News

July 31st 2024

“When I get home in the evening my wife will ask ‘Did you get much done today?’” says Steve Matthews, an experienced member of Derbyshire Army Cadet Force’s (ACF) support team. “And I think to myself, ‘Where do I start?’ I find it’s full on almost every day. There’s never a dull moment in this job as far as I’m concerned.”

Steve has been the Cadet Administrative Assistant (CAA) of C Company since 2013. He is one of 9 members of the Professional Support Staff (PSS) employed by East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association on behalf of Derbyshire ACF.

While his direct interactions with the Cadets are few and far between, Steve’s work as a CAA is an indispensable cog that enables Derbyshire ACF to transform the lives of young people.

Proud and proactive

On his patch, Steve is the custodian of 6 sites: from Belper and Ripley in the north down to Long Eaton and Draycott in the south with Heanor and the company’s Ilkeston headquarters in between, and he works tirelessly to ensure his 8 Detachments have safe and secure spaces to train. This involves regular inspections, submitting fault reports, arranging access for maintenance and fixes, and reacting to building emergencies. Logistics and storage for all his Company’s equipment are important parts to the CAA’s job too.

“I take pride in all of my locations and if I see something that needs doing then I’ll be onto the Works Officer,” says the 62-year-old, who was born and bred in Derbyshire. “As far as I can be, I want to be proactive in making sure the estate is good all of the time. But I will also react to a problem. That is the job.

“In my stores I have equipment the Detachments can draw from if they’re doing an activity. So, for example, this weekend Long Eaton Detachment is doing a First Aid at Work course and so they have submitted a request for 7 resusci annies and first aid equipment. The Tuesday before I visited my Detachments and County Headquarters to pick up the equipment they needed and delivered it ready for their weekend training. And on the Monday afterwards, I’ll collect those stores and return them. That sort of request can happen at any time.”

Other elements of the job involve organising uniforms for new Cadets, recovering uniform from non-parading Cadets and overseeing the movement and security of arms and ammunition.

Steve’s wide range of behind-the-scenes responsibilities are crucial to enabling the Company’s 175 Cadets and 41 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) to do what they do.

“I’m here to support the CFAVs and make sure they can achieve their aims for the Cadets,” he adds. “There is a misconception that we’re only busy when there’s a weekend activity or a camp on or a contractor’s visiting but we’re not, we’re busy all of the time. There’s always a task to be done.”

The buzz of camp

CAAs up and down the country are currently in the midst of one of their busiest periods of the year in the run up to Annual Camps. As well as their usual duties, CAAs such as Steve pull together and transport the huge store of equipment needed to support Cadet activities on camp. For 2024, Derbyshire ACF is organising two camps: 140 Cadets are heading to Chilwell Cadet Training Centre in Nottinghamshire and 430 are travelling to Beckingham Camp over in Lincolnshire for a week.

“As a member of the PSS, Annual Camps are always a trying time for us because there’s so much to prepare,” says Steve, who’s been tasked with checking and collecting some 140 waterproof jackets, 75 viper vests, 25 compasses, hi-vis vests, portable stretchers and more for use during Annual Camp. “But when everyone’s getting fed, when everyone’s got the equipment they need and on vehicles moving out to training areas and it’s all happening, it’s great, we get a real buzz.” 

Not only does he play an important role in the run up to camp, Steve will also stay for its duration. Outside of the occasional opportunity to issue uniforms directly to Cadets, engagements with Cadets are usually few and far between as a CAA, but not on camp. 

“My job at camp is messing,” he says, referring to his role managing the Cadets’ cafeteria area. “I don’t do the cooking – we have chefs for that – I’m basically a glorified dinner lady. I’m the one saying ‘you sit there, ‘you behave yourself’. I enjoy that as I get to interact with the Cadets three times a day.”

If the CFAVs are short on drivers, CAAs often step in to support as well, and Steve is only too happy to help. “Annual Camps are always proud moments,” he adds. 

Steve is no stranger when it comes to Annual Camps – the August camp at Beckingham will be his 36th. Few in the country, let alone the county, have been involved for so long. It’s a measure of just how deep Steve’s connections with and passion for the Cadets runs. 

Deep ties

Captivated by the stories shared by a friend, in 1974 Steve stepped through the doors of the former Codnor Park Detachment of Derbyshire ACF for the first time. 

“There was none of this ‘sit there and watch what happens.’ They included me in everything they did that first night. One of the instructors even had us practising parachute rolls. As a 12-year-old it was exciting and I couldn’t wait to go the following week. I was hooked.”

Steve’s dad later joined as a volunteer, becoming the Detachment Commander, and his mum ran their NAAFI tuckshop at the Detachment. The family were soon taking a car full to drill nights as Steve’s younger brother and two of his school friends joined the same Detachment. 

After aging out, circumstances prevented Steve from following in his dad’s footsteps and joining the British Army. Seeking that same military structure and environment, he re-joined Derbyshire ACF in 1986 as a CFAV, returning to the familiar surroundings of Codnor Park.

From there he became Detachment Commander, Company Training Officer, County Training Officer and later a Deputy Commandant, planning and executing 16 Annual Camps and earning a Lord Lieutenant’s Commendation for Meritorious Service along the way. Steve also achieved a graduateship in youth leadership and training through the ACF. The Matthews family affair continued too, with his daughter joining as a Cadet and his wife also volunteering.

In 1998, Steve was awarded the Cadet Force Medal for 12 years’ service. He has since earned 4 clasps, each marking an additional 6 years of services, and they’re honours he is very proud of.

Upon joining the PSS in 2013, he relinquished his voluntary role with Derbyshire ACF but still qualifies for subsequent clasps as a CAA. He now has his eyes set on achieving a fifth, and perhaps final, award in 2028 to mark 42 years of service.

“I joined the Army Cadets as a shy young lad and by the age of 16 I was receiving reports saying I was confident and able to deliver training,” he adds. “To then work all the way up to become a Deputy Commandant – as a 12-year-old I would have never dreamed of achieving that, it’s all been possible thanks to the Cadets. 

“I take a lot of pride in seeing the Cadets’ own growth. Sometimes the PSS have a small part to play, sometimes we have a large part to play. Whatever I do, I’m happy to put 110% in so that Cadets can experience what I experienced. It’s my full-time job and I love it.”