Vice, I'm 17, left the cadets last year, my family is fairly well-off, i can guarantee, that about 80% of the poeple I met in the Corps wouldnt want to join any armed force, cadets taught practical skills, discipline, leadership and improved me as person, instead of 'training me for combat'.

The title of this video is so shitty. "Training for combat." It's like Vice didn't even research. These kids aren't going on deployment, they're just spending their free time as cadets, almost comparable to boyscouts. And I'd say it's better than sitting inside all day or loitering on the streets.

I'm laughing at a lot of these comments. Cadets is NOT the army. It's activities based around the army. Heck, one of my friends got a ride in a Eurofighter! But he didn't get in, then be told he's going on a bombing run against terrorists. They stayed in British skies. It's all for fun really.

Lmao one of the cadets said a .22 could dislocate your shoulder

I would pay a sh!t load of money to see a skirmish between the UK Cadets and our American cadets. Heck I think if the word gets out on social media, we could raise enough bring them over here and televise it.

embarrassing for the rest of the UK Cadet force.

These idiots in the comment section saying these Cadets are being "bred for war" or whatever, is like me saying an American Boy Scout is there to join the Army, both are not for profit and to activities very similar to each other.

*VICE Meeting, London* *VICE Director:* "Let's find an ACF detachment with the youngest demographics and the worse trained cadets, then make a biased video about how really young children are going to be murderous soldiers." *VICE Reporter:* "That's a brilliant idea." *Cadet:* "Yeah, but it's mostly 16 - 18-year-olds that do all of the military related activities..." *VICE Director:* "Get out."

I was in the army cadets in the late 90's and it's was some of the best times I ever had as a teenager. Got to play soldiers, fire guns & camp out in the woods. Learnt to survive outside in the wild and picked up a lot of life skills for later life.

This series angers me, I was a cadet for 5 years (made it to Colour Sergeant), and this film makes out that all cadets do is practice for war, all they do is fire weapons etc... It is such a false misconception and this film fails to realise all the MANY other activities that the cadets offer to young kids

People shouldn't judge the army cadets off just watching this

I was in the cadets around 5 years ago and according to the comments im a trained soldier? The vast majority of things you learn are simple life skill such as reading maps and first aid.

I'm a Canadian cadet and I say that I would wish to do things like this, our cadets is more like Girl Scouts they took the army Out of army cadets

People really seem to be miss understanding this whole thing. These are not "child soldiers" they're not "signing their life away and joining the military". It's the equivalent to the scouts, but with a military focus, that's all. Also, this is not a compulsory thing, you only join if you want to, simple. It's certainly better than if these kids were doing nothing all day playing games. I was once an Air Cadet, but I quit because I was starting college, and didn't have time for it, I wasn't forced to do it, I just got bored one day and though "I have an interest in planes, why not join the cadets". I stayed for a few years, got to fly gliders, prop planes and even jets (I didn't actually have full control in the jet, that'd be dangerous) and overall had a great time. People are seeing this and comparing it to the last year of the 3rd Reich, when everyone was conscripted, no-matter what age they were. This is nothing like it, calm your tits, don't be stupid and don't make a dumb judgement if you have no experience of this.

being through cadets and into the armed forces i can tell you that combat only covers about 10% of what you learn. there are so many other skills. most of them basic life skills like ironing your shirt, proper hygiene, nutrition, exercise, finance. some other skills involve adventure training like navigation, abseiling, survival. the other aspect is leadership. There arent many other organizations that put children into leadership roles with real responsibilities. any of these assholes that say cadets is about teaching kids to kill probably couldn't stitch a button back on a shirt, plan a camping trip, cook over a fire (let alone start one) or carry a pack. for these people life is as complicated as paying someone to fix your problems. for cadets your fix your own problems.

Most of these people, including one of my close friends do this so they can put it on their CV as it shows their discipline and other abilities potential employers may seem as valuable, whether they want to join the army at the end of it, or not. They can leave at any time, it's their choice as a paying customer for this service. They are hardly 'child soldiers'...

Being an ex Army Cadet i'd quite like to clarify that it is not some satirical front for indoctrination in any shape or form, although the thought is rather amusing. Granted recruiters came in to talk to us, as shown, but it wasn't a regular occurrence, the NCO's and CO's, if anything tried very hard to make us understand what it is to be a soldier and the struggles you would have to face, which the vast majority of us had no interest in facing. those who did however would have most likely joined up with or without the cadets. The vast amount of us were just there to have a go at PLAYING soldier for a while, marching, shooting, hand signals etc, because it was fun and social. So you armchair politicians and social commentator's that want to believe in such a cynical system and world order (love the term world order, it always brings out the nutters!) that would indoctrinate young teens into fighting wars need to seriously start using that rational side of their brain which is currently being overridden by some sense of discontent with their lives and therefore the world. Also, it is apparent to me that i'm a bit of an armchair psychiatrist- at least I can admit it.

I was in my schools CCF (Combined Cadet Force) for 3 Years in the Army Section. I learnt how to handle the SA-80 rifle and LSW, I learnt military strategy, discipline and techniques. I wish I could go back tomorrow.

ACF made me the man i am today.

In a new episode of Rule Britannia, VICE joins the UK's Army Cadet Force and asks what the youth club can give British kids who may not have a lot else. Check out more episodes of Rule Britannia: bit.ly/Rule-Britannia

Teddy Bear: ''Missing Netflix'' Lol well said Teddy, well said.

I went to the exact training camp for annual camp I still remember my room 220 South the memories the camps a great place GO ARMY CADETS!!!

I'm a master corporal in the royal Canadian army cadets and through the years I've been in it we've done nothing that is in this video but it is still a good experience to see what life in the military is like

Damn I was in the Air Force cadets and now I've been in the army cadets for 2 years and I just get back from my activity today and see this (Tuesday nights we have cadets :D) I think it's amazingly awesome that they made a video about our cadets and then realise it's a foreign made documentary and most the people watching it are thinking they are being trained for the army... There are 16 of is in the one I go to. There is not a single one of us that actually wants to join the army afterwards. We do it for the experience and fun and learn some skills along the way such as first aid and teamwork. It also looks pretty good on your CV for job applications. It's a bit of fun and an activity we can do. Nothing wrong with it... *I don't know who are the people that are complaining, obviously not British, but it can't be Americans either because they complain we don't use guns enough and shit and they have all those military schools which actually* are *pretty serious. So is this comment section filled angry Scandinavians, Germans and Australians or something?!*

It's good to see England's cadets actually get funding. In Australia we get almost no funding :(

I really admire the British even though I'm American I plan on being a U.S Marine

I had an amazing time at Air cadets, the Royal Air Force's equivalent. I took part in loads life changing activities, such as gliding/flying, shooting exercises, weekends away and the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. I never at any point, felt compelled to sign up. The cadet forces are a great alternative for kids trying to solve the ever growing problem of 'having nothing to do'. To me it felt like a non compulsory version of national service..

I loved my time in the Cadets personally. And I feel it's a decent formative experience for a lot of young people that lets them do a lot of things that many in this country won't be able to do, like romp around in the woods and fire blanks and live action rounds. I think the whole 'It's all a big plan to get people into the military' is a bit overstated in the documentary as the vast majority of people who go into Cadets don't end up joining the Services. On an aside, I also think there is also a lot of good to be done in educating young people in this country about firearms, how to properly respect and use rifles and make them aware of what they can do. Far better than letting them get all their facts on such things from Call of Duty or a film and it serves to demystify firearms and show you can have safe, responsible fun with them for many young people who otherwise would only ever be exposed to them in fiction or for a tiny percentage of them, criminal activity. It's not fair that only grammar and public schools get to let their students have shooting ranges and clays clubs and removing the Cadets would do limit many youngsters chances to get involved in shooting sports.

I am a cadet my self and it is a very rewarding expirence as you get to learn life saving skills and yes I know it's not the real military but this doesn't just go for the military because it is great when you go work at a business as if you have certain achievements like STEM or other ones like that you are more likely to get a job than someone else and it will help your kids in the future and there is NO monthly fee and better if the trips are cheaper and longer than school trips for example the Duke of Edinburgh award is way cheaper than doing it thro a school so it will help on the financial side and if you want to know why it is so cheap its because they get funded by the government and the British army.

all i see on here are people bitching about the army and, corruption and British politics and how Britain sucks. Does no one respect the men and women who actually fight anymore? yes the army might be corrupt, but thats only because its run by corrupt men. the people in the army, fighting risking their lives deserve respect. These kids are easily influenced yes but at the end of the day it is their choice to do what they want with their life, besides the british army is having cuts. And for all the foreigners bitching about the birtish force go learn something about it 1st will you? British military are one of the most if not the most well trained army in the world, and america hasn't won a single war without UK aid (Apart from Independence whom they got aid from france and to her empires) , most of our special forces train American special forces and not to mention we don't friendly fire like americans.... No disrespect to america, you dont want to piss them off they have the might to fight and kick ass, but they are only brawn.

Thank you Vice for showing it true. I was a US Naval Sea Cadet for six years and if people could only see it from the inside they'd never say anything negative about it. Your fellow cadets become like your family and you'd die for them whether they were 11 (League Cadets) or 18 year old High School Seniors. It didn't matter what religion, race, or economic background our cadets came from we were all so close it would make you cry to see it. I played organized sports and it never came close to the bond formed between me and my fellow cadets. The values and sense of honor you learn along with the sense of purpose it gives you as a youth is invaluable and beyond description. The ability to escape your quarrelsome parents and to be entrusted and treated like an adult in many ways is what so many young men and women crave whether they realize it or not. Yes, such programs can take on a dark purpose and we must be on guard about that, but in the USA and I assume in the UK what you learn is to be good not evil, to be a knight with a code, and it really impacts those who experience cadets in an ultra positive way.

I wish I had the privilege to be part of this when I was younger. In the US we usually rely on sports teams and fast food jobs to help us learn life's key lessons; growing up as young adults. The culture behind this program seems incredibly inviting, approachable, and respectful. What I would give to be part of this. But alas, I shall work my gas station job. I don't find myself eager to jump into the southern alpha male mosh pit of US services. And I surely don't want to pay off another student loan. I've got 60 years ahead of me, yet I feel like my life is already over.

So many idiots in the comments. These kids are not forced to go there or obliged to go there, they simply go there to gain life skills. I was in the air cadets for 2 years and our squadron was no where near as organised as this army squadron but I still had fun. I learned discipline and gained hours under my license ( I want to be a pilot and am working my way there) the air cadets gave you free flight lessons which normally cost 300-400 pound each. That's just hitting the outer layer. There is so much I learned and I made some true friends there. People assume that if you go to this you are being trained as a soldier. You are simply learning the bare basics of the army culture and heritage. You are not forced to join in to active service after you finish. RANT OVER.

these kids are better soldier than the ANA back in the Stan.

I'm American and in marine, navy, and airforce cadet programs and I must says these cadets are so chill. In all my programs we are expected to act very adult at all times and we treat each other like soldiers ( no goofing off or doing stupid things ).

I was an Army Cadet from the age of 14 until i was 17, i then joined up for real and left His Majesty's Armed Forces almost 4 years ago.

was that an ice cream truck at the end? docs like this are really Vice at their best. great watch. the whole thing is very simple really, and there's no narration, they let the kids tell the story as it happens and provide all the perspective you need. these comments are so silly; people are placing so much baggage on these kids when - in the end - it's just another Summer camp with a different theme. I would love to go to one of these in the US. everyone had fun and made friends.

I started cadets and it's amazing I really want to join army tho

I wish I had something like this in my country, this helps the kids get diciplined, and it seems like a good hobby.

Don't keep slagging off army cadets has given me confidence and believed in me when no else will. I'm am proud for my country and I know it's not the army it's a club. To help people like me and and many other people this documentary shows the half of what it does for people.

*sees all the hate comments about UK Cadets* Me a Canadian Army Cadet private:so how the hell the Brits get the hate? I'm a Army Cadet my self and how the hell these guys get hate (btw they don't go on the front lines) it's interesting to see other Cadets. Greetings from Canada, 🇨🇦 👍🏻 🇬🇧 2881 Queen's Own Rifles of Canada 🇨🇦

Please- google army/air/sea cadets before commenting on how stupid you think we are, we would rather be flying planes and running around with unarmed rifles and going on overseas camps rather than just sitting around being useless teenagers

I see nothing wrong with this at all. Reminds me of my childhood playing army in the woods. Wish they had this when I was a kid. Kids nowadays play Call of Duty all day and live with mommy until their 40 lol.

Training for Combat these are children NOT ARMY RECRUITS please re-search before you make silly comments I was a ACF Adult Instructor and never trained a child for war .As a 35 year Veteran I gave my time to give the children some skills they could carry forward in their adult life.

I'm joining cadets after xmas

Doesn't every western nation have something similar?

God Bless The British Army.

That kid who lost count loading his magazines, his face when trying to decide how to fix the problem, so British... so very British. lol

you can unload and reload a magazine I learnt it in basic training I'm now a 3* and getting on pretty well

he thinks that a 5.56 will dislocate his shoulder WTF!!!

I'm really not a fan of the title Vice has given this: "Training Cadets for Combat". Cadets are not a military force, they are a youth organisation!

Haha...the recruiter told them "free pension." I didn't know that you have to pay to get paid after you retire in England in different lines of work

I'm still baffled at why these mongs wear berets on excersise... that shiny cap badge is really tactical isnt it...

This is where to much call of duty brings you

I’m tired of living in my comfort zone. I wanna live without limits

the bit where the boy goes "bloody hell"

Tricking children into joining the army. Such a shame. Too young, to easily corrupted.

Dont know which is worse, 11 year olds in the military, or their 'training'

Lol the kids be talkin about unicorns and teletubees when they just finished firing a gun 😂🤣

Cadets are good for young people and also D of E

Do all British 15 year olds look like their 12..

I don't like that kid at the beginning.

Fantastic.I join the ACF on my 13th birthday. Then joined the Regular Army.❤️

In the Army Cadets, I was nicknamed "Tom Tom" because of my ridiculously long, complicated and foreign surname LOL I'm actually fine with it tho, bcause I am a pretty chill dude who just doesn't care

I went to army cadets for a couple of years as a kid and have lifelong happy memories from it. If any parent out there has children and is watching this to see if they should allow their sprogs to join... then i advise you do so as your child will thank you for it later down the line.

The handling of the weapon was so horrible

In the 2 years I was an Army Cadet although I learned a lot of useful skills, made some great friends and had some fun I hardly did anything as cool as firefights with blanks. The most interesting thing I did was go on a two week camp where we did shooting, kayaking etc. I also didn't get past Training 1 Star and it took 6 months for my uniform to arrive. The thing which bothered me the most about Cadets was that it wasn't like the real Army as you had 12 and 13 year olds running around but it also wasn't like a youth club as there was always one NCO who took it too far and thought they were Brigadier General of the Armed Forces because they had an upsidedown V on their arm. Nevertheless this is just my opinion, and I would encourage anyone thinking of a career in the Army to give it a try.

i might be doing cadets soon yay

Cadets is awesome, I can tell you that as a cadet my self, however the weapons are both expensive and dangerous so he got kicked out fairly.

'If you shoot a .22 in the wrong position it can dislocate your shoulder'. Who's shoulder is this and how weak are they. A 2 year old couldn't get their shoulder dislocated by a .22!

they make it sound like we are being trained for war, a lot of the people i know in the cadets don't even want to join the military, but are rather there for fun, discipline or to make new friends

It's not about training kids for war (do these kids look like killers: no), it's more about getting kids off the streets, giving them opportunities and teaching them discipline and useful skills such as first aid. So much ridiculous speculation in these comments (source: I was a member of the Cadets)

That George kid needs to get his shit straight. He kinda ticked off my "watch the fuck out for this dude" alarm when he said he got a sense of release from knowing that the rifle he shoots when he's angry could kill somebody. That alone should have been an indicator that this little dude isn't set for combat, or anything even remotely related to it.

I was there yesterday for my weapons handling assessment for Air Cadets

First name teddy last name bear..........HAHAHAHAHA now I know why he went there :)

6 years in the air cadets, highest ranked in my region. I never at any stage thought I was training for war, we all understand that it's just a game. Just like playing you soldiers when you were younger. My experiences gave me qualifications, and skills which school, or any other clubs simply cannot provide young people with.

If this is how Military training was in America, I'd join the Marines in a heartbeat. Everyone seems so friendly, and the pay seems great.

They seem very mature and are extremely kind to one another

Don't understand why people have a problem this. It's a bit of fun and you aren't forced to do it.

I'm considering joining cadets

As a cadet I would like to say that no part of the cadets involves killing or being forced into the military it is truly a life decision u make for yourself

This does make the cadets look quite sinister, but as someone who was in the cadets for years, I can say that its just an absolutely amazing place, for kids to go and enjoy themselves and forget about their worries. People join the cadets because theyre interested in the army a lot of the time and often they discover that its not what they thought it out to be. So to those saying this is brainwashing you are very much wrong. Also the bit with the padre and the prayer was clearly put in to relate to Islamic groups that instill extreme ideologies. I never experience anything like that in my years as a cadet.

active cadet here. cadets isn't about being a soldier it's not it's all about having fun.

This was seriously well shot.

for the americans, Cadets is basically the boyscouts

this would be awesome for the US to adopt for the JROTC make a summer camp out of it

lucky little bastards.

Their marching looks so tiring

They are not being trained for combat! They are learning live skills. The ACF are not the platform for joining the Army, however should anyone wish to join, they’d be supported in their quest.

Good to see the UK stepping it up.

I really like this program. I think American youths would totally benefit from an immersive program like this. And for all the people that are disturbed with youths handling firearms.....Shut up, they're teaching the kids about responsibility and respect. I was given my first rifle when I was 8. I didn't kill any fellow students, never took it to school, and grew up to be a respectable and educated man. My father taught me how to be responsible. Sure, not every child has a father around, but a program like this can be a great substitute.

the 171 ppl that disliked this are just Australians trying to like

6:46----- Did anyone hear that!!??!! Hahaha-- Sounds like one of these young killers was saying "wow wow wow" the way BORAT says it!!!! hahahahah

He kid at the beginning, could tryout for football.

That PowerPoint presentation bit was pretty messed up. "check out how boss the army is, ima go 2 shagaloof n get paid mate" from experience as a British youth I didn't know what the fuck I was doing with my life at 15 and having exploitation like this is pretty sleazy.

people have to remember that this is voluntary, so there's no pressure of joining or forcing kids. so 'ow child army' comments are stupid

"Protecting our shores" against who?

In Russia every teenager over 16 year have to go on military training for 1 week(mainly for practice: shooting, marching, etc...). And before this, we have in school lessons devoted to military affairs.

this is an awesome thing and i would hope more countries would do this... i hate the fact that my country removed even normal army reserve training and serve time few years ago :( i learned discipline when i was a sailor on the Danube and that also thought me to respect those who are elder and has experience on the "field" ... nowadays youth lacks this and these would be perfect to teach them the basics of life keep it up UK :)

15:00 the amount of respect I have for them 2 is absolutely unreal, I love them