The Army Cadet Force (ACF) are pleased to announce the appointment of Sir Jonathan Van-Tam MBE, as Honorary Colonel for Medical Support.
Sir Jonathan, probably best known for his role in getting the UK through the recent Covid Pandemic, is no stranger to the Army Cadets; a former Army Cadet Force medical officer himself, he served for 12 years, for which he was awarded an MBE for his design of medical response equipment for cadets taking part in arduous activities.
Honorary Colonels foster ‘esprit-de-corps’ and support their units and regiments leadership teams without involvement in the daily running of the unit.
The appointment allows the individual to use the rank Colonel, and when acting in his capacity as Honorary Colonel, Sir Jonathan will be titled ‘Colonel Sir Jonathan Van-Tam’, he will however be addressed as ‘Colonel JVT’.
Speaking after his appointment, Sir Jonathan, who is currently Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham said, “I am delighted to once again be associated with the ACF. It’s a superb organisation, committed to happy, healthy, and active older children who can get a real taste of everything that is so positive about the Army – adventure, activity, challenge, self-discipline, self-reliance, leadership and camaraderie, in a safe and safeguarded environment.
I genuinely believe that the experience of being an Army Cadet changes many young lives for the better, without any obligation to join the Army.
“I look forward to championing the vital and often hidden planning and assurance work of Army Cadet Medical Support Officers, who give their time freely to ensure that children, young people and adult volunteers are able to take part safely in the great activities that the ACF offers to them.”
Commander Cadets, Major General Jonathan Swift OBE added, “Sir Jonathan is rightly well known for his high profile and vital role during the pandemic, but he is also known to us as a former ACF medical officer himself for 12 years, during which time he was awarded his MBE. We are grateful to him for agreeing to be the honorary colonel for medical support, a key enabler of safe training for our organisation.”