The Army Cadet Force

The Army Cadet Force (ACF) was founded in 1859 as a result of a threatened invasion by the French. The British Army was heavily involved abroad at the time and had very few units in the country, so volunteers were formed to repel a possible invasion. The ACF was initially a part of the Volunteer movement, but it became a separate organization in 1908.

The ACF continued to grow during the First World War, and it played an important role in training young men for military service. During the Second World War, the ACF was again expanded, and it provided training to over 1 million young people.

After the Second World War, the ACF became a voluntary youth organization, helped and inspired by the Army. The ACF offers a wide range of activities to its cadets, including fieldcraft, shooting, drill, and sports. The ACF also helps cadets to develop their leadership skills and teamwork.

Today, the ACF is one of the largest youth organizations in the United Kingdom, with over 40,000 cadets. The ACF is open to young people aged between 12 and 18, and it is a great way for young people to learn new skills and make new friends.

The Cregagh Detachment is affiliated to the Royal Irish Regiment.

The Royal Irish Regiment

The Royal Irish Regiment is a light infantry regiment of the British Army with a long and distinguished history. It was formed in 1992 through the amalgamation of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment. However, its origins can be traced back to 1689, when volunteer defence units were raised to defend Enniskillen from a Jacobite attack.

The regiment has seen action in many conflicts over the centuries, including the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the Indian Mutiny, the Boer War, the First World War, the Second World War, and more recently in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.