The Sea Cadets

Woking & District

Q.  What are the Sea Cadets?
A.  Sea Cadets are boys and girls ages 12 to 18 (Junior Cadets are aged 10 to 11), who have an interest in the water, boats, engines, sea lore, military training, naval history, physical fitness, learning team spirit and cooperation, having fun with like minded kids, etc. They are people who are looking for an adventurous, rewarding and enjoyable experience with a strong nautical theme. On reaching the age of 18, cadets, with suitable advancement, can apply to become adult civilian instructors or uniformed Petty Officers.

Q.  What do the Sea Cadets do?
A.  All Sea Cadets receive instruction in a wide variety of new skills. Cadets have the opportunity to get involved in many activities. Not just at the Unit, but also with other cadets throughout the U.K., as well as experiencing life afloat or in a Royal Navy shore establishment. Cadets interested in sea training get the opportunity to experience voyages (at highly preferential rates) on a fleet of power and sail training vessels operated by the Sea Cadets Association. But for many cadets, their first experience of life afloat is often on inland waters, where they can learn to sail, canoe, windsurf, row or operate a powerboat under close supervision by qualified instructors.

Q.  Why become a Sea Cadet?
A.  Because it's great fun and you will learn all kinds of really interesting things. You'll go to places none of your friends will probably ever have the opportunity to go to! If you are drawn to the sea, then this is the outfit for you!

Q.  What are the membership requirements?
A.  All prospective cadets must be between the ages of 12 to 18 years (juniors 10-11) and have parental consent. They must possess good moral character, in addition to being interested in the programme and being prepared to attend parade nights regularly.

Q.  How long does it take to join?
A.  You can join with the minimum of fuss and delay. You will normally be enrolled as a new entry and we will give you some introductory training. This is designed to put you at ease when you parade in uniform for the first time.

Q.  When are the Parade Nights?
A.  Every Monday and Thursday, 19:30 - 21:30. Juniors just attend the Monday parade night.

Q.  Do we only do drill during parade evenings?
A.  No. Drill is a very small part of the training provided §.

Q.  What do we do at our parades?
A.  Our meetings are like any other military drill. We teach marching, discipline, military history and traditions, first aid, weapons respect, field operations, shipboard operations, mechanics, etc. We have outside speakers both from the private sector and the Royal Navy.

Q.  I sometimes have other activities on one of the Parade nights. Can I attend only one night a week?
A.  Yes, but to be fair to yourself, the staff and other cadets, you should attend well over 50% of Parades.

Q. Are there any compulsory parades?
A.  Each cadet must attend a number of ceremonial parades during the year: the Annual Trafalgar Day Parade, on the anniversary of Admiral Lord Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805; the Remembrance Sunday Parade; and the Annual Royal Naval Inspection.

Q.  Do I have to pay for parade evenings I don't attend?
A.  Yes, unless a request for leave has been put in or if the cadet is ill.

Q.  What equipment and clothing is provided by the unit?
A.  The unit will normally provide all Uniform and appropriate safety equipment etc. to enable the cadet to participate in the activities on offer. The cadet will need to provide a pair of military boots

Q.  What do my parents have to do to enable me to take part?
A.  Parental consent in the form of a T1 is required to join and is required every time you undertake any activities away from the unit.

Q.  Can my parents visit the Unit?
A.  Yes, parents and friends are always welcome, but we ask that visitors bear in mind that Cadets may be under instruction §.

Q.  Can parents become involved with the unit as well?
A.  You most certainly can - we need your participation! Whatever time or skills you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Just speak with the Commanding Officer about what our unit's current needs are and how you might be able to contribute.

Q.  What commitment do I have to make?
A.  Sea Cadets undertake to attend parade nights on a regular basis, to take care of their uniforms and to obey their instructors.

Q.  Who runs the unit and what qualifications do they have?
A.  The Unit's Commanding Officer runs the unit on a day-to-day basis. All staff undergo training in the requirements of the Sea Cadet Corps, but any skills they already possess are put to good use. All supervisory staff are required to follow the Sea Cadets 'Code of Conduct' and are subject to vetting procedures before being offered a unit appointment.

Q.  What about the physical requirements?
A.  Applicants should be fit to get the best out of what the sea cadets have to offer.

Q.  What about boys and girls with disabilities?
A.  The Sea Cadets welcome young people with disabilities.

Q. What does all this cost?
A.  Surprisingly little. Contributions to Unit expenses are £1.50 a week for Seniors, 75p for Juniors. This is to cover normal parade activities. Occasionally, outside facilities are hired to aid training i.e. swimming, football, where an additional small contribution may be required to offset costs. Unit camps, weekends, and six-day courses away usually cost between £2.50 to £6 per day.

Q. Is the uniform expensive?
A.  You do not have to purchase a uniform - it is available on loan from the Unit. Please note that boots or shoes are not normally provided.

Q  What about insurance?
A.  All Cadets and staff are fully insured to take part in Sea Cadet activities §.

Q.  Do cadets get a chance to go on a wide range of ships, such as Frigates, Destroyers and large aircraft carriers?
A.  Yes. The Royal Navy actively encourages visits to HM Ships. In fact, some of the courses on offer take place on board ships.

Q.  Do I have to go on courses?
A.  No. Courses are not compulsory, although we do like Cadets to attend as many courses as possible in order to get the most out of the Sea Cadet Corps.

Q.  What opportunities are there for promotion?
A.  We adopt similar structures to the Royal Navy. You will start as either a Junior Sea Cadet or a New Entry, become a Cadet, then Ordinary Cadet, Able Cadet, Leading Cadet, and eventually if you work hard, attain the highest cadet rate of Petty Officer Cadet. All before reaching the age of 18.

Q.  What about ranks?
A.  Ranks are solely for officers; those who are not officers are called 'Ratings'. All Cadets follow a rating structure, with each advancement bringing more responsibility and involvement in the running of the unit.

Q.  What are the rates and minimum requirements?
A.  (1) Cadet: Completion of the New Entry Training. (2) Ordinary Cadet: Completion of the Ordinary Cadet Test and 8 advancement points gained. (3) Able Cadet: Completion of the Able cadet test and 15 advancement points gained. (4) Leading Cadet: Completion of the Leading Cadet advancement course at HMS Excellent (Portsmouth) and 30 advancement points gained. (5) Petty Officer Cadet: Completion of the Petty Officer Cadet advancement course at HMS Excellent and 60 advancement points gained. {Advancement points are awarded when a cadet qualifies in a particular specialisation or proficiency.} §

Q.  What about Staff Ranks?
A. Unlike cadets though, staff do not have advancement points. (1) Civilian Instructor: any adult who is prepared to give up their free time to assist with teaching cadets will normally start out as a civilian instructor. After 9 months, a CI may apply to become a uniformed member of staff and join the Unit as a PPO. (2) Probationary Petty Officer: If a cadet reaches the rank of POC by/at the age of 18, then the next stage is advancement to PPO. (3) A PPO has three years in which he/she must complete a one week qualifying course. (4) Chief Petty Officer : after a number of years as a PO, it is possible to be promoted to CPO. This involves another course. (5) Warrant Officer: There is one WO per area. (6) Midshipman: this is the rank of a non-commissioned officer in the SCC. Midshipmen need to pass a Junior Staff Officer Course before they are promoted to Sub-Lieutenant. (7) Sub-Lieutenant : S/Lt is the lowest of the commissioned ranks available in the Sea Cadet Corps and can be attained from the rank of PO or CPO after a period of time. (8) Lieutenant: after a period of time serving as a Sub Lt., an officer may be promoted to Lt. (9) Lieutenant Commander : an officer has to be either a District Officer, or CO of a very large unit. Lt Cdr. is the highest rank a Sea Cadet Officer can achieve.

Q.  How about awards, badges etc?
A. You will be awarded badges (modeled on those worn in the Royal Navy) to be worn on your uniform when you reach certain levels of skill in an activity or upon promotion to a higher rate. All Cadets have the opportunity to attend courses in which they can qualify for nationally recognised awards such as Royal Yachting Association, British Canoe Union and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. In addition, any Cadet that has maintained good conduct through out the first three years of enrolment is entitled to 'a good conduct stripe' for each year.

Q.  Must I be able to swim?
A.  No. Lots of youngsters who join are not able to swim, but we hope you will learn while you are with us. There are within the Corps qualified swimming instructors, you only need to be able to swim for some boating activities and too be promoted to Leading Cadet.

Q.  I want to join the Royal Navy or Royal Marines when I am older. Will Sea Cadets guarantee my entry?
A.  No, but on your application to join the Services, the the Careers Officer will ask your Commanding Officer for a report on you. Should you successfully pass the entrance exam, then good attendance and "taking part" in Cadets will prove to be an advantage. As a matter of interest, a large part of the serving naval personnel originated in the Sea Cadet Corps §.

Q.  Am I expected to join the services?
A.  A cadet is not expected to join the armed forces once they leave. The Sea Cadets is not a pre-service organisation, but it does enjoy a close relationship with the Royal Navy.

Q.  Can I stay in the Cadets as long as I like?
A.  Yes, providing you have reached the rate of Cadet Petty Officer by the time you are 18. Then, if you wish, you may become either a Probationary Petty Officer on the staff or a Civilian Instructor.

Q.  Can I leave when I want?
A.  Yes, but most Cadets once they have joined normally stay.

Q.  Do I have to go to sea?
A.  A number of our recruits enrol as Sea Cadets without a desire to 'go to sea'. These cadets can undertake a variety of land-based activities, which include adventure training, ceremonial drill, physical training, communications, cook/steward, information technology, first aid, etc.

Q.  What does the general public see?
A.  The Sea Cadet Corps is proud of its public ceremonial presentations. Each cadet will be trained to perform simple drill movements at attention and on the march, with and without ceremonial drill-purpose rifles. The older cadet will get the opportunity to become more proficient, leading to Instructor status §.

Q. What about firearms?
A.  A drill purpose (DP) deactivated weapon is used for ceremonial drill training, which is a valuable medium for teaching self-discipline, teamwork, precision, and co-ordination. The standard SCC DP weapon is a Mark 4 Lee Enfield .303 rifle (with a hole in the barrel and no firing pin, rendering it unusable as a firearm).There is no training or activity in the SCC involving hand guns. Target shooting is a SCC proficiency and encourages a well recognised sporting (Olympic - not Military) skill that involves self control, discipline and co-ordination of hand and eye. Target Shooting is carried out under the auspices of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the National Small Bore Rifle Association (NSRA) rules with further guidance from the Cadet Council Rifle Shooting (CCRS) committee. Target shooting in the Sea Cadet Corps falls into four categories: Air Rifle - using the .177 Air Rifle; Small Bore - using No. 8 (.22) Rifle and Full Bore - using the Cadet target rifle L81A2 (7.62mm) and Cadet GP rifle (5.56mm). Live Firing of the L98A1 and the Light Support Weapon is conducted under target rifle regulations as part of the MCD training syllabus. Dry weapon training is part of the MCD syllabus, using the L98A1 rifle (cadet single-shot version of the 5.56mm SA80) and the 5.56mm Light Support Weapon (Automatic).

Q. What about my uniform?
A.  On completion of 12 weeks training, providing you are successful in the test (which isn't difficult), your attendance has been good and your uniform size is held in the Unit.

If you have any other questions, please email us §.

IT'S TIME WE MET ..... BE A SEA CADET !