J Taylor

Meet our new Regional Employer Engagement Director

Major Darren Knight has recently joined the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association as the new Regional Employer Engagement Director for Birmingham and the West Midlands County. Darren has a background in both the Armed Forces and civilian workplace, which gives him strong footing for his new role. Darren joined the Junior Leaders’ Regiment Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) in 1985 at…

Award celebrates 10 years since first recognition of Armed Forces Covenant signees

The Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Award celebrates 10 years and with the start of a new decade for the award the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (RFCA) are very pleased to announce that 37 organisations in their region are confirmed as ERS Silver Award winners for 2024. This brings the total of ERS Silver holders, in the region, to 138. This…

Officer Cadets from URNU Birmingham explore Gibraltar

Students and staff from the University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) Birmingham, alongside regional units from URNUs Wales, Devon, and Bristol visited Gibraltar for a week of local heritage and a taste of the contemporary role of the Royal Navy in defending the rock’s territorial waters. Having already held a visit to Gibraltar the previous year, Ex Auream Petram built on this and involved…

New kitchens are better for the environment

Photographs before works commenced. The kitchens at the Tiddesley Wood and Bramcote Cadet Training Centres (CTC) have been revitalised with upgraded facilities. Working together with Three Pines Ltd, Principal Designer/Architect David Richards, and Abraxas Catering Equipment, our Building Estates Manager for the South Region, Richard Cameron project managed the works to modernise and improve the facilities. With our commitment to tackling climate change…

Volunteering to Inspire

To celebrate Volunteers Week we are shining the spotlight on some of the Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV) in our region and today we are introducing you to Lt James Newport Cater who has been a CFAV with the Army Cadets for over 10 years. Lt Newport Cater is currently the Deputy County Training Officer (Cadets), Officer Commanding of Waterloo Platoon (the senior…

Army Cadets head to the slopes

43 cadets and six instructors from Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Force travelled to Spain over the February half-term for a week’s skiing in the Pyrenees as part of Exercise Venturer Snow Cub. Out of the group 30 cadets had never skied before, but by the end of their first day of tuition they were able to successfully make it down the nursery…

8 RIFLES embark on ski exercise

Ex Northern Frosted Sword 5 (Ex NFS5) took place in the French Alps in January. 8 Rifles delivered the Exercise which saw a total of 36 Riflemen and Officers travel to the Val Thorens ski resort and conduct alpine ski activities in the hugely popular 3 valleys area.  Les Trois Vallee’s boasts to provide the worlds largest ski area with a vast network…

Marston’s affirm support to Armed Forces with a cook off

Marston’s celebrated its partnership with the Armed Forces as CEO Justin Platt, Officer, sealed the company’s support to veterans, Armed Forces personnel, and their families by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant. Marston’s has been awarded the Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and are working towards achieving the Gold Award, through driving engagement with the Armed Forces and offering employment opportunities….