Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Associations (RFCAs) are Crown bodies in the United Kingdom which give advice and assistance to the Defence Council, and to the Army, Royal Navy and RAF, on matters that concern reserves and cadets. They are contracted by the Ministry of Defence to provide services including management of the volunteer estate, employer support, cadets and youth and to establish and maintain links with the civilian community. Established in 1908 (known then as the County Associations), they are today organised as 13 regional associations, comprising voluntary members and a small full-time secretariat.[1]
Their governing body is the RFCA Council which coordinates their budgets and policies, and is composed of the thirteen voluntary regional chairs. It has a professional chief executive for the council and there is one for each of the 13 regional RFCAs. All key posts have to be approved by the Defence Council but, as a ‘grass roots’ organisation, the names of the voluntary chairs and other officers are submitted after election by the membership, rather than through civil service nomination via the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The chairman of the council has access to the Secretary of State.[2]