Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter
September 2026
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 Thursday 24th September we returned to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for the Surrey Lord-Lieutenant Awards Ceremony!
The Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Neelam Devesher MBE DL, awarded 7 Meritorious Service Certificates from across all 3 Services, 1 Best Reservist Award kindly sponsored by CGI, 1 Best Tri-Service Cadet Award kindly sponsored by Cadet Direct and 4 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets were appointed.
Thank you to the musicians from the Band of the Royal Army Medical Service for the fanfare and to Surrey Army Cadet Force for their very efficient support during the evening.
On Tuesday 29th September we hosted our Oxfordshire Lord-Lieutenant Award ceremony at Abingdon School.
The Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Marjorie Glasgow BEM, awarded 3 British Empire medals, 7 Deputy Lieutenant Commissions, 14 Meritorious Service Certificates from across all 3 Services, 1 Best Reservist Award kindly sponsored by Diamond Light Source, 1 Best Tri-Service Cadet Award kindly sponsored by Cadet Direct and 4 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets were appointed.
Thank you to the bugler from Waterloo Band & Bugles of the Rifles for the fanfare and to A Company, 7 Rifles for their very efficient support during the evening.
NHS ARMED FORCES VIRTUAL CAREERS INSIGHT EVENT
Exploring careers Armed Forces Community Event, Thursday 19 November: 1200-1400 MS Teams
Contact ArmedForces@ouh.nhs.uk to register.
Virtual NHS Armed Forces Careers Insight event, which is supported by national NHS, NHS Employers and NHS Veteran Covenant Healthcare Alliance, open to all of our Armed Forces Community who may have an interest in an NHS Career, and noting the NHS Armed Forces Guaranteed Interview Scheme.
“The NHS Employers Armed Forces Step into Health Program gave me a pathway into the NHS and connected me to people who genuinely cared. The support from Berkshire Healthcare has made a huge difference to me as a new mother, a military spouse, and a new NHS staff member. It proves that when understanding and inclusion come together, people like me can thrive.” – new joiner to the NHS & partner of a serving soldier.
RESERVES NEWS
Championing the Value of Reserve Service
UNIVERSITY AIR SQUADRONS
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
165 PORT AND MARITIME REGIMENT RLC – SOLENT RESCUE SUPPORT
MEET A ROYAL NAVAL RESERVIST – ABLE SEAMAN TARVER, HMS KING ALFRED
Introducing AB Tarver, a General Warfare Seamanship Specialist, also known as a “Sea Spec”.
DO YOU WANT TO BE A RESERVIST?
CADET NEWS
Promoting the Cadet Experience
BRAND NEW OLNEY DETACHMENT!
Cadets and Staff from Pegasus Company of Buckinghamshire Army Cadet
Force welcomed the public to their new detachment at Olney Community Centre.
Stalls including First Aid, Fieldcraft, Drill and Turnout, and Navigation demonstrated some the core syllabus of the Army Cadets. They saw a lot of
interest with several new recruits signing up on the day and looking forward to a new adventure. Many thanks to those attending, providing a very
professional demonstration of what opportunities Army Cadets can bring.
Cadets and volunteers from Medway Victory Sea Cadet Unit -TS Temeraire recently enjoyed a remarkable educational visit to HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, following an invitation from the Royal Navy’s Youth Engagement Team.
more than two hours on the flight- STEM activities
- Firefighting equipment demonstrations
- Climbing wall activities
Over the weekend of 11-13 September 2026, cadets from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Army Cadet Force, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Royal Air Force Air Cadets, the Volunteer Cadet Corps and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service Cadets all came together for the Connaught Cadet Challenge Competition.
Beyond the competition, the event was a fantastic opportunity for cadets to meet and build friendships with fellow cadets and staff from across the wider Cadet Forces.
EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT NEWS
Encouraging Employers to Support Defence
EMPLOYER RECOGNITION SCHEME GOLD AWARDS 2026
On Tuesday 22nd September 2026, 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; the Ministry of Defence’s highest badge of honour in recognition of supporting the Armed Forces Community.
Our congratulations go to the 20 Organisations in the South East who have received their Gold Award this year. For further details, click here.
Group Captain Keith Lane RAF (Retd), Head of Engagement for SERFCA, commented; “This is outstanding news! We are delighted to see that 20 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 Gordon’s School Pipes and Drums and the Tonbridge School Combined Cadet Force Drill Display team.
To see the full gallery from the evening, click here.
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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