History of the Sea Cadet Corps

The History of the Sea Cadet Corps.

The oldest and most enduring youth organisation in the World and Great Britain, is the Sea Cadet Corps. This Corps can trace its heritage back to the Crimean War, when, in 1856, sailors returning home from the campaign set up "Naval Lads Brigades" to give disadvantaged youngsters a taste of self discipline and leadership. From those early beginnings in the back streets of Britain's seaports, has grown the Sea Cadets, a 16000 strong youth movement with 400 units the length and breadth of the Country.  Based on maritime traditions, the Corps, which first became independent in 1910 under the auspices of the Navy League and then the fully-fledged Navy League Sea Cadet Corps nine years later, is pledged to uphold Britannia's naval heritage.

The Corps Today

Although supported and partly funded by the Royal Navy, the Sea Cadet Corps is not a pre-service organisation. The training programme the cadets undertake, whilst underpinned by seamanship and nautical skills, also offers recognised qualifications in subjects such as electrical and mechanical engineering, computers, communications and catering which will stand the cadets in good stead whatever career they pursue.

In 1976, the Navy League became the Sea Cadet Association (SCA), the parent charity which raises funds to support the Corps and provides the educational and adventure facilities for the cadets, including traditional sail training aboard the Corps' own flagship, the square rigged brig TS ROYALIST. Cadets also experience hands-on sea duty aboard Royal Navy ships.

Under the umbrella of the SCA, each Sea Cadet Unit is an independent charity in its own right, staffed by volunteer officers and senior ratings holding Sea Cadet ranks under the auspices of the Royal Naval Reserve. Boys and girls aged 12 to 18 years are welcomed into the cadet ranks and wear traditional Royal Navy uniforms. Junior sections cater for the 10 to 12 age group, whilst the Royal Marine Detachments for boys aged 13 to 18 have also been introduced to complete the nautical mix, and thus offer a broad range of interest and activities.

Each Sea Cadet Unit has developed close ties with the local community, cemented through a Management Committee that works alongside the Unit's Commanding Officer to provide a worthwhile programme of activities and spearhead fund raising initiatives at local level.

Into the Future

Looking forward to the Millennium and beyond, the British Sea Cadets are rising to a new and exciting challenge.  Carrying forward the time-honoured image of a maritime nation onto the international stage, they are forging links with like-minded nautical youth training movements around the globe through the newly formed International Sea Cadet Association (ISCA). "Encouraging good citizenship and mutual understanding among young people through nautical training world-wide" is the ISCA slogan and with a total membership of over 2500 000 cadets, a truly global investment for the future.