Royal Canadian Sea Cadets (RCSC) is a
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
national youth program sponsored by the
Canadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
and the civilian
Navy League of CanadaThe Navy League of Canada, is a Non-For-Profit organization founded in 1895 and incorporated in 1918. Originally formed to promote maritime issues to Canadians, the Navy League is the non-governmental partner of the Department of National Defence in delivery of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets program...
. Administered by the
Canadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in the local community.
Basics
Along with the
Royal Canadian Army CadetsThe Royal Canadian Army Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in...
and
Royal Canadian Air CadetsRoyal Canadian Air Cadets is a Canadian national youth program for persons aged 12 to 18. It is administered by the Canadian Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence with additional support from the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada...
, RCSC is a Canadian Cadet Organization. Although the RCSC and the other cadet programs are sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Leagues, cadets are not members of the Forces, and are not expected to join the Canadian Forces. In keeping with Commonwealth custom, the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets stand first in the order of precedence, before the Royal Canadian Army and Air Cadets. This is in keeping with the Royal Navy's status as the Senior Service, a tradition common to most
CommonwealthThe Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the Commonwealth and previously as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-three independent member states. Most of them were formerly part of the British Empire. They co-operate within a framework of common values...
navies.
Boys and girls aged 12 to 18 may join the RCSC, free of charge. The organization and rank system is similar to that of the Canadian Navy. Cadets are appointed to non-commissioned member ranks. Adult leadership is provided by officers of the Canadian Forces Cadet Instructor Cadre, supplemented, if necessary, by contracted Civilian Instructors, authorized adult volunteers, and, on occasion, officers and non-commissioned members of other CF branches.
Cadet Instructors CadreThe Cadet Instructors Cadre consists of approximately 7,500 commissioned officers of the Canadian Forces whose primary duty is the safety, supervision, administration and training of Army, Sea, and Air cadets within the Canadian Forces reserve force subcomponent Cadet Organizations...
Members of the (CIC)are CF officers who are specially trained to deliver the Royal Canadian Sea, Army, and Air Cadet training program, and like all reservists come from all walks of life and all parts of the community. Some are former cadets, many have former regular or reserve force service.
Badge
This badge is the service crest of the RCSC, and is worn on cadet uniforms as a brass cap badge and as an embroidered jacket patch on issue parkas.
Aim
The aim of Royal Canadian Sea Cadets is to develop in youth the attributes of good
citizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, or national community.Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
and
leadershipLeadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”...
; promote
physical fitnessPhysical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness and specific fitness ....
; and stimulate the interest of youth in the sea, land, and air activities of the
Canadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. The RCSC shares this aim with the Army and Air Cadets; however, each focuses on its own parent element.
Early days
In 1895, due to concern over the
Royal Navy'sThe Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of HM Armed Forces . From the beginning of the 18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early...
ability to provide adequate naval defence, concerned citizens formed the Navy League, to promote interest in the problems of maritime trade and defence.
The League formed local branches throughout the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
and in other countries of the
British EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom, that had originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height it was...
. The earliest Canadian branch was formed in
TorontoToronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America...
. Its
warrantMost often, the term warrant refers to a specific type of authorization; a writ issued by a competent officer, usually a judge or magistrate, which commands an otherwise illegal act that would violate individual rights and affords the person executing the writ protection from damages if the act is...
(Warrant No. 5) is dated December 10,1895, and currently hangs in the
Navy League (of Canada)The Navy League of Canada, is a Non-For-Profit organization founded in 1895 and incorporated in 1918. Originally formed to promote maritime issues to Canadians, the Navy League is the non-governmental partner of the Department of National Defence in delivery of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets program...
National Office.
At that time, Canadian branches supported a cadet program called the Boys’ Naval Brigades, aimed at encouraging young men to consider a seafaring career and provide basic training in
citizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, or national community.Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
and
seamanshipSeamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat.It involves a knowledge of a variety of topics and development of specialised skills including: navigation and international maritime law; weather, meteorology and forecasting; watchstanding; ship-handling and small boat handling; operation of deck...
, with a certain degree of success.
Evolution
At the formation of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1910, the organisation was renamed from "Boys’ Naval Brigade" to "Navy League Sea Cadets," to permit closer liaison with the Navy. In 1942, King George VI graciously consented to be Admiral of the Navy League’s Sea Cadets, and granted the "Royal" suffix, causing another name change, to the current "Royal Canadian Sea Cadets."
Queen ElizabethElizabeth II is the queen regnant of sixteen independent states known informally as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,...
continued this Royal patronage and named His Royal Highness the
Duke of EdinburghThe Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. Philip was originally a royal prince of Greece and Denmark, and thus a member of the Danish-German House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, but renounced these titles shortly before his marriage and adopted the...
as the Admiral of the RCSC. Finally, in 1941, the
RCNThe Royal Canadian Navy was the navy of Canada from 1911 until 1968 when the three Canadian services were unified to form the Canadian Forces....
became a joint partner with the Navy League in support of the RCSC.
Girls
In 1950 the Navy League Wrenette Corps’ were established for girls aged 13 to 18 years, though some corps existed unofficially before that date. In 1975, the two programs were amalgamated and girls were officially enrolled in Sea Cadets cadets.
Navy League today
In 1995, the Navy League of Canada celebrated its 100th Anniversary. The League promotes the same subjects today, as at its founding: knowledge of, and support for, maritime interests. On a national level, the League supports the International Exchange Program, certain scholarships, and the National Sea Cadet Regatta, while local branches provide vital logistical support to individual RCSC Corps.
Corps
Individual cadets belong to units called Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC), or Corps de cadet de la Marine royale canadienne (CCMRC), which are the basic operating units of the program. Each corps compises Canadian Forces Officers of the Reserve Cadet Instructors Cadre, often assisted by Civilian Instructors (CI), and cadets.
The entirety of a given corps organizes itself as a ship's company, employing the naval divisional system. Under this system, cadets become members of a division under a cadet petty officer (Divisional Petty Officer or DPO) and, ideally, a commissioned officer of the CIC (Divisional Officer or DivO), although the officer position is sometimes filled by a
civilianA civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces. The term is also often used colloquially to refer to people who are not members of a particular profession or occupation, especially by law enforcement agencies, which often use...
. Cadets parade by divisions, and are expected to route grievances and requests through the
chain of commandIn a military context, the chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed within a military unit and between different units...
, running either directly from the DPO to DivO to the
Executive OfficerAn executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative Law:...
(XO) to the
Commanding OfficerThe commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
(CO) or from the DPO to the cadet Regulating Petty Officer (RPO, the second senior cadet in the unit), to the cadet
CoxswainThe coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority.-...
(Cox'n, the senior cadet in a unit). The chain stops at the level able to deal with a concern - for example, a cadet's request for a new item of uniform might result in the DivO giving approval, and directing the cadet to visit Stores.
All but the smallest corps staff several departments, typically including Training, Administration, and Supply, while larger units maintain training-support organisations, including
RangeShooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
, Boatshed,
SailSailing is the art of controlling a boat with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to change the direction and speed of a boat...
, and
PERIPhysical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness and specific fitness ....
(Physical Education and Recreational Instruction).
Training, Administration, and Supply operate under the direction of a CIC officer, possibly with an adult assistant, and a senior cadet, while the others, with the exception of Range, are often run by a senior cadet. Units generally adhere to the school schedule, meeting weekly for mandatory training, and carrying out additional training on weekends and other weeknights. The primary meeting is referred to as a parade night, while overnight weekend training conducted at the unit's home is called a live-aboard. Anything taking the unit away from its home is generally termed an exercise.
Primary Departments
- The Training Department compises the Training Officer (TrgO), Training Chief or Petty Officer (TrgCPO/PO), and a staff of senior cadets and adult staff, often with other duties within the unit, serving as instructors for the Phase Training Program - the basic Sea Cadet syllabus. The TrgCPO/PO is often responsible for maintaining each cadet's training record, as well as handling resources and rating instructors.
- The Administration Department compises the Administration Officer (AdmO) and Administration Chief or Petty Officer (AdmCPO/PO), who wears the quill-pen and scroll badge of a Ship's Writer, and may be referred to as such. Administration handles all incoming and outgoing mail, as well as maintaining corps records other than those specifically handled by Training or Supply.
- The Supply (or Stores) Department is composed of a Supply (or Stores) Officer, sometimes assisted by a senior cadet, who is entitled to wear the crossed-keys badge of a Storesman. The Supply Department is responsible for all equipment belonging to the corps; however, Supply tends to be primarily concerned with issuing cadets uniforms and related gear - bands often deal with their own gear, as do competitive teams.
Other Groups
- Range Team
Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
: Most units will have at least one trained Range Safety Officer (RSO) and conduct, as part of the mandatory training programme, training in safe and effective marksmanship using either the Daisy Air Rifle, which is not rated as a firearm, and thus may be used in almost any location of sufficient size, or, with the proper indoor or outdoor firing range, the .22 calibre Lee Enfield or AnschützJ. G. Anschütz GmbH & Co. KG is a firearms company based in Ulm, Germany, that makes small-bore rifles and shotguns for target shooting and hunting...
bolt action target rifles. A number of corps field range teams, competing in cadet tri-service matches at the area, regional, and national level, while others simply offer a well-supervised recreational shooting program.
- The .22 rifles are, today, usually held by corps fielding a biathlon team. The Lee-Enfields are, except for the barrel, virtually indistinguishable from those used by Commonwealth forces in WWII
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and KoreaThe Korean War is a war that started between North Korea and South Korea on 25 June 1950 and paused with an armistice signed 27 July, 1953...
, while the Anschutz are purpose-made target rifles. Recently, concern over leadLead is a main-group element with symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal, also considered to be one of the heavy metals. Lead has a bluish-white color when freshly cut, but tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed to air...
levels resulted in the closure of indoor small-arms ranges used by cadets, causing many units to search for appropriately certified and willing civilian outdoor ranges. Firearms safety is given the highest priority throughout this training.
- Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
: An increasing number of RCSC Corps have formed biathlon teams, adding a new aspect to the long-standing marksmanship programs, and encouraging a high degree of athleticism and physical fitness. Alongside those other benefits, it offers an alternate focus for land-locked units unable to offer a local sailing program. Ideally, cadets train and compete with Anschutz .22 target rifles; however, due to a lack of suitable ranges, some corps train with air rifles in accordance with OlympicThe Olympic Games are a major international event of summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes compete in a wide variety of events. The Games are currently held every two years, with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in...
marksmanship standards.
- Sail
Sailing is the art of controlling a boat with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to change the direction and speed of a boat...
: Many units run a sailing program using small dinghiesDinghy sailing is the activity of sailing small boats by using the five essential controls: the sails and underwater foils . It also involves adjusting the trim and side to side balance of the dinghy by movement of the crew, particularly in windy weather...
, typically Pirate-A Pirate is a type of German sailing dinghy. It was first constructed in 1935, and has no trapeze. The Pirate was designed in 1934 by the German boat builder Carl Martens. The boat was originally manufactured in solid wood, although since the 1960s glass-reinforced plastic, or a sandwich of the...
or 420-classThe International 420 Class Dinghy is a monohull planing dinghy with centreboard, bermuda rig and centre sheeting. It is designed for a crew of two...
vessels, although other comparable designs are used, including echos, LasersThe International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
, the Olympic-class 470The 470 is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with a centreboard, Bermuda rig, and center sheeting.The name is the overall length of the boat in centimeters . The 470 has been an Olympic class since the 1976 games. The Class was initially an open class, but since the 1988 games there have...
, Flying Juniorthumb|Coen Gulcher helming one of the first Flying Juniors The International Flying Junior or FJ is a sailing dinghy which was originally designed in 1955 in Holland by renowned boat designer Van Essen and Olympic sailor Conrad Gülcher. The FJ was built to serve as a training boat for the then...
s, as well as the older AlbacoresThe Albacore is a 4.57 m planing dinghy developed in 1954 from an Uffa Fox design. Hulls may be made out of either wood or fiberglass....
and International Cadets. At the corps level, the sailing program is often taught by a civilian sailing instructor, supervised by a member of the Canadian Forces. The instructor may be assisted by trained cadets. The RCSC sailing program uses Canadian Yachting AssociationThe Canadian Yachting Association is Canada's organization for controlling the water.CYA is a "Member National Authority" of the International Sailing Federation . Organization of sailing in Canada is divided into four groups, Yacht Clubs, Provincial Sailing Associations, Class Associations, and...
levels and material for all training. Corps sailing instruction is supported by regional Sail Centres, staffed by a Coordinating Officer, several Canadian Yachting AssociationThe Canadian Yachting Association is Canada's organization for controlling the water.CYA is a "Member National Authority" of the International Sailing Federation . Organization of sailing in Canada is divided into four groups, Yacht Clubs, Provincial Sailing Associations, Class Associations, and...
(CYA) certified Head Instructors and volunteer staff cadet instructors. Advanced training focus on competitive sailing and race organization.
- Band: Most units larger than thirty people will try to support some sort of musical ensemble, whether drum and bugle, drum and bell (glockenspiel), a military band
A military band is a group of personnel that perform musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instrument. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
, or just a drum line. A very few corps have a piper or two, while an even smaller group maintain pipe bandA pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
s, rare due to both the lack of a Naval tradition of piping, and the comparative expense of the instruments.
- Boatshed
Boatsheds are generally lockable wooden sheds, often brightly colored, that were originally built to securely store small private boats and bathing materials directly on beaches...
: This support department handles all the water-related needs of the corps, including maintenance of the sailing dinghies and other small craft, as well as supporting seamanshipSeamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat.It involves a knowledge of a variety of topics and development of specialised skills including: navigation and international maritime law; weather, meteorology and forecasting; watchstanding; ship-handling and small boat handling; operation of deck...
instruction off the water.
- Canteen: Operated by the local sponsoring group with proceeds for corps activities, the canteen typically sells pop, chips, and the like at breaks in training. Some also offer cadets various necessities such as thread, boot polish, and starch. More ambitious corps canteens offer unit clothing, typically sweatshirts, T-shirts, belt buckles and the like, suitably emblazoned with unit insignia, motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used...
s, and the like.
Sponsoring Group
- Along with the Army Cadets and Air Cadets, the Sea cadets make up a program sponsored by the Canadian Forces funded primarily through the Department of National Defence. The Canadian Forces provides training, pay and allowances for reserve force cadet instructors; uniforms for instructors and cadets; transportation, facilities and staff for summer training; the training program and training aids; and policy and regulation regarding the operation of the cadet organization.
- The civilian Navy Cadet League provides local support by way of accommodation, utilities, liability insurance, transportation and training aids not provided by the CF.
- The primary local community sponsor for Sea Cadets is a local branch of the Navy League of Canada that is often a committee of parents supported by groups such as Royal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
branch, or some similar service club; i.e. LionsLions Clubs International is the world's largest secular service organization with over 44,500 clubs and more than 1.3 million members in 203 countries around the world. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organization strives to meet the needs of communities on a local...
, RotaryRotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. It is a secular organization open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed or political preference. There are more than 32,000 clubs and over 1.2 million members world-wide. The...
, etc. Navy League branches rely on community support, in the form of direct donations of money and goods, trusts, and various forms of fund-raising efforts. These last include sale of various items, much like bake and chocolate bar sales, street-corner pin and tag sales by cadets, and funds raised through the attached cadet unit's own canteen.
Training and ranks
For a more complete discussion of RCSC Winter Training, please see Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Training
In accordance with QR and O Cadets 4.11 the following are the rank badges of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets:
In addition to the rank-specific criteria given below, all appointments are subject to the approval of the cadet's
Commanding OfficerThe commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
, who generally promotes based on the advice of Divisional Officers and unit training staff.
As a note, the official phrasing for the
Petty OfficerA Petty Officer is a noncommissioned officer or equivalent in many navies.-History:At the height of the Age of Sail there was a group of inferior officers between the sea officers, both commissioned and warrant, and the sailors commonly known as petty officers...
and
Chief Petty OfficerChief Petty Officer is a Non-commissioned officer or equivalent in many naval services and coast guards.-Canada:Chief Petty Officer refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
ranks is "Petty Officer Cadet First (or Second) Class," and "Chief Petty Officer Cadet First (or Second) Class." However, outside of Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATO), and Queen's Regulations and Orders (Cadets) (QR&O(Cdt)), custom omits "Cadet" in casual reference. Thus, Petty Officer First Class is the customary rendering. Generally, where there is a need to distinguish between cadets and Canadian Forces members, the
NCONon-commissioned officer , abbreviated to NCO or Non-com , is a term in many armed forces indicating leadership ranks less senior than commissioned officers...
ranks will be written or spoken as Cadet Petty Officer First Class, abbreviated as C/PO1.
Additionally, while it is customary within the organisation to refer to a cadet receiving a rank as being "promoted," the official documentation refers to such an act as an "appointment."
Rank
Ranks of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets—Junior Cadets
| Ordinary Seaman—Cadet-matelot de 3e classe | | Able Seaman—Cadet-matelot de 2e classe | | Leading Seaman—Cadet-matelot de 1re classe |
|---|
- Rank of OS (Mat 3 in French) granted on joining, although custom refers to cadets not yet sworn in as new entries;
- No prerequisites for this rank, except a minimum age of 12 years;
- A new cadet is sworn in to their corps, making a promise of loyalty to the Crown
The monarchy of Canada also referred to as The Crown in Right of Canada, Her Majesty in Right of Canada, or The Queen in Right of Canada is the constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Canada, forming the core, or "the...
and obedience to orders in front of the ship's company; also,
- Ordinary seaman wear no rank.
|
For promotion to AB (mat 2) a cadet must:
hold the rank of OS for at least 5 months;
maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment; and
be recommended by his/her divisional officer.
|
For promotion to LS (mat 1) a cadet must:
hold the rank of AB;
have successfully completed Phase I from the LHQ program;
maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment; and
be recommended by his/her divisional officer. |
Ranks of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets—Petty Officers
| Master Seaman—Cadet-matelot-chef | | Petty Officer Second Class—Cadet-maître de 2e classe (Nouveau Programme des Cadets de la Marine Royale Canadienne Npq Phase 1) | | Rated Petty Officer First Class—Cadet-maître de 1re Classe (Nouveau Programme des Cadets de la Marine Royale Canadienne Npq Phase 1) |
|---|
For promotion to MS (matc), a cadet must:
- hold the rank of LS;
- have successfully completed Phase II from the LHQ program;
- maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment; and
- be recommended by his/her Divisional Officer.
|
For promotion to PO2 (m 2), a cadet must:
hold the rank of MS;
have successfully completed Phase III from the LHQ program;
maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment; and
be recommended by his/her divisional officer. |
For promotion to PO1 (m 1), a cadet must:
hold the rank of PO2
have successfully completed phase IV from the LHQ program;
maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment;
be recommended by his/her divisional officer; |
Ranks of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets—Chief Petty Officers
| Chief Petty Officer Second Class—Cadet-premier maître de 2e classe | | Chief Petty Officer First Class—Cadet-premier maître de 1re classe | |SCSTC Chief Petty Officer—Capitaine d'armes de CIECM |
|---|
For promotion to CPO2 (pm 2), a cadet must:
- must have held the rank of PO1 for at least 6 months;
- maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment;
- must be recommended by the Merit Review Board; and
- there must be a vacancy on the corps CPO2 establishment.
|
For promotion to CPO1 (pm 1), a cadet must:
have held the rank of CPO2 for at least 6 months;
maintain a satisfactory level of dress and deportment;
be recommended by the Merit Review Board; and
there must be a vacancy on the corps CPO1 establishment, one per corps. |
Similar to the CF Base Chief Petty Officer appointment;
worn by a Royal Canadian Sea Cadet employed as the cadet coxswain or chief, (capitaine d'armes cadet) (different SCTCs use their own term) of a Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre;
May be considered the pinnacle of a cadet's service.
This insignia may not be worn for any other reason. |
Forms of address
- Junior cadets are typically addressed by their last name by all ranks; however, a superior might address them as simply "cadet," especially in situations where names are not known, as at multi-unit events.
- Petty officers are typically addressed by their juniors as "Petty Officer So-and-So," or, conversationally, as "P.O." Superiors and equals will often use last name only, sometimes prefacing it with "Mr." or "Miss."
- Chief petty officers are typically addressed by all personnel as "Chief So-and-So," or, conversationally, as "chief." Superiors and equals will rarely use last name only, though superiors might replace "chief" with "Mr." or "Miss."
- Additionally, cadets often hold an appointment in addition to their rank, and many of these are used as an alternate form of address, especially the following: coxswain; corps gunner, chief gunner, or gunner's mate ("gunner"), drum major
A drum major is the leader of a marching band, drum and bugle corps, or pipe band. The drum major is usually positioned at the head of the band or corps and is the figure who stands out in the public eye...
("drum major" or "drummie"); bugler; messenger; and boatswainA boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
, boatswain's mate, chief boatswain's mate, and chief boatswain ("bosun" or "buffer").
- In formal situations; for example, being called up for an award or promotion; a cadet's full rank is often used.
Summer Training
For a more complete discussion of RCSC Summer Training, please see Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Training
Summer Training Centres, officially termed as either Sea Cadet Summer Training Centres or Establishments, and referred to colloquially year-round as "camps," and, by their ship's company over the summer, as "the base," provide additional training intended to support or complement that offered at the home unit from September to June. Across the board, cadets applying for summer training must have 75% attendance over the winter training year, as well as meeting certain course prerequisites.
Summer training facilities are staffed by members of the Canadian Forces, primarily members of the CIC, but also including other branches of the CF, and senior cadets selected for employment as staff cadets. Sea Cadet STCs are commanded by a CIC officer of the rank of
CommanderCommander is a military rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service...
. Most employ staff cadets at the ranks of Petty Officer Second Class through Chief Petty Officer First Class, with a CPO1 being appointed as Cadet Cox'n. Additionally, some employ staff cadets at the rank of Leading Cadet for support positions. Staff cadets are paid at a percentage of a CF Naval Cadet's (officer trainee) basic pay.
The centres are commissioned as "
stone frigateStone frigate is a nickname for a naval establishment on land. The term has its origin in Britain's Royal Navy after its use of Diamond Rock, off Martinique, as a 'sloop of war' to harass the French...
s," which is to say, naval shore establishments granted much the same standing as a seagoing unit.
Current Sea Cadet Summer Training Centres (SCSTC)
- SCSTC HMCS Quadra
Cadet Summer Training Centre HMCS Quadra is a Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre located in Comox, British Columbia.CSTC HMCS Quadra is situated on Department of National Defence property on Comox Harbour called "Goose Spit" and trains over 1,000 sea cadets from every region and...
, located in Comox, British ColumbiaComox is a town located on the eastern side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia in the Comox Valley. Comox has a population of approximately 12,200 people and is home to the Canadian air force base CFB Comox and HMCS Quadra Sea Cadet training facility....
, operating as a Sea Cadet training facility since 1953, and a commissioned one since 1956, is the second largest summer training facility. It employs close to 150 staff cadets every year, whose tasks vary from general maintenance to physical fitness to boat instruction. Quadra is the only Sea Cadet Training Centre in Canada to include all four trades plus three of the four speciality trades (Marine EngineeringMarine Engineering involves the design, construction, installation, operation and support of the systems and equipment which propel and control marine vehicles, and of the systems which make a vehicle or structure habitable for crew, passengers and cargo....
, Shipwright, and Silver Sail). Quadra occupies Goose Spit opposite Comox, and makes use of Highland Secondary SchoolÉcole Highland Secondary School is a secondary school located in Comox, British Columbia, Canada in School District 71. The school opened in 1978 and educates approximately 1200 students annually in grades 8–12...
as an auxiliary training facility for classroom work, first aidFirst aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by a lay person to a sick or injured casualty until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first aid...
, and music training. Cadets undergoing training as BoatswainA boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
s and Marine Engineers also undergo training in damage control at CFB EsquimaltCanadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's west coast navy base and home port to the Pacific fleet, known as Maritime Forces Pacific....
. Quadra plays host to a number of international exchange cadets. In recent years, these have included contingents from Korea, Japan, the United StatesThe United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps is a U.S. Navy-based youth organization that serves to teach persons 13 to 17 years old about the sea-going military services, community service, citizenship, and an understanding of discipline and teamwork...
, United KingdomThe Sea Cadet Corps forms the UK's largest Naval Cadet Force with over 30,000 cadets and adult volunteers. The SCC is a nationwide voluntary youth organisation; open to young people aged 12 to 18. Junior Sea Cadet sections, are open to young people aged 10 to 12 years of age...
, GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
, SwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe...
, AustraliaThe Australian Navy Cadets is a voluntary youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy. Together with the Australian Air Force Cadets and Australian Army Cadets, it forms the Australian Defence Force Cadets.-Organisation:...
, New ZealandThe Sea Cadet Corps or Sea Cadets, is one of the three corps in the New Zealand Cadet Forces, the other two being the Air Training Corps, and the New Zealand Cadet Corps. Its members are civilians. Members have no obligation to join the New Zealand Defence Force however some do choose to join...
, BermudaThe Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps was created as a registered charity under the Bermuda Sea Cadet Association Act, 1968. The first unit had actually been created two years earlier. Despite Bermuda's historical maritime economy, and its long period as a naval base and dockyard, there were no Sea Cadet...
, and the NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...
.
- SCSTC HMCS Ontario
HMCS Ontario can refer to several ships:* HMS Ontario ,a British warship* HMCS Ontario , a Royal Canadian Navy Minotaur class light cruiser* HMCS Ontario, a Royal Canadian Sea Cadet summer training centre...
, located at the Royal Military CollegeThe Royal Military College of Canada , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers. Located on Point Frederick, a 41-hectare peninsula in Kingston, Ontario, the college is a blend of...
in Kingston, OntarioKingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, where Lake Ontario runs into the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands begin.Kingston is the county seat of Frontenac County...
, is one of the larger summer facilities in Canada. It is home to all four trades, but only includes Trade Group One and Two of the Boatswain course. It hosts only one speciality course, the bi-service (Air and Sea) Athletic Instructor (AI) course. Ontario is more centred around physical fitness then most of the other Sea Cadet Training Centres. Ontario recently celebrated its 25 year anniversary.
- SCSTC HMCS Avalon, located in St. John's, Newfoundland, is currently the smallest SCSTC in Canada. It only includes the first stage of the Sail trade and the first stage of the Music trade.
- SCSTC HMCS Acadia
Several Canadian naval units have been named HMCS Acadia.* CSS Acadia is Canada's most historic oceanographic and hydrographic survey and research vessel. She was commissioned into naval service as HMCS Acadia during both World War I and World War II, while serving with her civilian name before...
, located in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, is the largest summer training facility. During the course of the summer, Acadia is home to roughly 1200 cadets who are undergoing training. Acadia provides training in all four trades and is known for a strong Royal Canadian Air Cadet presence amongst both course and staff cadets. HMCS Acadia, much like HMCS Quadra, hosts an international contingent. In 2006, HMCS Acadia celebrated 50 years as a Sea Cadet Summer Training Centre. HMCS Acadia's website
- SCSTC HMCS Québec
Several Canadian naval units have been named HMCS Quebec. was a Crown Colony class cruiser commissioned in the Royal Navy as during World War II and later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy as...
, located in Sainte-Angèle-de-Laval, QuebecSainte-Angèle-de-Laval is a community of the city of Bécancour, Quebec. Bordering as it does the Saint Lawrence River, Sainte-Angèle-de-Laval has a strong naval history; among other things, a Sea Cadet training centre, the CSTC HMCS Quebec, operates there during the summer...
, is the only SCSTC that is entirely FrenchFrench is a Romance language globally spoken by about 65 million people as a first language , by 50 million as a second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired foreign language, with significant speakers in 57 countries. Most native speakers of the language live in France,...
. It trains cadets in all four trades and the Shipwright speciality course. Québec occupies a school during the summer season.
Additionally, cadets may apply for a number of tri-service courses, some hosted by Sea Cadet Summer Training Centres - as Athletic Instructor is at HMCS
Ontario - and others held on Army or Air Cadet facilities. Currently, Athletic Instructor and various forms of music training are offered as tri-service to some extent. In past years the Air-heavy Introduction to Aerospace course was offered as tri-service; however, this seems to have lapsed.
Former SCSTC
- SCSTC HMCS Qu'Appelle
HMCS Qu'Appelle can refer to several different things named after the Qu'Appelle River in Saskatchewan: , a River class destroyer that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, commissioned February 1944 until May 1946....
was located at the Echo Valley Conference Centre, formerly the Fort San sanatorium, near Fort Qu'Appelle, SaskatchewanFort Qu'Appelle is a town located in the Qu'Appelle Valley in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, originally established as a Hudson's Bay Company trading post in 1852...
, an hour north east of Regina, SaskatchewanRegina is the capital of Saskatchewan, Canada. The city is the second largest in the province , and is a cultural and commercial metropole for both southern Saskatchewan and adjacent areas in the neighbouring American states of North Dakota and Montana...
. HMCS Qu'Appelle offered the introductory Two-Week General Training course, and Trade Groups One through Three of the Music and Sail courses. HMCS Qu'Appelle last offered courses in 2004.
- SCSTC HMCS Gimli, HMCS Qu'Appelle's predecessor, was located in Hnausa, Manitoba
Manitoba is a prairie province in Canada and has an area of . Manitoba is bordered by the provinces of Ontario to the east and Saskatchewan to the west, the territory of Nunavut to the north, and the U.S. states of North Dakota and Minnesota to the south...
.
- Camp TILLICUM, located in North Bay, Ontario offered Two-Week General Training and Basic Leadership.
Vessels
| Vessels |
Type |
Details |
Origins |
420The International 420 Class Dinghy is a monohull planing dinghy with centreboard, bermuda rig and centre sheeting. It is designed for a crew of two...
|
Sailing Dinghy |
Double or single hand, monohull |
|
| Pirate A Pirate is a type of German sailing dinghy. It was first constructed in 1935, and has no trapeze. The Pirate was designed in 1934 by the German boat builder Carl Martens. The boat was originally manufactured in solid wood, although since the 1960s glass-reinforced plastic, or a sandwich of the...
|
Sailing Dinghy |
Double or single hand, monohull |
|
470The 470 is a double-handed monohull planing dinghy with a centreboard, Bermuda rig, and center sheeting.The name is the overall length of the boat in centimeters . The 470 has been an Olympic class since the 1976 games. The Class was initially an open class, but since the 1988 games there have...
|
Sailing Dinghy |
Double hand, monohull |
|
AlbacoreThe Albacore is a 4.57 m planing dinghy developed in 1954 from an Uffa Fox design. Hulls may be made out of either wood or fiberglass....
|
Sailing Dinghy |
Double or triple hand, monohull |
|
| Flying Junior thumb|Coen Gulcher helming one of the first Flying Juniors The International Flying Junior or FJ is a sailing dinghy which was originally designed in 1955 in Holland by renowned boat designer Van Essen and Olympic sailor Conrad Gülcher. The FJ was built to serve as a training boat for the then...
|
Sailing Dinghy |
Double or single hand, monohull |
|
| Echo |
Sailing Dinghy |
Double or single hand, monohull |
|
LaserThe International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
|
Sailing Dinghy |
Single hand, monohull |
|
| Laser II |
Sailing Dinghy |
Double or single hand, monohull |
|
ByteThe Byte is a one man sailing dinghy. It is produced by xtreme Sailing Products of Singapore and PS2000 in North America, and was previously produced by Topper Sailboats in the UK. However, Topper ceased production of GRP boats to concentrate on its rotomolded plastic designs. It is 12 ft long, 4...
|
Sailing Dinghy |
Single hand, monohull |
|
| Colibri |
Sailing Dinghy |
Needs info |
|
YAG (Yard Auxiliary General)YAG training vessels are wooden boats built between 1954 and 1958, and based at CFB Esquimalt in Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada. The vessels are used for training Canadian Forces regular naval officers, naval reservists, and members of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets in basic seamanship, vessel...
|
Training Tender |
Ceased operations summer 2008 |
|
| Orca Class |
Patrol Craft Training |
Canadian Navy training and patrol tender |
|
Flags
The Sea Cadets used a variety of flags in their history: some corps flew the
White EnsignThe White Ensign or St George's Ensign is an ensign flown on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the upper canton....
until 1965; they then used the Canadian Blue Ensign and the flag of the
Navy League of CanadaThe Navy League of Canada, is a Non-For-Profit organization founded in 1895 and incorporated in 1918. Originally formed to promote maritime issues to Canadians, the Navy League is the non-governmental partner of the Department of National Defence in delivery of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets program...
until 1953. In that year, the Chief of Naval Service approved a design for the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Flag: a white flag with the
Union FlagThe Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada...
in the canton, and, on the fly, the badge of the Cadets, a gold anchor on a blue roundel surrounded by red maple leaves and surmounted by a
Naval CrownThe Naval Crown , was a gold crown awarded to the first man who boarded an enemy ship during a naval engagement. In style, the crown was made of gold and surmounted with the prows of ships....
. In 1976, the
SovereignElizabeth II is the queen regnant of sixteen independent states known informally as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,...
approved a new design which replaced the Union flag in the canton with the Maple Leaf Flag.
Admiral of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
The first Admiral of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets was
George VIGeorge VI was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions from 11 December 1936 until his death...
,
King of CanadaThe monarchy of Canada also referred to as The Crown in Right of Canada, Her Majesty in Right of Canada, or The Queen in Right of Canada is the constitutional system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of Canada,
forming the core, or "the...
, assuming the role in 1941, when the
Navy LeagueThe Navy League of Canada, is a Non-For-Profit organization founded in 1895 and incorporated in 1918. Originally formed to promote maritime issues to Canadians, the Navy League is the non-governmental partner of the Department of National Defence in delivery of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets program...
Sea Cadets became the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets.
Prince Philip, Duke of EdinburghThe Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. Philip was originally a royal prince of Greece and Denmark, and thus a member of the Danish-German House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, but renounced these titles shortly before his marriage and adopted the...
, as a member of the Canadian Royal Family, was appointed Admiral of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets in 1953; His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York now holds the post Admiral of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. (See Navy League of Canada)
Canadian Forces Senior Members
Chief - Reserves and Cadets
Since late 2004, this post has been filled by Major General H.M. Petras, CMM, CD.
MajGen Petras' biography
Director General Reserves and Cadets
Since September 2006, this post has been filled by Commodore J.G.V. Tremblay, CD.
Cmdr Tremblay's biography
Director of Cadets and Junior Rangers
Since June 2007, the post has been filled by former Chief of Reserves Colonel Craig M. Flether, CD.
Col Fletcher's biography
Honorary Members
- Captain (N) Dr. Marc Garneau
Captain Joseph Jean-Pierre Marc Garneau, CC, CD, FCASI, MP is a Canadian astronaut, engineer and politician.Garneau was the first Canadian in space, and has taken part in three flights aboard NASA Space shuttles...
was appointed as Honorary Captain of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets; the appointment was not renewed.
See also
- Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
- Other Sea Cadet organisations
- Cadets Canada - corporate identity
- History of the Cadet Instructors Cadre
The History of the Cadet Instructors Cadre dates from well before the establishment of the Cadet Instructor List in 1968. The Canadian Forces Cadet Instructors Cadre will mark 100 years on May 1, 2009. -Sea Cadets:...
- Canadian Cadet Movement
The Canadian Cadet Organizations, marketed under the term Cadets Canada, are youth cadet programs known as the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, Army Cadets, and Air Cadets...
External links
External links