Army Cadet Force Chaplaincy
- Male or Female
- Age limits apply
- All applicants must be ordained 1 yr
- Min 3 yr commitment
ARMY CADET FORCE – the Nation’s largest youth organization
ACF chaplains again come from the main denominations, and work amongst 50,000 teenagers across the UK – an unmissable chance for ministry. You will work as a chaplain to a county ACF with detachments in various locations, visiting training evenings and weekends. Your principal commitment is the annual camp, which can last from ten days to two weeks. You will be paid for your commitment (around £80 a day for full days, and pro rata for evenings)
Age limit:
Entry up to 62; service possible to 65
Further Information:
Call Jackie Footitt, MOD Chaplains(A). Tel 01980 618032, or e-mail
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Who would be an ACF Padre? - Why you, of course!
Working with the young people of the Army Cadet Force is not a soft option for ministry. In the main they are not churchgoers and they will display a healthy scepticism about matters of faith the many clergy hold dear. You will be challenged to explain the faith that you hold with some often penetrating questions. It is, however, a fantastic opportunity to get alongside teenagers and to listen to what they have to say.
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Like the cadets, you wear army uniform (provided of course) and in the case of the chaplain, with the cross on the collar points. You will have a rank – Chaplain to the Forces Class 4 – and although the actual marking is that of a Captain, it is a golden opportunity to emphasise what your actual role is – priest, pastor, friend and mentor.
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If you have more practical gifts, such as the ability to map read or teach first aid, so much the better – it helps in getting alongside the cadets – and remember also that you are there to minister to the other adult leaders – they can need help. Relatives of cadets or adults can be taken to hospital or die during the course of an annual camp – it is there that you exercise your pastoral ministry.
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ACF Padres are paid for some of this work – it helps to cover any expenses – but the real riches of the ministry are gained by helping young people along the spiritual pilgrimage and bring them into knowledge of God.
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Bringing God closer to the army cadets
"From a distance the low green painted building looks as if it is swaying slightly in the dusk. Once inside, and you are certain. The floor is shaking as nearly 200 young people dance to ‘Amarillo’. Less than ten minutes after the music stops the hut is empty, cleaned and swept, the area outside cleared of all litter and the youngsters are getting ready for ‘Lights Out’."
Words from the Revd Alan Jesson when describing to our reporter, Pat Kilbey, the disco he recently organised to mark the end of training at the Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force’s Annual Camp, held this year at Strensall near York.
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In everyday life, Alan is Rector of Upwell and Outwell near Wisbech, but for the past 14 years he has also been chaplain for the Cambridgeshire cadets. Two very demanding jobs. For Alan, it is the perfect compromise between his enthusiasm for army life and his commitment to the Church.
"Long before I was ordained I joined the Territorial Army – in fact exactly 30 years ago come next November," he said. "I was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Transport, now the Royal Logistics Corps, and served in various positions in a line regiment in London. I became a Squadron Commander, a Major, and moved to Regimental HQ to command Headquarters Squadron."
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Everything went well until Alan was accepted for ordination training. Then he discovered that he could not be ordained at the same time as he was carrying arms. It seemed he had to make a choice – the army or the Church.
"I had already decided to re-enlist as a TA Chaplain if possible, and because my age was against me decided to join the cadets for a couple of years whilst I served my title. Within a month or two of working with the cadets I knew that this was where my ministry was," Alan explained.
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“The role of the Chaplain covers a wide range of duties which can generally be classed as ‘welfare matters’. Strensall Camp, for example, had limited facilities for cadets and so one of my prime tasks this year was to organise some recreational space."
From a bare hut, with a few tables and chairs, Alan, with the help of four volunteers from the ACF Supporters’ League, set up a “NAAFI” where the youngsters could buy items ranging from soft drinks and sweets to shoe polish and toothpaste. It also gave the cadets a place to meet their friends and relax.
"Most of the pastoral work is done at Annual Camp. For some it is their first time away from home, the first time they’ve had to make their own beds and been responsible for their own belongings. It can be upsetting for some and a talk to the padre quite often helps. Adults, too, often ask for a quiet word with the padre as they seek to deal with some problem."
The working day begins – or ends – with prayers, and Alan goes around the companies in turn to lead them. He makes sure that each of the three companies has a booklet of prayers and readings for the days when he is unable to be there.
Chaplains in the ACF are an integral part of the structure. Another of the Chaplain's roles is that of Commandant’s adviser on spiritual, moral and welfare matters. This is a wide brief, touching on all aspects of the training syllabus and its delivery, as well as on projects undertaken in the community.
"It is a wonderful ministry," Alan said. "I have a youth club about 700 strong, and it is a mission field. This is a unique opportunity to present the Gospel.
"The only part of it that depresses me is that for much of the eight years I have been Senior Chaplain, I have been the only chaplain. We do need to recruit more people who are right for this sort of work."
A Chaplain for the Army Cadet Force holds the Queen's Commission as a Chaplain. They start with the equivalent rank of Captain, though this is a courtesy and a Chaplain should never be addressed by rank.
A Commissioned Chaplain must be under the age of 55 when applying and the initial appointment is usually for a period of three years. With mutual agreement this can be extended. Commissioned Chaplains get a free issue of uniform, and are paid at the appropriate proportion of regular army rates of pay.
In addition there are Officiating Chaplains who are appointed by the local Reserve Forces Association. There is no age restriction on an Officiating Chaplain, and he or she will usually work with a named Detachment.
"At present I have one vacancy and the probability of a second before Christmas,” Alan said. “If anybody is interested in finding out more they should in the first instance contact me. I then arrange a preliminary interview to explain the nitty-gritty, and set up a formal interview with the County Commandant. After that comes the application process."
"You don’t need to be ‘army barmy’," he insists. "The ACF is a youth organisation sponsored by the army. We aim to inspire youngsters to achieve the qualities of good citizenship, and to do that we have a challenging syllabus which includes, apart from the expected military skills, such subjects as First Aid, community service and adventurous training.
"When you see kids making personal progress – often against great odds – it really gives you a buzz!”
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Reproduced with permission from the October 2005 edition of Ely Ensign official publication of the Diocese of Ely © 2005 Ely Diocesan Board of Finance.
The Ely Diocesan website is at http://www.ely.anglican.org
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