Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter
September 2025
Our Vision
“To be an enduring and essential pillar in the delivery of support for the well-being of the Reserves and Cadets and, through our effectiveness and our position in the regions, to be the independent body that represents their interests and promotes understanding between the Armed Forces and civil society”
LATEST NEWS
LORD-LIEUTENANT AWARDS
On Tuesday 24 September 2025 we celebrated the first of our Lord-Lieutenant Awards for the counties of the South East this year.
At the spectacular Abingdon School, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Mrs Marjorie Glasgow BEM, awarded 8 British Empire Medals, 6 Meritorious Service Certificates from across all 3 Services, 1 Best Reservist Award kindly sponsored by Diamond Light Source and 6 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets were appointed.
We were also delighted to facilitate an Armed Forces Covenant signing with Abingdon School after the ceremony!
The covenant was signed by the School’s Headmaster, Michael Windsor, and co-signed by Wing Commander Stephen Jones, Station Executive Officer at RAF Brize Norton.
Our thanks to the Reservists from A Company, 7 Rifles for their support on the evening, as well as the brilliant Waterloo Band & Bugles of The Rifles for the bugle call.
RESERVES NEWS
Championing the Value of Reserve Service
OXFORD UNIVERSITY AIR SQUADRON
Oxford University Air Squadron (OUAS) onboards University Students across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. University Air Squadrons play a vital role in inspiring, training, and developing the next generation of Royal Air Force leaders.
From leadership training weekends to flying sorties, OUAS delivers a packed programme that blends aviation skills, personal development, and military ethos. The Squadron aims to encourage students by challenging them both in the air and on the ground, taking them outside of their comfort zones and building resilience, teamwork, and confidence. Many of the activities are based on core RAF principles of leadership, communication, and professional excellence, all of which are reinforced at RAF Benson, the unit’s home base.
TRAINING UNDERWAY AT 871 TRANSPORT SQUADRON
Earlier this year, 151 Regiment proudly took delivery of 4 x Palletised Load System (PLS) vehicles. Since then, they’ve been hard at work training our service personnel to operate this powerful equipment safely and effectively.
World Record Attempt in support of Children in Need!
Major William McKean from A Company, 4 PWRR (The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment) will be taking part in a world record attempt for “Most electrical energy generated by pedalling on static bicycles for 24 hours.”
Event Details:
📅 Date: 13th and 14th November
📍 Location: Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre
🕒 Time: 1200hrs on the 13th November for 24 hours
🎯 Record Attempt: “Most electrical energy generated by pedalling on static bicycles for 24 hours.”
👉 Click here to donate now Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre ‘100k Watt Challenge’ BBC Children In Need
WATERLOO BAND AND BUGLES OF THE RIFLES AT BOVINGTON MUSEUM
DO YOU WANT TO BE A RESERVIST?
SERFCA NEWS
SWEET SUCCESS! SERFCA’S BAKE OFF FOR MACMILLAN
On Thursday 18th September 2025 the SERFCA team held our own “Bake off” event in support of Macmillan Cancer Support. Members of staff from our Aldershot office submitted 14 of their finest creations to the competition, judged by our in house expert, Group Captain Keith Lane (Retd) (also Head of Engagement and Chief of Staff).
Congratulations go to Chloe who was awarded ‘star baker’ for her delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake!
Thanks to the generosity of our bakers (and bake eaters!) we have raised a total of £164 for Macmillan so far…read more.
The donation link can also be found here.
CADET NEWS
Promoting the Cadet Experience
THE CONNAUGHT TRUST CADET CHALLENGE COMPETITION 2025
Cadets from across the South Region came together to support and take part in the Connaught Cadet Challenge 2025, hosted by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police Cadets and sponsored by The Connaught Trust and South East RFCA.
A number of distinguished guests attended, including the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire (Guest of Honour), the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, the High Sheriff of Hampshire, Commander Anthony Strickland RN (Retd) – representing South East RFCA and the Connaught Trust – and Captain Terry Tyack RN, Deputy Commander RN Cadet Forces.
Throughout the event, teams competed in a variety of activities, hosted by different cadet organisations, designed to test leadership, STEM skills, and teamwork.
Cadets from the Army Cadets UK Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Sea Cadets, Royal Air Force Air Cadets, and Volunteer Police Cadets all took part, making the event a true showcase of collaboration, skill, and determination. Congratulations to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force who were the overall winners!
See the full gallery here.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN 85th ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Four Senior cadets from Abingdon School Combined Cadet Force, Cadet Serjeant Major Max van Poortvliet, Cadet Serjeant Harold Lethaby, Cadet Serjeant Harry Wood, Cadet Flight Sergeant Fynn Ratcliffe and instructors Major Lee Edwards and Lieutenant Colonel Rebecca Cottam were very honoured to be guests of Tony Edwards (OA 1962) at the Battle of Britain 85th Anniversary Dinner held on Wednesday 10 September at the RAF Museum, London.
FS Fynn also had the special honour of reading a
vignette to all the guests about three pilots from the Battle of Britain; he did an outstanding job, which was
made more poignant as he was the same age as one of the pilots he was talking about. The dinner was held in the historic hangars of the RAF Museum London, former Battle of Britain airbase, surrounded by the aircraft including the ‘Fighter Four’ aircraft, which took part in the battle.
The event included a special Sunset Ceremony performed by the King’s Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force, along with a fly past, and brought together veterans, foreign dignitaries, senior RAF, including the Chief of the Air Staff and corporate supporters to commemorate and honour ‘The Few’.
CFAV SPOTLIGHT
Just hours after completing his First Aid at Work course, Sergeant Major Instructor Conor McLennan of Oxfordshire Army Cadet Force put his training into action at a local restaurant. When an elderly woman began choking and went into cardiac arrest, SMI McLennan:
– Cleared her airway
– Performed CPR
– Coordinated with 999 staff
– Supported her partner until emergency crews arrived
Paramedic Suzy Patience, first on scene, praised him: “He was calm, competent and a great asset, allowing rapid treatment of the patient.” – A true example of how first aid training can make all the difference!
Story credit: Army Cadets UK
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BEING A CADET FORCE ADULT VOLUNTEER?
EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT NEWS
Encouraging Employers to Support Defence
South East Employer Recognition Scheme Awards!
SILVER AWARDS
On Wednesday 3rd September 2025, we were proud to celebrate our Silver Employer Recognition Scheme Award recipients in the stunning grounds of Admiralty House at HM Naval Base Portsmouth.
Following the presentation of 33 new Silver Awards, guests were treated to a spectacular performance by the Hampshire Caledonian Pipe Band, with musical entertainment during the reception provided by the talented RAF Salon Orchestra. Our sincere thanks to both groups for making the evening truly memorable.
View photos from the celebration here.
GOLD AWARDS
On Tuesday 23rd September 2025, employers and organisations from across the South East attended a ceremony at the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop, Hampshire to receive their Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Awards.
Colonel (Retd) Patrick Crowley MBE DL, Chief Executive of SERFCA, commented; “We are delighted to see that 16 organisations in the South East have been awarded the prestigious Gold level in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. They have all shown great advocacy for the Defence-Employer relationship, helping to support Reserve service, Regular personnel, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, veterans and the military ‘family’. All richly deserved!”
After the presentation of awards there were performances by the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines and the Tonbridge School Combined Cadet Force Drill Display team.
To see the full gallery from the evening, click here
BUSINESS BREAKFAST
A popular event in our Employer Team’s calendar, the Business Breakfast is co-hosted by SERFCA and 6 Regiment Army Air Corps.
It provides a valuable opportunity for attendees to connect with other organisations involved in the Armed Forces Covenant and to gain insight into the Regiment’s roles and the significance of supporting the Armed Forces community.
This month, Ordnance Survey invited SERFCA accounts to visit their head office in Southampton.
The guests were treated to briefs from the company historian and one of their cartographers on the various different products OS deliver for the UK Government, emergency services, the military and the general public.
HAS YOUR ORGANISATION SIGNED THE ARMED FORCES COVENANT?
ESTATES
Providing the best place to work and train
ALTERNATIVE VENUES
Alternative Venues South East has a range of interesting buildings in an area stretching from Oxfordshire to Kent. They include 19th Century Houses and modern state-of-the-art training facilities, all of them large well-equipped Army Reserve Centres and Cadet detachments – ideal for business, sporting, training and social activities. Most of the venues are available seven days a week and all of the Army Reserve Centres have professional catering facilities and secure parking.
VENUE OF THE MONTH:
WINDSOR ARMY RESERVE CENTRE
This Army Reserve Centre is situated in a quiet side road in Windsor, close to Windsor Great Park, and is home to 94 Signal Squadron descended from one of the historic Berkshire Yeomanry Regiments.
This venue is ideal for a number of events including meetings, conferences, receptions and dinners.
The bar leads onto a spacious conference hall making it ideal for a variety of social events. An added bonus is the ample secure parking space for 50+ cars.
MANAGING THE VOLUNTEER ESTATE, RESERVE AND CADET BUILDINGS
JOB VACANCIES
Our staff are employed as Crown Servants, with flexible working arrangements offered. We also offer generous benefits and a supportive atmosphere.
Follow us on Indeed to be alerted of new vacancies.
If you’re thinking of joining our team, find out more About Us and what we’ve been working on in our Latest News
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