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INTRODUCTION

The Sea Cadet Corps (SCC) is a uniformed, disciplined youth movement based upon the customs and traditions of the Royal Navy. It is voluntary and non-political, and open to boys and girls of any religion or culture. Its aim is to foster qualities that help young people become responsible and tolerant adults, whichever career they later pursue - whether it's the Royal Navy or something else. These qualities include personal discipline, self-reliance, teamwork and high standards of conduct.

The emphasis is on the sea: sailing and boatwork have a high priority. It offers both practical and theoretical training in nautical / maritime subjects. With the experience of the Sea Cadets under their belts, many ex-Cadets have risen to the top of their professions.

The SCC also wishes to develop in young people an appreciation of the importance of the sea with respect to defence, international commerce and enviromental protection §.

HISTORY

The history of the Sea Cadet Corps (SCC) dates back to the Crimean War. Below is a very brief outline of the Corps' evolution, which is rather haphazard:

• 1856: The first Naval Lads Brigade was founded in a Methodist Sunday School in the Kent port of Whitstable. Sailors returning home from the Crimean campaign formed this and later Brigades to help war orphans.
  
• 1910: The Navy League 'took over' the Brigade and formed the Navy League Boys' Naval Brigade, which slowly expanded.
  
• 1919: the Admiralty decided to recognize the Brigades, which were renamed the Navy League Sea Cadet Corps.
  
• 1942: the Admiralty took over the Navy League's scheme for training Sea Cadets in T.S. Bounty for service in the wartime navy. Officers were granted appointments in the RNVR and the Corps was renamed The Sea Cadet Corps. New units - formed as part of a huge expansion - took the names of adopted warships (in our case T.S. Dianthus). The Admiralty and the Navy League split the funding. Thousands of so-called Bounty Boys progressed into the Navy as Communications ratings, many returning to their units after the war.
  
• 1943: units were given unit numbers in alphabetical order from "1" Aberdare to "381" York. Thereafter, units were numbered in sequence as they were affiliated to the Navy League, reaching 430 by the end of the war. (Woking & District's number is 77).
  
• 1947: an agreement was signed by the Admiralty and the Navy League, known as the Sea Cadet Charter. Amongst other things, the Admiralty undertook to provide limited pay to adult staff. The Sea Cadet Council was set up to govern the Corps, with members from the Navy League and the Royal Navy
  
• 1955: a Marine Cadet Section was incorporated into the Corps.
  
• 1976: the Navy League was renamed the Sea Cadet Association. The Charter was revised and replaced by a Memorandum of Agreement.
  
• 1980: the Girls' Nautical Training Corps' units were admitted to the Sea Cadet Corps.
  
• 1992: separate girl's contingents were discontinued and both male and female cadets and staff became entitled to identical opportunites, training, rank structure, etc. Adult Sea cadet staff, male and female, became entitled to the same opportunities, insignia, rank nomenclature and pay.
  
• 1992: the International Sea Cadet Association was formed to encourage international exchangese and to stimulate the formation of new Corps and the Sea Cadet ethos worldwide. Founder members were UK, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Holland, Japan, South Africa, Sweden and USA.
  
• 1995: the Sea Cadet Association was reconstituted as a Company as well as a national charity.
  
• 1997: the second Sea Lord approved the change of title of the Captain of the Sea Cadet Corps to Commodore of the Sea Cadet Corps.
  
• Now: the core has some 400 units and around 20,000 cadet members §.
  

CORPS STRUCTURE

The Corps is made up of roughly 20,000 cadets, male and female. Sea Cadets are aged 12-18. Junior Cadets cater for those aged 10 or 11. Cadets come from all walks of life, all cultures and all areas within the UK.

There are about 400 Units within the SCC, each with its own name and identity - just like a naval ship. So, for example, the Woking & District Sea Cadet Unit is called T.S. Dianthus (T.S. stands for Training Ship).

The Units are grouped into six regional areas, each having an Area Officer. Activities are organised at unit, district, area and national levels.

The Corps comprises three sections:

• Junior Cadet Section
  The Junior Cadet Section is for boys and girls aged 10 or 11. They wear a sweatshirt and baseball cap embellished with the Sea Cadet Corps badge. The Juniors' training is light-hearted and fun. It consists of learning about Naval traditions and customs as well as playing sports and games. n reaching the age of 12, a Junior Cadet is automatically transferred into the Sea Cadet Corps and becomes part of the ship's company.

• Sea Cadets Corps
  Sea Cadets are issued with a uniform based on that of the Royal Navy. The Corps has adopted the Royal Naval rank structure: by acquiring points, cadets get promoted. Points are earned through completing a training syllabus in specialisations and proficiencies.

• Marine Cadet Detachment
  Training within the Marine Cadet Corps incorporates field craft and weapons training. Only a limited number of Units has Marine Cadet sections.

   To view our page on Rates and Ranks, with their badges, click on the badge to the left §.

ACTIVITIES and TRAINING

1. Our core training is based on seamanship and traditional maritime skills, but Cadets can also get involved with a wide range of other subjects and activities to prepare them, in a rounded way, for adult life.
   
2. Specialisations include Electrical engineering, Writer/Stores, Cook/Steward, Sailing, Canoeing, Seamanship, Shooting, Music, and Piping. Cadets can also learn other subjects within the unit and they also have opportunities to visit regular Naval ships and establishments, so as to receive advanced training.
   
3. Cadets can take part in adventure training and also in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, which is for all young people aged 14-25, including those with special needs. This scheme gives opportunities for personal achievements, adventure, community involvement and a widening of interests §.
   

THE ROYALIST

• Activities available to cadets include visits to Her Majesty's ships, courses in Royal Naval training establishments, sailing, rowing regattas and voyages in the T.S. Royalist, a square-rigged training brig.
  
• T.S. Royalist has a small permanent crew. The remaining two dozen or so crew members consist of officers and cadets under instruction in matters of seamanship and engineering.
  
• Trips on the Royalist take place once a week during the summer and autumn. It works out that cadets end up paying just over £30 each per day. Voyages usually last for 6 days and take place along the South coast - some abroad §.
  

FUNDING

The SCC is non-profit youth organization for British citizens. Although it is sponsored by the Royal Navy, the Corps is also supported by its own national charity - the Sea Cadet Association - which raises funds for running the Corps and its fleet. Unlike the Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps, we are not funded by the Government. To keep our buildings and equipment in good working order, we have to raise our own funds §.

THE SEA CADET PROMISE

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

The "Fouled Anchor" Crest.

Up until the late Tudor or Stuart period, the Admiralty badge was a crescent moon with a star. This image came to be replaced by an anchor; and eventually, this anchor got to be entwined with (its own) cable - hence the term fouled anchor. This symbol has survived now for 3 - 4 hundred years. The original motive for using the fouled anchor in this way seems to be its decorative effect.

In reality, of course, a fouled anchor is a condition to be avoided, because the anchor may be rendered ineffective, so endangering the vessel §.