Sea cadets: Difference between revisions

In some countries, Sea Cadet organisations are groups devoted to educating and training the youth of the nation in maritime matters, especially those pertaining to national defense.

Sea Cadet Corps of the United Kingdom

The first Sea Cadet Corps was founded in the United Kingdom in 1914 by the Navy League of Great Britain with the sponsorship of the Admiralty. The organisation has since merged with The Marine Society to form The Marine Society & Sea Cadets. The Sea Cadets have the longest continuous history of any youth movement in the UK and today there are 400 Units across the UK.

Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps

Canada had followed the United Kingdom in creating it's own Sea Cadet programme. The Navy League of Great Britain was created in 1895, with the first branch in Canada that same year. Pretty soon, Boys' Naval Brigades units would be formed. In 1918, the Navy League of Canada was officially created, by receiving a chart from the Government of Canada. Soon afterwards, the Navy League Sea Cadets. By 1941, the King of Canada, His Majesty King George VI became the Admiral of the Sea Cadets, and therefore, the Navy League Sea Cadets became the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. This would enable the Department of National Defence and the Royal Canadian Navy to be responsible of the Sea Cadet training programme.

As stated above, the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets are the responsiblity of the Canadian Department of National Defence, through the Director of Cadets and the Navy League of Canada. Officers of the sea cadets are members of the Cadet Instructor Cadre which are reserve officers of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Lastly, the Navy League of Canada had created the Navy League Cadet Corps for young boys in 1948, and the Navy League Wrennetts for girls in 1950. There are no longer any Wrennetts in existence in Canada, and the Navy League Cadet Corps are now open for boys and girls between the ages of 9 to 12. This programme is not part of the Canadian Cadet Movement.

The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps

The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC) was founded in 1958 by the Navy League of the United States at the urging of the Department of the Navy. The United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps is officially supported by the Navy League of the United States, and is endorsed by the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard. Most of the USNSCC's funding has come from the dues of its cadets and officers, the Navy League of the United States, and private sources. Recently, the USNSCC has lobbied for, and obtained, congressional funding of one million dollars a year from the Navy's Training and Education budget.

USNSCC Personnel

Naval Sea Cadets are 13-17 years of age, and drill at one of over 200 units around the United States during the school year. Some units have a weekly drill of 2 - 3 hours, while others drill once a month for an entire day. During the school year, nearby units often come together to participate in weekend trainings, including Field Training Exercises, Small Arms Training, Shipboard Training, and Flagship Competitions. In a Sea Cadet's first summer, s/he must attend a two-week Recruit Training, where Recruits develop self-confidence, teamwork, and discipline while learning basic military knowledge.

Officers in the program are all volunteers, and range from Active Duty, Reserve, and Retired military personnel, to former cadets, to parents.

Advanced Training

The hallmark of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps is its Advanced Training program. After graduating from Recruiting Training, and during summer and winter school breaks, Cadets have the opportunity to train in many different locations and in many different fields, depending on their interests. Cadets must attend Advanced Trainings in order to advance in rank. Advanced Trainings are held primarily at Navy and Coast Guard installations and range from seven days to three weeks in length. These advanced trainings are coordinated and staffed by NSCC Officers, and are mostly instructed by Active Duty Navy and Coast Guard personnel. These trainings run the gamut from shipboard training with the Navy and Coast Guard to Airman School, JAG Legal Academy, MAA Law Enforcement Academy, Petty Officer Leadership Academy, SeaBee School, Sailing School, Submarine Seminar, Seamanship Academy, Firefighting School, Port Operations School, Honor Guard School, Medical School, Dental School, Music School, Special Boats, SEAL Training, and Recruit Training (Staff). The USNSCC also sponsors an International Exchange Program with other Sea Cadet programs around the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Holland, Japan, Scotland, Sweden, Hong Kong, Russia, and Bermuda.

Ranks & Advancement

Cadet Ranks follow the same pattern as those of the United States Navy or United States Coast Guard, from E-1 through E-7. All Cadets enter the NSCC as an E-1; requirements for advancement are outlined below.

Rank	Correspondence Course	Training	Time In Rate	Exam	Endorsement
E-1 Seaman Recruit	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
E-2 Seaman Apprentice	Basic Military Requirements NAVEDTRA-14325	2-week Recruit Training	3 Months in NSCC	N/A	Commanding Officer
E-3 Seaman	Seaman NAVEDTRA-14067	One Advanced Training	6 Months as E-2	N/A	Commanding Officer
E-4 Petty Officer 3rd Class	Petty Officer 3rd & 2nd Class NAVEDTRA-14504	One Advanced Training	6 Months as E-3	PO3 Exam	Commanding Officer
E-5 Petty Officer 2nd Class	Petty Officer 3rd & 2nd Class NAVEDTRA-14504	One Advanced Training	6 Months as E-4	PO2 Exam	Commanding Officer
E-6 Petty Officer 1st Class	Petty Officer 1st Class NAVEDTRA-14145	One Advanced Training	6 Months as E-5	PO1 Exam	NSCC Executive Director
E-7 Chief Petty Officer	Chief Petty Officer NAVEDTRA-14144	One Advanced Training	6 Months as E-6	N/A	NSCC Executive Director

External links

• United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps
• UK Sea Cadet Corps
• Canadian Sea Cadet Corps