I was pleased to meet up with Simon Weaver, our DofE @ Volunteer Cadet Corps National Manager, yesterday evening to catch up on all things DofE and find out more about how our Volunteer Cadet Corps cadets are progressing in the award scheme. My continued thanks to all the adult volunteers that make it happen.

The Volunteer Cadet Corps is the only UK cadet force that is entirely volunteer run. We need a new PR Officer to help raise our profile and attract new volunteers (and cadets). If you’d like to join our volunteer HQ team and steer our external comms & recruiting activities get in touch!

Good luck to all of the cadets taking part in their #DofE Bronze Qualifying Expedition this weekend! Volunteer Cadet Corps @ComdVCC Lt (VCC) Gary Fletcher Alfie Richardson Bands of the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps HMS Collingwood RNVCC HMS Excellent RNVCC Portsmouth Division RMVCC HMS Sultan RNVCC @DofEOps DofE Ollie

BZ to everyone who successfully completed their Bronze Qualifying Exped this weekend. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Volunteer Cadet Corps @ComdVCC Portsmouth Division RMVCC HMS Collingwood RNVCC HMS Sultan RNVCC HMS Excellent RNVCC Bands of the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps @DofEOps DofE Ollie

WOW! Last week saw 10 VCC cadets all compete their Bronze The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Award! This is a great achievement by these superb cadets & a credit to the volunteers who supported them and organised their DofE experiences. Since 2017, DofE @ Volunteer Cadet Corps have now delivered over 60 awards! Bravo Zulu 👏🏼

Brilliant to see our cadets from HMS Collingwood RNVCC receive their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award certificates last night from Capt Tim Davey RN, CO HMS Collingwood and Captain Maritime Warfare School. BZ The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Royal Navy @ComdVCC Volunteer Cadet Corps Alfie Richardson @DofEOps DofE Ollie

Fantastic to see our very first cadets from Bands of the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps receive their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award certificates at HMS Sultan last week. BZ to the Cadets and to Russ and his team! The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Royal Navy @ComdVCC Volunteer Cadet Corps Alfie Richardson @DofEOps DofE Ollie

Back to Longmoor for the Range Safety Brief ahead of the forthcoming The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expeds, joined this time by the CO’s of HMS Collingwood RNVCC and the RMC Band! A good brush up on how to stay safe on Hankley Common and a reminder of the fantastic support we have available is needed!

training.volunteercadetcorps.org If you’re planning to take part in the Practice Exped make sure you complete the online training by midnight on Sunday.

Great first day of the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze Award Practice Exped putting recent learning into practice. @ComdVCC Lt (VCC) Gary Fletcher Volunteer Cadet Corps DofE Ollie HMS Collingwood RNVCC HMS Excellent RNVCC Portsmouth Division RMVCC Bands of the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps

Our cadets and staff having a great time completing their practice The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition! Keep up the hard work team! DofE @ Volunteer Cadet Corps

Fantastic final day of the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze Award Practice Exped, getting a chance to lead their teams. @ComdVCC Lt (VCC) Gary Fletcher Volunteer Cadet Corps DofE Ollie HMS Collingwood RNVCC HMS Excellent RNVCC Portsmouth Division RMVCC Bands of the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps

ENDEX! That’s the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze Award Practice Exped complete. Now onto the Qualifying Expedition at the end of the month. Hope the weather is as kind. BZ. @ComdVCC Lt (VCC) Gary Fletcher Volunteer Cadet Corps DofE Ollie HMS Collingwood RNVCC HMS Excellent RNVCC Portsmouth Division RMVCC Bands of the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps

It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay! 🌍💚 A day to talk about mental health. To show everyone that mental health matters and let people know that it’s okay to ask for help. #WMHD #WMHD2023

We agree with every word of this. Please RT if you do too.

Trafalgar Day is the most important day in the calendar of the oldest commissioned warship in the world, and Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory. 21st October marks the 218th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. #Trafalgar2023

#QUALEXPED Outstanding achievement, in some challenging conditions. Be Proud!! The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a challenge, they met it and in doing so did something that not everyone chose to do. Not forgetting the volunteer Staff who were out there getting wet alongside the Cadets. Thank you all! BZ

It's been another hectic and amazing month of activity and achievement across the VCC, including a superb exped to #Cyprus. There's too much to summarise on a single page so here is just a selection of what our inspirational cadets and dedicated adult volunteers have been up to.

'When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.'

Over the last 7 years Ash and I have built the The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award from a single group in Portsmouth Division RMVCC to the current NOA for Volunteer Cadet Corps helping many cadets through their Award. However, the time has come to pass on the baton to the next generation. Thanks for the memories. Simon W