King's Cadet Corps

His Majesty's Corps of Boy Cadets
Badge of the Cadet Corps
Active	June 5, 1876 (1876-06-05)–present
Type	Patriotic youth organisation
Size	864,000 (2019)
Headquarters	Lendert-with-Cadell, Great Nortend
Motto(s)	Honore pro Dei et Patria
Commanders
Captain-General and Admiral	Alexander II
Master of Cadets	Maj. Gen. Sir Henry de Wegg-Wainright
Insignia
Cadet Cross
Cadet Red Ensign

His Majesty's Corps of Boy Cadets, commonly known as the Cadet Corps, is a youth organisation operating in Great Nortend. The Corps is run by the Board of Education and the War Office in conjunction with the Home Service, Royal Army, the Navy Royal, the Royal Servicemen's Club and the Erbonian Navy League.

It developed from 19th century volunteer companies of cadets raised in Erbonian independent schools as preparation for commission into the armed forces, with the support of the War Office. In the 20th century, the Board of Education raised companies out of the boys in state senior schools. In 1952, in preparation for the Golden Jubilee of Edmund IX, the Corps of Boy Cadts was formally established by the War Office, combining the Young Training Corps and the Sea Cadet Corps. In response to a national appeal by the Lord Treasurer, Sir Henry de Foide, numerous other small youth groups voluntarily united with the Corps. In 1953, Edmund IX granted the Corps a Royal charter and the prefix of “Royal”. Successive monarchs since have served as Captain-General and Admiral of Cadets.

The Corps is a quasi-military organisation formed as the youth component of the Home Service. However, it is often described as being “Scouting in a military uniform”, having incorporated much of the fledgling scout associations at its establishment. It is by far the most popular youth organisation for boys. As of the start of 2019, there are 864,000 boys between the ages of 10 and 18 inclusive in the Corps, approximately 73 per cent of all senior school boys.

Symbols

„Our hearts are warmed to see you here standing, the boys of our new Corps of Boy Cadets, knowing that there shall be thousands more like you across the Kingdom. You are sworn by God to the advancement of the true values our forefathers and fellow countrymen : that of Christian manliness, awe, courage, discipline and obedience, in earnest, stark and stedfast loyalty to God and the Fatherland.”

—King Edmund IX, 1953

The flag of the Corps, along with ordinary battalion and company banner designs.

The objective of the Corps, as stated in its Royal charter and reiterated by Edmund IX at the parade to mark the formation of the Corps in 1953, is to „advance with Honour in youthful Comradeship amongst the Boys of Our Realm, Christian Manliness, Awe, Courage, Discipline and Obedience, in earnest, stark and stedfast Loyalty to God and the Fatherland”.

The motto, „Honore pro Dei et Patria”, Latin for „With Honour for God and the Fatherland”, was chosen by Col. Sir Richard de Errol, 5th Bart., the then Colonel of Cadets and first Master of Cadets in 1953. The badge of the Corps depicts the crossed swords of the Royal Army and Navy Royal encircled in a band bearing the motto, surmounted by the royal crown.

Members of the Corps use the War Cross with a triangular fish-tail cut out as their flag, rather than the civilian Great Cross. In addition, troops and patrols may bear or hoist ceremonial banners, pennants, guidons and standards on marches, bivouacs and camps.

Organisation

The Cadet Corps is formed as a youth corps in the Home Service, although it is not formally part of it. The Corps is headed by the Sovereign, who holds the title of Captain-General and Admiral of the Corps. Operational command of the entire Corps is held by the Master of Cadets, currently Maj. Gen. Sir Stephen Daldey. He is assisted by the Colonel of Cadets, Col. Stephen Daldey, representing the Army, and the Commodore of Cadets, Cdr. Henry Polstave, representing the Navy.

Structure

		Corps (864,000)
		Province (160,000—400,000)
		Battalion (10,000–20,000)
		District (1,000–2,000)
		Company (160–240)
		Troop (40–60)
		Patrol (10–15)

The Corps operate on a practical level more locally within a regional and national hierarchy. Local cadet companies of around 200 boys are commanded by adult staff officers, although mostly run by senior cadets. Staff officers of the Corps are commissioned officers in the Home Service. The naming convention is the form 1 Coy. Somewhereton, 2 Ct. Bn. &c. Cadet companies are numbered consecutively through the districts in each battalion. Boarding schools usually have their own independent companies for their own pupils.

Boys join their local company, and normally are allocated to a troop consisting of those living in the same area. Within a company, there are usually around four troops, each troop divided into four patrols. Smaller villages may combine with surrounding villages to form troops. A troop is commanded by an Under Officer. A Serjeant is the second-in-command of the troop, with four patrols of around 10 to 15 cadets each commanded by Corporals holpen by Lance Corporals. Boys „graduate” from the lower patrol to the upper patrol upon leaving middle schooling around the age of 14. Other Under Officers hold appointments within the company, such as Company Serjeant and Quartermaster. Staff ensigns and lieutenants from the Home Service command the company.

Around eight companies are grouped into local districts of around 1,000 to 2,000 cadets commanded by a Captain. A district operates in around a hundred, depending on population. Around ten such districts are grouped into one of the fifty-four roughly county-sized battalions, commanded by a Major. These correspond each to a county, plus four extra for north, east, south and west Greater Lendert. There are three provinces corresponding to the three civil provinces of Great Nortend, each commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel.

Instruction

Cadets often participate in charity alms drives, collecting money and goods for the poor.

Themes

The cadet curriculum is focussed on military, physical and moral instruction. Instruction, planning and leadership is undertaken principally by senior cadets with little to no input from adult staff officers. Adult officers generally are more focussed on the administrative side of operations, as well as supervising any potentially dangerous activities such as shooting.

The precise programme of activities is decided upon on a company, troop or even patrol level; however, many activities are based on general outdoorsmanship or general military training. This includes learning the history, customs and traditions of the military and the Corps, drill and bearing, navigation (on land or at sea), marksmanship and other military skills, general field-craft or seamanship, and field surgery. Most companies also have military bands and some have horse contingents.

Cadets also participate in physical training in regular cross-country hikes, runs and marches. Apart from land or field activities, troops may also participate in aquatic activities such as rowing, sailing and canoeing. Athletics, swimming, gymnastics, wrestling, sports and games are common weekly activities.

On a moral level, the Corps places emphasis on patriotism where loyalty to God, King and country is paramount, followed by loyalty to one's comrades, family and community. Cadets learn about the local landscape, its history and traditions and local military units. Love of and loyalty to the Crown is strongly instilled in cadets through patriotic instruction, songs and obedience to superiors through the hierarchy of rank and society. Despite this, comradeship and equality between boys of all classes and background are promoted, subject to rank. The Corps overtly advances the religion of the Church of Nortend, and cadets must participate in formal and informal morning and evening prayers and regular church parades. Cadets also often participate in alms drives, to collect money, food and items for the deserving poor.

Activities

All cadet troops have parade nights at least once a week for instruction, exercise and socialisation. Other regular activities are also common, such as day-marches every month and bivouacs every term. Most such activities are undertaken in individual troops and patrols. Each cadet company is also expected to run at least one annual week-long camp in addition to the regular marches and bivouacs. Usually these are held in the spring and summer and including instruction and recreation at an official cadet camp ground. Formal parades are conducted throughout the year, especially on Whitsunday, Remembrance Day and on St. George's Day (the patron saint of soldiers) or St. Elmo's Day (the patron saint of sailors). Additionally, most companies hold a formal dinner several times annually.

Membership

A cadet corporal from 51 Coy. Huttingfield, 25 Bn., on parade.

Membership of the Corps as a cadet is open to boys of good repute between the ages of 10 and 18 inclusive. Cadets must be members of the Church of Nortend and of satisfactory physical health. Membership in the Corps is mostly voluntary, although some schools may force pupils to join. Girls may not become cadets. In 2019, there were around 864,000 cadets in the Corps and around 5,000 adult staff officers.

Approximately 70 per cent of boys between the ages of 10 and 14 are cadets. Even upon leaving compulsory schooling after the Third Form, most cadets continue their membership in the corps, up to the age of 18 inclusive, whereupon they become liable for muster service. Though membership is voluntary, it offers numerous benefits and attractions to boys and young men.

The connexions developed between cadet companies and local regiments and naval bases are considered valuable for volunteer recruitment purposes. It has been estimated that 85% of voluntary enlistees in the Royal Army and Navy Royal have a background as a cadet NCO or higher. Senior cadets who reached the rank of Cadet Under Officer or Warranted Officer may train as an officer during their muster service to command their local Home Service troops.

Oath

Joining the Corps requires that prospective cadets take the Oath of Service in the form prescribed, with [Cadet] replaced as appropriate.

I, A. B., shall well and truly serve Our Sovereign Lord the King as a [Cadet] in His Majesty's Corps of Boy Cadets. So help me God.

Cadet Ranks

The Corps uses a system of rank similar to those of the Royal Army and to a lesser extent, the Navy Royal. The prefix Cadet is not normally used internally, except for the ranks of “Cadet” and “Able Cadet”. There is no equivalent to the rank of Besign or Landman.

Insignia	(No insignia)					(No insignia)
Rank	Cadet or Able Cadet	Cadet Lance Corporal	Cadet Corporal	Cadet Serjeant	Cadet Warranted Officer	Cadet Under Officer
Abbreviation	Ct. or A. Cdt.	Ct. L. Cpl.	Ct. Cpl.	Ct. Sjt.	Ct. W. O.	Ct. U. O.

Cadet Under Officers receive warrants from the War Office entitling them to be saluted by lower ranking cadets only. Warranted officers receive warrants of appointment, but they are not thereby entitled to salutes. All cadet petty officers and above receive formal training at district or battalion-level training camps. Though they are guided as to what to teach the cadets under their charge, company and troop officers have a high degree of freedom and flexibility.

Staff Officers

4 & 5 Coy., Allord College, 3 Bn. wear a distinctive grey duty uniform.

Staff officers are regularly commissioned officers of the Home Service, who have been assigned to or have chosen to serve in the Cadet Corps. They are saluted in the normal fashion. Many company and district level schoolmasters are staff officers in the Cadet Corps. Staff officers at battalion level and above are employed full time in the Home Service.

Remuneration

Cadets do not generally receive a wage or salary for their membership in the Corps. Companies receive limited allowances for training expences, certain equipment, and transport only. Cadets are required to pay up to a four shillings a month in fees, in addition to any extra fees for unit training and activities. Certain senior cadets shewing especial zeal may receive small stipends similar to adult officer stipends in the Home Service.

Publications

The Corps produces a monthly magazine, entitled The Boy Cadet which contains news about cadet activities, stories and instruction in all aspects, such as patriotism, military, outdoors and health, as well as general news, politics, history, science, travel reports, reviews, guides, comic strips and advertisements. It is aimed at a wide readership of both junior and senior cadets.

It also produces manuals for cadets, such as the Cadet Service Handbook, which is a large, 400-page book which is issued to every cadet and details the entire body of practical knowledge a cadet is expected to know, as well as history, regulations and songs. It is also used to record a cadet's details of training and progression.

Uniforms

The duty uniform of cadets.

The duty uniform includes a khaki-tan shirt-blouse with black linen short necktie. This is worn with grey or navy shorts and knee-socks with the black leather belt. A khaki-brown coat is worn over the shirt-blouse in winter, in cold weather and on semi-formal occasions. A grey bonnet cap is worn as headdress, or optionally, a sennit hat in the summer.

Cadets are required to wear the uniform of the Corps in accordance with the Corps' uniform regulations. It should not be worn in conjunction with civilian items of clothing, and must be worn at all times at cadet events and activities, unless explicitly dispensed with. Curved royal blue shoulder patches are sewn onto uniform shirts and coats with the words 'Cadet Corps' embroidered in white. A triangular patch underneath lists the district name and company number, with any sleeve rank insignia underneath.

Cadet NCOs wear lanyards with whistles in accordance with their rank. Senior cadet officers wear the Sam Browne belt with their cadet uniform, as well as shoulder straps. Staff officers wear their appropriate Home Service uniforms, with the cadet shoulder patches or armband (if part-time).

Dress uniforms

See also: Uniforms of the Royal Army (Great Nortend)

Senior cadets and officers are scaled to receive formal uniforms for formal occasions, as well as mess dress. Individual companies may purchase additional uniform items for junior cadets.

Criticism

The Cadet Corps has come under criticism for being too conservative in its values and instruction. Despite it being well-supported by both major political parties, George Whitter, a former Drougher MP, accused it for being too close to the Company of Scodeliers and the National Conservative Party. The “militarisation” of the youth has also been regarded as concerning by some pacifist organisations, as well as the alleged coercive nature of membership where non-members are disadvantaged in job prospects. These concerns have been dismissed by the Master of Cadets, Sir Wegg-Wainright, as “stemming from the mind of persons set starkly against the national interest”.