Queen Elizabeth II and Admiral Sir Jonathon Band in 2006 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Marine Society and Sea CadetsLt. Commander John Edwards, RNR (SCC), Lt. Mario Oliviera, RNR (SCC), Sub-Lt. Colvin Manning, RNR (SCC), and the Guard of TS Admiral Somers parade at Ordnance Island, Bermuda for the completion of Dodge Morgan's record-breaking circumnavigation of the world aboard the American Promise on 11 April 1986.
In 1854, a vicar in Whitstable, Kent returned from the Crimean War and founded an orphanage where sailors taught nautical skills to prepare orphans for future careers.[6] Multiple similar orphanages were founded across the country, and the organisation became known as the Naval Lads' Brigade. In 1899 Queen Victoria presented £10 (around £1,000 today) to the Windsor Unit to purchase uniforms.[4]
In 1910, the Navy League sponsored a small number of units as the Navy League Boys' Naval Brigade, and in 1919 the organisation adopted the name Navy League Sea Cadet Corps. Lord Nuffield donated £50,000 in 1937 to fund an expansion of the Corps.[4]
King George VI became the Admiral of the Corps in 1942 and the name was changed to the Sea Cadet Corps. The Sea Cadets had approximately 400 units and 50,000 Cadets. The Girls Naval Training Corps was also formed (later renamed Girls Nautical Training Corps in 1950).[4]Queen Elizabeth II became the Patron of the Sea Cadets in 1952.[4] In 1955 the Sea Cadet Council agreed to the formation of the Marine Cadet Section.[4] The Girls Nautical Training Corps became affiliated with the Sea Cadet Corps in 1963. The Royal Naval Association began planning the first British colonial unit in Bermuda in 1964, with TS Bermuda formed on 12 January 1966.[4][7] Located at Admiralty House, Bermuda, it was followed by two further units (TS Venture at the former Roman Catholic chapel of the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda and TS Admiral Somers at Convict Bay, St. George's, another former Admiralty property).[8][9][10]
On 31 March 1980 the Ministry of Defence approved the admission of girls into the Sea Cadet Corps. The successful integration of girls into the Sea Cadet Corps led to the dissolution of the Girls Nautical Training Corps in 1992.[4]
Ethos
The Sea Cadets' ethos is made up of three parts: its values, its mindset, and the customs and 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 King, 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.[11][a]
The ethos is underpinned by the Sea Cadet Values which are: Courage, Commitment, Discipline, Respect, Loyalty, Honesty, and Integrity.[12] These are taught by staff throughout the time cadets are with a unit; chaplains will also take a lead in such delivery.[12]
Cadets
Junior Sea Cadets
For 9 to 12-year-olds, Junior Cadets have their own training programme and uniform, based on a more practical version of the Sea Cadets training programme.[13][14]
Sea Cadets
For 12 to 18-year-olds, young people can join as a Sea Cadet and work their way up through the training programme.[13]
Volunteers fulfil roles such as water sports instructors, fundraisers, administrative staff, etc. Sea Cadets has both uniformed adult volunteers and non-uniformed adult volunteers.[20]
Training regime
A Cadet 1st Class in No.1 Uniform
Skills learned in a cadet's time in the Sea Cadets fall into four groups: (i) unit section, (ii) waterborne section, (iii) community and citizenship section, and (iv) outdoor and recreation section.[21]
From new entry through to able cadet, Sea Cadets are promoted based on their completion of various task-based modules. The ranks to progress through are: new entry, cadet, cadet 1st class, ordinary cadet, and able cadet. The non-commissioned officer ranks are leading cadet and petty officer cadet.[22]
No. 1s (Left) and No. 8 AWD (being replaced in 2024 with No.4s) with pullover (centre) and in shirtsleeves (right)
Cadets are issued two uniforms. Some units ask for a deposit for uniforms that is returned after the uniform is given back. The primary uniforms that cadets receive are:
No. 1s (Formal Dress) - Seaman's cap, blue class II jumper, blue Class II trousers, shirt uniform class II (white front), seaman's blue collar, black scarf assembly, lanyard, and black boots/shoes[24]
Royal Navy Personal Clothing System (RNPCS)No. 4 Dress (General Duty Rig) – Replacing the No. 8 Action Work Dress,[25] this involves Navy blue beret, blue PCS jacket, black t-shirt, blue belt, blue PCS trousers, black working boots, navy jersey, and an RN foul weather jacket[26]
TS Royalist, the Sea Cadet flagship, is a tall ship owned by the MSSC. She is used to providing 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.[27]
She is rigged as a 34m brig,[28] with a sail area of 536 square metres (641sqyd). Her draught is 3.25 metres (10ft 8in).[29] 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 twenty-four Cadets and two adult trainees. Twelve passengers can also be carried.[30]
TS City of London and TS Sir Stelios
TS City of London and TS Sir Stelios is 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 in yacht sailing.[31]
These two vessels are the cadets' offshore powered training-ship. They are 24m (78ft 9in) 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 200shp (150kW) at 2,500 rpm.[32]
Current Inshore Fleet
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.[33]
Investigation into sexual abuse
In 2012 payouts made to victims of sexual abuse across all Cadet Forces totalled £1,475,844. In 2013 payouts totalled £64,782, and in 2014 payouts totalled £544,213.[34]
In 2017, a 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.[35] Further historical cases have been investigated with settlements being made.[36] 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 the police.[35]
↑ 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.
"Sea Cadet Corps Unit Planned by RN Assn". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 30 May 1964. p.11. The Royal Naval Association is to form the Colony's first Sea Cadet Corps.
"Sea Cadet Corps". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 13 January 1966. p.4.
"After Annual Admiralty Inspection...High Praise for Local Sea Cadet Unit". The Royal Gazette. City of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda. 10 April 1967. p.9. Commander A. J. Boyd, Commanding Officer of H.M.S. Malabar, made the first annual Admiralty inspection of the Bermuda Sea Cadets in a short ceremony at the Mariners Club on Friday night.
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