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	660,888 (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 Stephen Daldey

His Majesty's Corps of Boy Cadets, commonly known as the King's Cadet Corps (or the Royal Cadet Corps when there is no king), 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 1953, for the Golden Jubilee of Edmund IX, the Corps was formally established by Royal charter, combining the Cadet Training Force, the Sea Cadet Corps, and numerous other small youth groups who voluntarily joined up. Successive monarchs since have served as Captain-General and Admiral of Cadets.

The Corps is a quasi-military organisation. 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 660,888 boys between the ages of 11 and 18 inclusive in the Corps.

Symbols

“We are all warmly heartened to see you, the thousands of cadets of our Corps of Boy Cadets here standing fast knowing that there are thousands more like you across our Kingdom, honourably dedicated to advancing the true values our forebears and fellow countrymen—courage, discipline, obedience, reverence, patriotism and solemn and unyielding allegiance to God and the Fatherland.”

—King Edmund IX, 1953

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 amongst the Boys of Our Realm in youthful camaraderie and Christian manliness, courage, discipline, obedience, reverence, patriotism and solemn and unyielding allegiance to God and the Fatherland”.

The motto, Honore pro Dei et Patria, is Latin for 'By honour for God and the Fatherland', was chosen by Col. Sir Richard 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 normally use the War Cross as their flag, rather than the civilian Great Cross, in addition to ceremonial banners, pennants, guidons and standards.

Organisation

4 Coy., Allord College, 2 Br. wears a distinctive grey form of the Dress Order II.

The Cadet Corps is headed by the Sovereign, who holds the title of Captain-General and Admiral of the Corps. The Corps is organised as if it were a corps of the Royal Army combined with a fleet of the Navy Royal. Operational command of the entire Corps is held by the Master of Cadets, currently Maj. Gen. Sir Stephen Daldey. He is assited by the Colonel of Cadets, Col. James Wegg-Wainwright, representing the Army, and the Commodore of Cadets, Cdr. Lord Henry de Polstave, representing the Navy.

Structure

The Corps operate on a practical level more locally within a regional and national hierarchy. Local cadet companies of around 100 to 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 or Home Fleet. The naming convention is the form 3 Coy. Somewhereton, 2 Bnr., 1 Ct. Btn. &c.

The majority of units operate in connexion with a particular senior school, although they are not usually school-run programmes per se except for the units raised in independent schools. That is to say, they draw their members from and are based in a given senior school region. Most senior schools, by virtue of their size are covered by multiple companies corresponding to a different portion of the school catchment area.

Within a company, there are three to four troops. A troop is commanded by a senior Under Officer. A Serjeant is the second-in-command of the troop, with patrols commanded by Corporals and Sub-Corporals of around 10 to 15 cadets each. Colour Serjeants and Warranted Officers hold appointments within the company, such as Company Serjeant Major and Company Quartermaster Serjeant. Staff Lieutenants command the company.

Multiple companies are grouped into local districts, of around 500 to 700 commanded by a Captain operating in a particular area, such as a town or hundred, depending on population. Several such districts are grouped into county battalions, commanded by a Major. Battalions are numbered sequentially through all three brigades. A Lieutenant Colonel is in charge of each of the three provincial brigades, somewhat equivalent to a regular Army regiment, albeit much larger.

Instruction

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.

Most cadet activities are based on general outdoormanship or general military training. This includes learning the history, customs and traditions of the military and the Corps, drill, navigation (on land or at sea), field surgery, marksmanship and field-craft or seamanship. Many companies also have bands. Activities are decided upon on a company or troop level. Apart from land or field activities, troops may also participate in aquatic activities such as rowing, sailing and canoeing.

On a moral level, the Corps places emphasis on patriotism and social leadership. Loyalty to God, King and country is paramount, but almost as important is loyalty to one's comrades, friends, family and community. A sense of camaraderie and even a level of equality between boys of all classes and backgrounds is promoted, subject to considerations of rank. Public displays of patriotism are encouraged, including the singing of patriotic songs and marches, the use of flags and banners, community service and respect for authority. Religious observance is also promoted by the Corps, including evening and morning prayers and regular church parades.

This is combined with a strong emphasis on physical training. Cadets participate in physical training in regular cross-country hikes, marches and voyages, athletics, swimming, gymnastics, wrestling, sports and games.

Activities

All cadet companies have parade nights at least once a week for instruction, exercise and socialisation. Other regular activities are also common, such as week-end day marches every month and bivouacs every term. Most such activities are undertaken in individual troop.

Each cadet company is also expected to run at least one annual eight-day camping field exercise in addition to the regular marches and bivouacs. Usually these are held in the spring and summer and including instruction and recreation.

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 32 Coy. Huttingfield, 25 Bnr., on parade.

Membership of the Corps as a cadet is open to boys of good repute between the ages of 11 and 19 inclusive, although the vast majority of boys join before the age of 13. Cadets must be of the Church of Nortend and of satisfactory physical ability. In 2019, there were 660,888 cadets in the Corps and around 5,000 adult staff officers. Girls may not become cadets.

The vast majority of cadets enter the Corps through their senior school. All boys' state high schools have an associated cadet company. The vast majority of independent senior schools also have their own cadet companies. Approximately 70 per cent of boys between the ages of 11 and 16 are cadets. Even upon leaving senior school after the Fifth Form, over 50 per cent of cadets continue their membership in the corps, up to the age of 18 inclusive.

Approximately 85% of voluntary enlistees in the Royal Army have a background as a cadet NCO or higher. The connexions developed between cadet companies and local regiments and naval bases are considered valuable for recruitment purposes.

Oath

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

I, A. B., shall be a true and faithful Servant unto His Majesty Our Sovereign Lord as a [Cadet] in His Majesty's Corps of Boy Cadets. So help me God.

Cadet Officers

Cadet senior non-commissioned officers, warranted officers and under officers receive formal training at regional 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

Staff officers are regularly commissioned officers of the Home Service and Home Fleet respectively, who have been assigned to or have chosen to serve in the Cadet Corps. They are saluted in the normal fashion. The requirement of a university degree for schoolmasters also means many are reserve officers, especially in the Cadet Corps, as muster service for university students is conducted part time during the B. A. degree.

Senior cadets who reached the rank of Warranted Officer or Cadet Under Officer are also usually eligible to train as an officer during their muster service, either at the ordinary Royal Military College, or at their university's Officer Cadet Corps unit. If so, they may be commissioned as reserve officers in the Home reserves and to then serve in the Cadet Corps as staff officers. They are entitled to be immediately promoted to Lieutenant upon leaving muster service.

Staff officers at battalion level and above are employed full time in the Home Service or Fleet.

Remuneration

Cadets do not receive a wage or salary for their membership in the Corps. Companies receive allowances for training, articles of clothing and transport only. Zealous senior cadets may receive stipends similar to adult officer stipends in the Home Service and Home Fleet.

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 also produces manuals for cadets, such as the Cadet's Service Handbook, which is a large, 400-page manual 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.

Ranks

The Corps uses a system of rank combining those of the Royal Army and 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.

(No insignia)						(No insignia)
Cadet	Able Cadet	Cadet Corporal	Cadet Serjeant	Cadet Staff Serjeant	Cadet Under Officer Class II	Cadet Under Officer Class I
Ct.	A. Ct.	Ct. Cpl.	Ct. Sjt.	Ct. S. Sjt.	Ct. U. O. II	Ct. U. O. I

Cadet Under Officers Class I receive warrants from the War Office entitling them to be saluted by lower ranking cadets only, similar to Cadet Officers. Class II officers also receive warrants of appointment, but they are not thereby entitled to salutes.

Uniforms

The duty uniform of cadets.

The duty uniform includes a khaki-tan shirt-blouse with black short necktie. This is worn with grey shorts and navy knee-socks in summer and grey trousers and gaiters in winter, with the black leather belt. A dark khaki-brown coat is worn over the shirt-blouse in winter and cold weather. A grey bonnet cap is worn. Optionally, a sennit hat is worn in the summer.

Cadets must 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 patch lists the battalion or squadron name and number. Shoulder straps list the company and troop number.

Senior cadet officers wear the Sam Browne belt with their cadet uniform. Staff officers wear their own Home Service or Home Fleet uniforms with the cadet shoulder patches.

Dress uniforms

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

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