Army cadets building undergoing huge renovation works

Three Platoon Basingstoke are based at Territorial Army Reserve in Penrith Road, where the platoon meets twice a week, and now its building is going through a significant revamp and renovation. 

The work started on Monday, December 4, and will see the hall be modernised and updated for both current and new batches of cadets coming through the ranks.

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The project is expected to be completed within the next few months, although an exact completion date has not yet been confirmed.

The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is a national youth organisation sponsored by the Ministry of Defence and the British Army. Along with the Sea Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps, the ACF makes up the Community Cadet Forces.

Renovation works at Territorial Army Reserve in Penrith Road started on Monday, December 4 2023 (Image: Colour Sergeant Dave Martin)

Although sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, the ACF is not part of the British Army, with cadets not subject to military 'call up'. Some cadets do, however, go on to enlist in the armed forces later in life.

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Three Platoon Basingstoke is part of Minden Company, with the platoons separated into detachments. The areas which make up Minden Company are Basingstoke Three Platoon, Overton, Old Basing, Winchester, Middle Wallop and Andover.

Three Platoon Basingstoke meets twice a week on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7pm-9pm and is open to anyone aged between 12 (and in Year 8) to 18-year-olds. The cadets take part in a variety of drills and subjects, including drill and turnout, military knowledge, navigation, first aid, shooting, skill at arms and much more.

More information on the army cadets can be found at armycadets.com/county/hampshire-and-isle-of-wight-acf