EARFCA is one of 13 publicly funded national RFCA’s which are established by statute and have Crown status. RFCAs are not part of the Armed Forces but provide vital regional support to the Reserve Forces and Cadets in support of the chains of command of the Navy, Army & Air Force. They also establish and maintain links with the community, deliver employer engagement on behalf of defence, and provide and maintain the volunteer estate comprising training centres, cadet centres and training areas.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Essex Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst is President of the Essex County Forum of the East Anglia Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (EARFCA). The Essex County Forum is chaired by Col Charles Thomas, and the vice chair Lt Col Jackie Allan, both Essex Deputy Lieutenants.
Two further Essex Deputy Lieutenants hold voluntary appointments in EARFCA, Ian Twinley having recently become East Anglian Chairman, and Col Peter Christian as chair of the East Anglian Estates Committee.
The Lord-Lieutenant appoints her own cadets from all three military services, Army, Navy and Royal Air Force and from the St John Ambulance Cadets. These cadets escort the Lord Lieutenant during her visits to their establishments and on her other military duties.
Further details can be found at http://www.earfca.org.uk