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Reserve Forces & Cadets Association
Northern Ireland


ABOUT RFCA NI

The Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association for Northern Ireland (RFCA NI) is an independent, community-based organisation with the responsibility of advising and assisting the Defence Council on issues concerning the 2,000 reservists and more than 3,500 cadets in the region.

With its headquarters in Belfast, RFCA NI helps to promote and support the Reserve Forces and Cadets across the region, and by harnessing the extensive knowledge and experience of its membership, works to build relationships and increase understanding between military and civilian communities.

RFCA NI has a wide remit and day-to-day responsibilities can range from providing support to reservists’ employers, managing and maintaining our reserve and cadet sites in the region, recruiting adult cadet instructors and liaising with a wide range of local communities, MPs and councils.

See a full list of RFCA NI’s main functions and key contacts.

RFCA Constitution

Associations are individual autonomous bodies established by Act of Parliament. Each has its own Scheme of Constitution, drawn up by the Defence Council under the Reserve Forces Act 1996. These schemes last for five years, after which re-constitution must take place.

The RFCA NI Scheme of Constitution can be found
here.

Membership

The Scheme requires a membership of qualified local individuals who have an interest in the Reserve Forces and/or Cadets. Serving and retired officers from all three Armed Services and the Cadet Forces, together with representative members from local Councils, Education Authorities, local Employers and Employees, make up the membership of the Association. The members of the Association elect a Chairman and Vice Chairmen.
One of the eight Lord-Lieutenants of Northern Ireland is appointed by the Defence Council as the President of the Association. The other Lord Lieutenants are appointed as Vice Presidents.

Council of RFCAs

RFCA Northern Ireland binds into a Council with its 12 sister Associations, which provides a corporate body that interacts with the Ministry of Defence at the highest level.

For more information on the Council of RFCAs,
click here.