award at a special ceremony at Johna ChardWelsh VCCastle.

The House,12 Swanseaemployers from across Wales were recognised for the outstanding support they give to the Armed Forces Community at the awards ceremony held at Hensol Castle on Thursday1 25December.

The January.glittering awards evening began with a drinks reception with guests treated to music provided by The Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra.

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RFCA for Wales welcome 130 guests to Annual Briefing

The achievementsReserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) for Wales welcomed more than 130 guests to its Annual Briefing.

The event on Thursday 20 October took place at HMS CAMBRIA in Cardiff Bay, and was attended by a diverse audience including members of the Lord-Lieutenant’sArmed fourForces cadetscommunity, werepartner alsoorganisations, recognisedemployers, and celebratedother duringkey stakeholders.

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Employers thanked for supporting reservists ‘to keep on marching’ at a special awards evening in Cardiff

An amazing 22 Welsh organisations have been presented with the prestigious Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award for 2022.

The employers from across Wales were recognised for the support they give to the Armed Forces Community at a special event attendedheld at the National Museum Wales, Cardiff on September 22.

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Falklands 40: A Veteran recalls his experiences of the Falkland’s war

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Manny Manfred was 30-years old, married with a young son and living in Warminster when the telephone rang and the codeword for recall came through. At the time he was a Sergeant in ‘A’ Company of 3rd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment.

Immediately he packed his bags and headed for the barracks in Tidworth, Hampshire, where his unit was based. Within 72 hours the unit had moved to Southampton to board a P&O cruise ship to set sail south to play their part in the Falklands War. Lasting 74 days, the conflict was the first military action since the Second World War that utilised all elements of the Armed Forces, with 255 British personnel losing their lives.

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Lord-Lieutenant of Gwynedd celebrates high achievers from the Armed Forces community

Cadet Flight Sergeant Ysanne Duncan of No2 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets has been recognised by morethe thanQueen’s 100representative people.for the county and appointed as a Lord-Lieutenant cadet for Gwynedd for 2022.

Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Gwynedd, Edmund Seymour Bailey Esq CStJ FRAgS appointed Cadet Flight Sergeant Duncan at an awards ceremony at Caernarfon Army Reserve Centre, Caernarfon, on April 28.

Read the full story in English or Cymraeg:
Lord-Lieutenant of Gwynedd celebrates high achievers from the Armed Forces community.
Arglwydd Raglaw Gwynedd yn dathlu perfformwyr uchel o gymuned y Lluoedd Arfog.

FourFourteen people recognised by HisHer Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of PowysMid Glamorgan

The efforts of fourfourteen peoplepeople, including seven young cadets, from across PowysMid Glamorgan have been recognised by the King’sQueen’s representative for the county.

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Five twoteenagers recognised by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Clwyd

Five teenage cadets werefrom alsoacross Clwyd have been recognised andby celebratedthe duringQueen’s representative for the eventcounty.

Cadet attendedCorporal byIsabella aroundJones 50and people.Cadet Corporal Ciara Venables both of Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force; Cadet Sergeant Maddie Bunn and Cadet Sergeant Bethan Shutt both of St Brigid’s School Combined Cadet Force and Cadet Flight Sergeant Kristian Harrison of No 2 Welsh Wing RAF Air Cadets have been appointed as Lord-Lieutenant cadets for Clwyd for 2022.

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Champion Cadets

We support more than 4,400 cadets and over 1,200 cadet force adult volunteers in Wales. As champions of the cadet movement we promote the benefits of the cadet experience to young people’s lives.

John Challenger, Sea Cadet - awarded the British Empire Medal

Copyright: Open Government License

Have you ever thought of becoming a cadet in one of Wales’ cadet units? John Challenger, 17, explains why he thought it was so important to help keep the 2,300 sea cadets spread across North Wales and the North West together during the pandemic.

John said:

I believe that many young people have struggled with mental health, feeling unable to balance school work, cadets and keeping in touch with family and friends. However, the sea cadets has been working hard to reduce these difficulties for staff and cadets by building up networks of support that stretch throughout the country and aim to help us all through this challenging time.

Read John’s story: John Challenger talks about the importance of doing his bit to help other cadets.

Find out more about becoming a cadet.

Promote the Reserve forces

We work closely with the Reserve units (Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force) based in Wales to support recruitment and promote their role in delivering the UK’s Defence capability.

How reservist Tracy Llewellyn combines being a military musician, mum and farmer

Copyright: MOD Crown Copyright

Trombone player Corporal Tracy Llewellyn of the Royal Welsh Band says she couldn’t wish for a better part-time job which she combines with working on the family farm near Abergavenny.

After joining her local Powys Cadet Force Band at the age of 13, Tracy went onto to serve in the regular Army for 12 years as part of the Corps of Army Music before leaving to start her family.

Tracy said:

For me it means that I can do all the three things that mean the most to me, which is working on the farm, being a mum and being a military musician.

Read Tracy’s full story: Reservist Tracy Llewellyn combines being a military musician, mum and farmer.

Find out more about becoming a Reserve.

Engage with the local community and employers on behalf of defence

We work with local employers to encourage support of the Armed Forces community and recognise the valuable skill set members of the Armed Forces community bring to the workplace. Our enduring relationships with local communities continue to encourage support for reserves, cadets and the wider military family across Wales.

Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd was award the Gold MOD Employer Recognition Scheme Award (ERS) in 2020. Founded in 1968, they are one of the leading civil engineering and rail contractors working throughout Wales. In this video, Richard Bruten (Major projects Director and Army Veteran) and Amanda Holmes (HR Advisor and Veteran) talk about the forces-friendly culture within the organisation and Griffiths ongoing advocacy of the armed forces community.

Watch the full video: Alun Griffiths Limited, forces-friendly culture

Read the Full transcript for the Alun Griffiths Ltd video (ODT, 8.14 KB)

Provide the best places to work and train

We manage and maintain the 400-plus buildings that are home to local cadet and reserve units as well as provide home adaptations for injured service people living in Wales.

Described as ‘a crown jewel’ in the Defence Estate, HMS Cambria was delivered on time and on budget by RFCA for Wales in partnership with the Royal Navy and Associated British Ports (ABP). The hugely successful project has enabled HMS Cambria, Wales’ only RNR unit, to return to its original maritime home in Wales’ capital city of Cardiff.

Read the full story: Cardiff’s new £11 million HMS Cambria is ‘crown jewel’.

Archive news

2023

• Hard Facilities Management services for the Volunteer Estate to be delivered by the MOD Built Estate contracts
• 10 Welsh organisations strike gold at Hensol Castle
• RFCA for Wales welcome more than 130 guests to annual briefing
• Employers thanked for supporting reservists at a special awards evening in Cardiff
• Young people honoured by Lord-Lieutenant of Gwynedd
• Seven people recognised by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan
• Ten people recognised by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Clwyd
• Young people honoured by Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed
• Royal recognition for two young people
• Fifteen people recognised by His Majesty’s Lord- Lieutenant of Gwent
• Twelve people recognised by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan
• Teenagers honoured by Lord-Lieutenant of Powys: January 2023

See more news stories from the RFCA

Contact Information

Phone: 02920375735

Email: wa-info@rfca.mod.uk

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Facebook: @rfcawales

Twitter: @RFCAforWales

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