King's Cadet Corps

His Majesty's Cadet Corps

The King's Cadet Corps
Badge of the King's Cadet Corps
Motto	Honore pro Dei et patria
Formation	June 5, 1876 (1876-06-05)
Type	Youth and patriotic organisation
Headquarters	Lendert-with-Cadell, Great Nortend
Membership	622,134
Captain General	Alexander II
Colonel of Cadets	Sir Stephen Daldey

His Majesty's Cadet Corps is a military-style patriotic youth organisation operating in Great Nortend. The programme is run by the Board of Education and the War Office in conjunction with the Royal Army, the Navy Royal, the Royal Servicemen's Club and the Erbonian Navy League.

It developed from 19th century volunteer units 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 introduced the programme into state senior schools for boys, gaining royal favour in 1953 upon the Golden Jubilee of Edmund IX. Successive monarchs since have served as Captain General of Cadets.

As of the start of 2019, there are 621,888 boys between the ages of 11 and 19 in the Corps, as well as 246 girls.

Organisation

The Cadet Corps are mostly run on a local basis in senior schools, with the majority of boys' senior schools operating a cadet company, independent, common and state. All cadets partake in land and some sea activities, although certain companies may skew towards either side depending on their backgrounds.

Cadet companies are supervised and run by adult staff officers, assisted by senior cadets. Staff officers are usually both employees of the school wherein the company is based, as well as members of the Militia. Officers receive a formal commission from the King as a Staff Officer of Cadets. Senior cadet officers, holding the rank of Ensign (or Cornet in units affiliated with the cavalry), often in 6th form studying for either matriculation or commission into the Royal Army or Navy Royal, are also commissioned as a Cadet Under Officer.

Within a company, there are usually multiple platoons. A platoon is commanded by an Ensign, with Lieutenants operating on a company level. Colour Serjeants and Warrant Officers hold appointments within the company, such as Company Serjeant Major and Company Quartermaster Serjeant. Within a platoon, the Serjeant serves as the second-in-command with sections commanded by Corporals and Lance Corporals.

Multiple companies, or multiple school units as it were, which are each individually commanded by a Major, are grouped into battalions commanded by a Major. Each battalion operates in a particular region, usually roughly corresponding to a county, although independent and common school companies have their own battalions covering a larger area each.

Multiple battalions are grouped into brigades, commanded by a Commandant. Finally, the operational head of the entire Corps is the Colonel of Cadets, currently Col Sir Stephen Daldey, who is a commissioned officer in the regular Royal Army.

Activities

Cadets on parade in formal dress. Drill is a fundamental part of a cadet's instruction.

The core component to cadet activities is based on general military training, usually focussing on the land warfare aspect, i.e. the Royal Army. This includes learning history of the armed forces, discipline, traditions, navigation, field surgery, drill, marksmanship and fieldcraft. Leadership skills are also important for cadet non-commissioned officers.

Another component is patriotic service, which aims to inculcate love for God, King and country by engaging in what may be termed community service activities, as well as pilgrimages, camping, woodcraft, aquatic activities, hiking and sports. These two activities are evidently not mutually exclusive, and throughout all, appropriate military-level discipline and structure is maintained.

Cadet companies often organise weekends or weeks away in the countryside to these ends, with each company at least running an annual field exercise. On a more regular level, cadet companies usually have weekly or twice-weekly parades on weekday afternoons.

Membership

A cadet corporal on parade.

Membership of the Corps is open to boys between the ages of 11 and 19. Girls are only admitted through a number of historical companies operated by a select number of girls' schools. The vast majority of cadets enter the Corps through their senior school. 83% of all boys' senior schools operate a cadet company and of these, membership of the Corps is compulsory in 90%. All in all, there are around 600,000 members in the Corps.

Oath

Joining the Corps requires that prospective members take the Oath of Allegiance to the Sovereign in the form prescribed:

I, A. B., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Alexander the Second, his Heirs and Succesours, according to law, as a cadet/staff officer in His Majesty's Cadet Corps. So help me God!

Ranks

The Corps uses a system of rank somewhat similar to that used by the Royal Army.

Cadet ranks

Insignia	(No insignia)
Rank	Cadet	Cadet Lance Corporal	Cadet Corporal	Cadet Serjeant	Cadet Colour Serjeant	Cadet Warrant Officer	Cadet Ensign
Abbreviation	Ct	Ct L/Cpl	Ct Cpl	Ct Sjt	Ct C/Sjt	Ct W/O	Ct Ens

Staff Officer ranks

Insignia
Rank	Lieutenant of Cadets	Captain of Cadets	Major of Cadets	Commandant of Cadets	Colonel of Cadets
Abbreviation	Lt Ct	Cpt Ct	Maj. Ct	Cmdt Ct	Col Ct

Uniforms

The uniforms of the Corps take inspiration from the uniforms of the Royal Army. The normal uniform worn is essentially the same as Dress Order III of the Army whilst the formal uniform is essentially the same as Dress Order II. The main difference is that royal blue shoulder patches are sewn onto uniform coats and tunics with the words 'H. M. Cadet Corps' embroidered in white, as well as the use of royal blue facing and the Corps badge. Uniform items also do not use real gold and silver thread, but rather cheaper alternatives. Staff officers as well as senior cadets may also be able to obtain mess dress for cadet functions such as company messes.

Cadets must wear the uniform of the Corps in accordance with the Corps uniform regulations. It must 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. It must not be worn on other occasions.