This section covers the uniforms and equipment of the ACF during the 1980's.  Issued with Cadet sized clothing similar to the Regulars the Cadets were an important introduction for many to the Armed Forces.  The Cadets were t trained to the same standards as the Regular Infantry and were also  trained in the use of the .303 Rifle, and in some cases the .303 Bren Machine gun.  Later the Cadets were allowed to use the 7.62mm L1A1 SLR and a cadet version of the L85A1 was also introduced.  For many the Army Cadets Force was an important introduction into the Armed Forces.

Uniforms

The Cadets were issued with the same basic clothing as the Regulars that consisted of Olive Lightweight trousers, KF shirt, Heavy woolen jersey and DMS boots with puttees.  Instead of a DPM jacket they were issued with an Olive Anorak.  Towards the end of the 1980's Cadets were finally issued with DPM jackets and High leg boots.

Clothing issued to the cadets were of the same quality and pattern as the Regulars were issued but were normally in smaller sizes and in some cases the label would state 'Cadet Forces'.  There was only three types of dress code for the cadets;  Shirt Sleeve Order,  Jersey Order and Anorak order.  The Anorak order was eventually replaced by the  Jacket order with the introduction of the DPM smock..

Shirt Sleeve Order

 

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Jersey Order

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Anorak Order

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Webbing

The basic webbing used by the cadets in the early 1980's was the 1937 Pattern webbing as used in the 2nd World War.  Towards the end of the 1980's, as the 1958 pattern webbing was replaced in the Regular army by the PLCE webbing the '58 pattern filtered down to the Cadet units.

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Weapons

The cadets were trained in the use of variety of weapons form the .22 Air rifle to the .303 Bren Machine Gun.  Later the cadets would be trained in the use of the L1A1 SLR and a Cadet version of the L85A1 known as the L98 and the L86 LSW would also be available.