Cadet Forces Medal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cadet Forces Medal |
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Reverse of medal
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| Presented by | United Kingdom and New Zealand and formerly Australia |
The Cadet Forces Medal is a special award given to adults who have served for a long time in the Cadet Forces. These forces are youth organizations that teach young people about military life, discipline, and teamwork. The medal recognizes the hard work of adult leaders and instructors in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
This medal is given to both officers and non-commissioned adult instructors in the UK Cadet Forces. These include the Army Cadet Force, the Air Training Corps, the Sea Cadet Corps, the Volunteer Cadet Corps, and the Combined Cadet Force. Officers in the New Zealand Cadet Forces also receive this medal. To earn the medal, a person must complete 12 years of service.
Sometimes, people can earn extra awards called "clasps." These are small bars attached to the medal's ribbon. In New Zealand, a clasp is given for every 8 additional years of service. In the UK, a clasp is awarded for every 6 additional years.
The Cadet Forces Medal was also given to officers and instructors in Australia's cadet forces between 1950 and 1974. This included the Sea Cadet Corps, Australian Army Cadet Corps, and Air Training Corps. In 1999, Australia introduced a new award called the Australian Cadet Forces Service Medal. This new medal replaced the Cadet Forces Medal for Australian service.
What the Medal Looks Like
The Cadet Forces Medal is a round medal made from a metal called cupro-nickel.
Front and Back of the Medal
- On the front of the medal, you can see a picture of the Sovereign, who is the King or Queen.
- The back of the medal has the words "The Cadet Forces Medal" written on it. It also shows a picture of a torch.
- The name of the person who received the medal is stamped around the edge.
The Medal's Ribbon
- The ribbon for the medal is about one and a quarter inches wide.
- It has a green background with yellow edges.
- There are also thin stripes of dark blue, red, and light blue on the ribbon.
- When worn, the dark blue stripe should be closer to the left shoulder than the light blue stripe.
