Sea Cadets (United Kingdom)

Sea Cadets is a national youth charity, working with 15,000 young people between 10 and 18 years old across the UK. It has over 400 units across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland,[4] Malta and Bermuda all run by 9,000 volunteers. Cadets follow a similar ethos, training plan, and ranks, to the Royal Navy, and are recognised by the UK Ministry of Defence.

Sea Cadet Corps
Founded1856[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeNational youth charity
Size14,540 Cadets (as of 1 April 2019)[2]
9,000 Adult Volunteers
6 regional watersports centres
5 offshore vessels
4 national training centres
HeadquartersLondon
PatronQueen Elizabeth II
Motto(s)Ready Aye Ready
Websitewww.sea-cadets.org
Commanders
Captain Sea CadetsCapt Phil Russell RN[3]
Insignia
Ensign
Badge

Queen Elizabeth II is the patron of Sea Cadets.

Queen Elizabeth II and Admiral Sir Jonathon Band in 2006 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets

Sea Cadets Ethos

Sea Cadets ethos is made up of three parts: our values, our mindset and the customs & traditions of the Royal Navy. The promise made by every cadet who joins the Sea Cadet Corps is as follows:

The Sea Cadet Promise:

I promise to serve my God, my Queen, my country, and, the Sea Cadet Corps and to obey the orders of my superior officers. I will be proud of my uniform and be smart and seamanlike in wearing it, and, always do my duty.[5]

Note: My God refers to an individual’s own faith and is intended to apply equally to those from all faiths or none. (Sea Cadets Ethos, 2019, p4)

The ethos is underpinned by the Sea Cadet Values which are: Courage, Commitment, Discipline, Respect, Integrity and Honesty.[6] These are taught by staff throughout the time cadets are with a unit, there is also an expectation that Chaplains will take a lead in such delivery (Sea Cadet Chaplaincy (2019) 3.1. Corps Values Training).[6]

Cadets

Sea Cadets is open to any young person between ages 9 and 18.

Junior Sea Cadets

For 10 to 12-year-olds, Junior Cadets have their own training programme and uniform, based around a more practical version of the Sea Cadets training programme. When Junior Sea Cadets turn 11 years and 10 months, they can move up to being a New Entry to learn the New Entry courses, before moving up to become a Sea Cadet. In 2019, the Sea Cadets launched a pilot programme to trial lowering the Junior Cadet intake age to 9 year olds.

Sea Cadets

For 12 to 17 year olds, young people can join as a Sea Cadet and work their way up through the training programme. When cadets turn 18, they can either leave the Corps or they can stay on as staff.

Royal Marines Cadets (SCC)

For 13 to 18 year olds, the SCC has detachments of Royal Marines Cadets. They follow a more infantry based syllabus including fieldcraft; section battle drills, fire and manoeuvre and general patrolling including reconnaissance missions, ambush and fighting patrols. Other Royal Marines Cadets exist in the Volunteer Cadet Corps and Combined Cadet Force.

Sea Cadets training on HMS Undine, 1943
Sea Cadets practice semaphore during signalling class, 1943

Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps

Appointee From to
King George VI 1942 1952
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 1952 1992
Prince Andrew, Duke of York 1992 2019

Structure and organisation

National level

Sea Cadets, Stonehaven

The Headquarters of Sea Cadets are in South London at 202 Lambeth Road, SE1 7JW. It is made up of a variety of different departments, including:

  • Fundraising
  • Safeguarding
  • Finance
  • Training
  • Communications
  • Events

Area level

Sea Cadets, Fishguard

The country is divided into six areas, which are:

Each area is run by an Area Officer (AO) with a small team of support staff.

District level

Each area is subdivided into districts of between five and twelve units which are led by volunteers.

Unit level

Each unit is led by a Commanding Officer (CO) or Officer-in-Charge (OiC). Some units also have a Royal Marines Cadets Detachment, headed by a detachment commander (DC).

Volunteers fulfil roles such as watersports instructors, fundraisers, administrative staff, etc. Sea Cadets has both uniformed adult volunteers and non-uniformed adult volunteers.[7]

Training

A Cadet 1st Class in No.1 Uniform

Cadet Training Programme

Cadets follow the Cadet Training Programme (CTP) which covers various water based activities and skills as well as first aid and leadership. Royal Marine Cadets also complete the CTP but have additional elements such as campcraft amongst others.

When you become the rating of Able Cadet (AC) you start a new syllabus called the LDP (Leadership and Development Programme). This is to perfect you leadership skills and teaching skills, this will also help if cadets are looking to become members of staff.

Specialisation and proficiency training

Skills learned in a cadet's time in the SCC usually fall into one of two categories - Specialisations and Proficiencies. Specialisations are often larger subjects than proficiencies, and so are split into three levels; Basic, Intermediate and Advanced, each level increasing in difficulty building on the knowledge gained from the prior levels. Basic specialisations are often gained at the unit during regular training, while Intermediate and Advanced awards are held on an Area or National basis. Proficiencies do not usually have a levelling system, though some subjects such as Piping do contain a Basic/Intermediate level.

Some specialisations, such as Marine Engineering, are also divided into disciplines such as Electrical and Mechanical engineering.

All of the following are on offer to cadets, either at the unit or on district/area/national courses.

Specialisations Proficiencies Boatwork
Marine Engineering (Electrical/Mechanical) Piping (Boatswains Call) Dinghy Sailing
CIS (Radio Communications, Information Systems) Meteorology Rowing
Physical Training Band/Musician Kayaking
Catering/Stewarding Adventurous Training Power Boating
Navigation Target Shooting Windsurfing
First Aid Diving Offshore Sailing/Power Boating
Seamanship Flying
Canoeing
Drill/Ceremonial

Cadets may also work towards recognised qualifications including, Duke of Edinburgh's Award and BTEC qualifications. The BTECs are offered by CVQO, and include Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community (formerly Public Service), Music, and Engineering.

Many qualifications are run by the Sea Cadets but regulated by external bodies. In these cases, cadets earn independent qualifications that are recognised outside the Corps. These include Paddlesport, where they can gain PaddlePower or Star Awards through British Canoeing (formerly known as BCU), First Aid, where they can earn St John Ambulance First Aid certifications, Rowing, where they can earn British Rowing (BR) qualifications and Powerboating/Sailing/Windsurfing/Navigation where they can gain Royal Yachting Association (RYA) qualifications. National courses are also held, often on Royal Navy bases, to teach skills such as leadership and teamwork. Specialist qualification courses include power boating in Scotland, cooking in Preston, and fire fighting in Cornwall. There are competitions at varying levels in many of the sports, proficiencies, and specializations of the SCC. Competitions start at a District level and progress through to National level.

Ranks and rates

Cadets

From New Entry through to Able Cadet, Sea Cadets are promoted based on their completion of various task-based modules under the CTP - Cadet Training Programme. Leading Cadets and Petty Officer Cadets are required to attend and pass a promotion board (held at area or national level) before being promoted.

The ranks of Marine Cadet 2nd Class (MC2) and Marine Cadet 1st Class (MC1) were phased out at the end of 2018.

All Royal Marines Cadets are required to complete boards for each promotion. The higher the board the higher the level the board is run at. The former promotions from Marine Cadet to Marine Cadet 2nd Class and to Marine Cadet 1st Class were run at detachment level. Marine Cadet to Lance Corporal boards are at troop or company level, Lance Corporal to Corporal boards are at company level, and Corporal to Sergeant boards are at a national level. All promotions boards have multiple sections all of which must be passed individually.

UK
cadets
Officers Cadet senior NCOs Cadet junior NCOs Cadets Recruits
CDT 8 CDT 7 CDT 6 CDT 5 CDT 4 CDT 3 CDT 2 CDT 1 CDT (R)

Sea
Cadets Corps
No equivalent No equivalent No equivalent No insignia
Petty Officer
Cadet
Leading
Cadet
Able Cadet Ordinary Cadet Cadet 1st Class Cadet New Entry
POC LC AC OC CFC CDT NE
UK
cadets
Officers Cadet senior NCOs Cadet junior NCOs Cadets Recruits
CDT 8 CDT 7 CDT 6 CDT 5 CDT 4 CDT 3 CDT 2 CDT 1 CDT (R)

Royal Marine
Cadets
(Part of the SCC)
No equivalent No equivalent No equivalent No insignia No insignia No insignia
Cadet
Sergeant
Cadet
Corporal
Cadet Lance
Corporal
Marine Cadet 1 Marine Cadet 2 Recruit
CDTSGT CPL L/CPL MCR

At the discretion of the commanding officer of a unit, or district officer, a cadet may be awarded an acting rate if they have completed the majority of the modules required for promotion, or received a partial pass on their promotion board, for example Acting Leading Cadet (ALC), or Acting Petty Officer Cadet (APOC).

Junior Cadets

UK
Junior Cadets
Cadet Senior NCOs Cadet Junior NCOs Junior Cadets
JCDT 4 JCDT 3 JCDT 2 JCDT 1

Junior
Sea
Cadets Corps
Leading
Junior Cadet
Able
Junior Cadet
Junior Cadet
First Class
Junior Cadet
LJC AJC JCFC JC

Adult officers

The following rates and ranks can be awarded to uniformed adult volunteers, there are also Non uniformed Civilian Instructors (CIs) and Unit Assistants (UAs). From 2009 to 2019, if a person joined as a Civilian Instructor and wanted to be a uniformed member of staff, they would become an Acting Petty Officer or Sergeant, following a 6 month probationary period. From 2020, an adult can join as a uniformed member of staff as a probationary Petty Officer or Sergeant on completion of their application process.

Sea Cadet Unit Officers (NCOs) Rank Slide Royal Marine Unit Officers (NCOs) Rank Slide
Civilian Instructor
Civilian Instructor No Rank Slide
or
Probationary Petty Officer
Probationary Sergeant
Petty Officer
Sergeant
Chief Petty Officer
Colour Sergeant
Warrant Officer 2 (SCC) RNR
Warrant Officer 2nd Class (SCC) RMR
Warrant Officer 1 (SCC) RNR
Warrant Officer 1st Class (SCC) RMR

Officers are commissioned under the Cadet Forces Commission.[8]

Midshipman in the Sea Cadets formerly used the insignia for Midshipman in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.
Sea Cadet Corps officers Insignia Royal Marine Cadet Corps officers Insignia
Midshipman (SCC) RNR Second Lieutenant (SCC) RMR
Sub-Lieutenant (SCC) RNR Lieutenant (SCC) RMR
Lieutenant (SCC) RNR Captain (SCC) RMR
Lieutenant Commander (SCC) RNR Major (SCC) RMR
Commander (SCC) RNR Lieutenant Colonel (SCC) RMR
Captain (SCC) RNR

Another rank is Chaplain, they also commission under the Cadet Forces Commission.

Rank Insignia
Chaplain (SCC)

Ships

The Sea Cadets have three classes of offshore vessels, all of which are capable of coastal/offshore passage making. Sea Cadet voyages normally last for 1 week, with cadets gaining RYA qualifications for their voyage. Individual Sea Cadet units also have various boats including MOD motor boats such as Vikings, Champs, Dories, dinghies called the ASC (Admiralty Sailing Craft) and Bosuns, in addition to vessels designed specifically for the SCC such as the Trinity 500 rowing boat and RS Quest dinghy. Also on loan from the MOD, canoes, kayaks and windsurfing equipment, units and national training centres also have RIB's

TS Royalist

TS Royalist, the Sea Cadet flagship, is a tall ship owned by the MSSC. She is used to provide week-long training courses for Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets. The ship was launched in 2014 to replace the previous TS Royalist, which was over 40 years old when decommissioned. In 2013 there had been an appeal to replace the ageing flagship: £250,000 was needed this target was achieved in April 2013.[9]

She is rigged as a 34m brig,[10] with a sail area of 536 square metres (641 sq yd). Her draught is 3.25 metres (10 ft 8 in).[11] The ship's hull is of high tensile steel, with her superstructure of glass reinforced plastic. She has a crew of eight, plus up to 24 Cadets and two adult trainees. Twelve passengers can also be carried.[12]

TS City of London and TS Sir Stelios

TS City of London and TS Sir Stelios are the Sea Cadets' new (2017 and 2018 respectively) Rustler 42 yachts which have replaced the Tradewinds 35s TS Vigilant and TS City Liveryman. They are both Rustler 42 yachts and provide nationally-recognised RYA training for those wishing to gain qualifications and experience yacht sailing.

TS John Jerwood and TS Jack Petchey

These two vessels are the cadets' offshore powered training-ship. They are 24 m (78 ft 9 in) long and each cost about £2.6m. TS Jack Petchey is so named because the Jack Petchey Foundation donated £1m in order for it to be built. The Jerwood Foundation donated £1,216,700 for the construction of TS John Jerwood. The training ships can hold between 12-16 cadets, four permanent staff and two CFAVs and provides an experience at sea focussing on deck work, navigation, bridge watchkeeping, cook/steward and marine engineering. Each vessel is fitted with twin Perkins Sabre Type M215C Turbo Diesel main engines, each giving 200 shp (150 kW) at 2,500 rpm.[13]

Trinity 500 rowing boats

The Trinity 500 is a stable fixed seat rowing boat, purpose built for the Sea Cadets to deliver the full SCC Rowing Scheme. The boat has also been approved by British Rowing, to allow for the delivery of their Explore Rowing Scheme. The boat was designed by Jo Richards, Olympic medallist and designer of a wide range of craft, in response to the requirement of the Sea Cadets for a modern, low maintenance, purpose-designed fixed seat rowing boat with good performance under oars and with the capacity to mount a small outboard motor. The Trinity 500 is named to mark the quincentenary of the incorporation of Trinity House, the statutory authority for aids to navigation in England, Wales, The Channel Islands and Gibraltar. The Trinity House Maritime Charity, a separately funded arm of the Corporation of Trinity House generously funded the design and development costs of the boat.

RS dinghies

In a partnership between RS Sailing and the Sea Cadets, a new dinghy known as the RS Quest was designed by Jo Richards, who is also responsible for formulating the design for the Trinity 500 rowing vessel. The RS Quest was designed to accommodate the need for a new sailing dinghy within the SCC that is strong and easy to maintain which is capable of comfortably accommodating an instructor and up to three cadets. The RS Quest was unveiled at the Southampton Boat Show in 2015.

  • Continuing the partnership between MSSC and RS Sailing, the single sail RS Zest dinghy was launched at the 2017 Southampton Boat Show. It is intended for a crew of two, but can be sailed single-handed. It is aimed at benefiting units with limited access to water, as RS Zest can operate in shallower water than the RS Quest.

Investigation into sexual abuse

In 2012 payouts made to victims of sexual abuse across all Cadet Forces totaled £1,475,844. In 2013 payouts totaled £64,782, and in 2014 payouts totaled £544,213.[14]

In 2017, a BBC Panorama episode entitled "Cadet Abuse Cover-Up" highlighted sexual abuse cases in the British Cadet Forces. In a 1979 case of sexual abuse of a 14 year old cadet in Hertfordshire, the boy's parents were dissuaded from reporting the offender to police by Sea Cadet officers in full uniform, who had visited their home. The offender was neither dismissed or suspended but instead promoted to oversee 10 cadet units in London.[15] In the years 2012 to 2017 there were 28 allegations of sexual abuse made against SCC volunteers, including historical allegations. All 28 offenders were dismissed and referred to police.[15]

See also

Other elements of the Community Cadet Forces

Other MoD sponsored cadet forces

Other Sea Cadet organisations

Related articles

References

  1. "Sea Cadet History". www.sea-cadets.org. Sea Cadet Corps. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  2. "MOD Sponsored Cadet Forces Statistics: 2019" (PDF). GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  3. "SEA CADETS WELCOME NEW CAPTAIN". Reserve Forces & Cadets Association Northern Ireland.
  4. Raisborough, Jayne (1 January 1999). "Research note: the concept of serious leisure and women's experiences of the Sea Cadet Corps". Leisure Studies. 18 (1): 67–71. doi:10.1080/026143699375069.
  5. "Medway Victory Sea Cadets · Holcombe Grammar School". www.holcombegrammar.org.uk.
  6. "3.1. Corps Values Training » Sea Cadet Chaplaincy". chaplain.org.uk.
  7. "Volunteer - See Our Available Volunteer Roles - Sea Cadets". www.sea-cadets.org.
  8. "Royal Warrant for Cadet Force commission" (PDF).
  9. "New Ship Appeal". Sea Cadets. Archived from the original on 17 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  10. Durham, Nick (9 August 2013). "New Royalist to be built". Yachting Monthly. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  11. "New Ship Appeal". Sea Cadets. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  12. "Sea Cadets award Spanish shipyard £4.8 million contract". BBC News Online. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  13. "New training ship for sea cadets". Maritime Journal. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  14. Quinn, Ben (28 December 2014). "Ministry of Defence pays out £2m to settle cadets' sexual abuse claims". Guardian. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  15. Razzall, Katie; MacSorley, Jane (2017-07-04). "Sex abuse was covered up at cadet forces, Panorama finds". BBC News. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
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