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Video: the cadet corps
celebrates its 150th anniversary

In the year that the cadet forces celebrate their 150th
anniversary, participants in Kent say the youth movement is
thriving.

"It's more popular now and it's more important than ever," says
Medway Regimental Sergeant Major Steve McGowan, "especially with
society and the life we're living nowadays. We keep these kids off
the streets, we give them a purpose in life and hopefully we make
them into better people."

The voluntary organisation, which is sponsored by the Ministry
of Defence, is made up four different sections: the sea cadet
corps, the army cadet force, the air training corps and the
combined cadet force.

Through military themed activities, like marching, map-reading,
first aid and sailing, the cadet force aims to help teenagers
develop leadership, responsibility and resourcefulness.