King's Cadet Corps

His Majesty's Corps of Boy Cadets

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

His Majesty's Corps of Boy Cadets, commonly known as the Cadet Corps, is a military and patriotic 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 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 into state senior schools for boys. In 1953, for the Golden Jubilee of Edmund IX, the Corps was formally established by Royal Charter. 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.

Objects, motto and emblem

The objective of the Corps, as stated in its Royal Charter, is to promote, “The advancement of Christian manliness, courage, discipline, reverence and self-respect, and to nurture patriotism and allegiance to God, King and Country amongst the Boys of the Realm”.

The motto, Honore pro Dei et patria, is Latin for 'By honour for God and country', was chosen by Richard Errol, the then Colonel of Cadets. The emblem 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.

Organisation

The cadet company of Allord College wears a distinctive grey form of the Dress Order II.

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. Cadets partake in land and aquatic activities.

Cadet companies are commanded by adult officers, assisted by senior cadets. Officers of the Cadet Corps are commissioned officers in the Auxiliary division of the Home Service.

Within a company, there are multiple platoons. A platoon is commanded by a senior cadet Ensign, with (adult) Lieutenants and Captains at 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 are grouped into battalions. 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. Finally, the operational head of the entire Corps is the Colonel of Cadets, currently Col. Sir Stephen Daldey.

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. This includes learning history of the armed forces, discipline, traditions, navigation, field surgery, drill, marksmanship and fieldcraft. Weapons training, assault courses, fitness and military tactics are also taught. 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 camping, woodcraft, aquatic activities, hiking and sports.

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 parade nights on weekday afternoons.

Membership

A cadet corporal on parade.

Membership of the Corps is open to boys between the ages of 11 and 19, but most cadets are between 12 and 18. 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 622,000 cadets in the Corps and around 20,000 adult officers.

Nearly 95% of voluntary enlistees in the Royal Army have a prior cadet background. 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 members take the Oath of Engagement to the Sovereign in the form prescribed:

I, A. B., do swear that I will be faithful and bear true liegeance unto our Sovereign Lord, Alexander the Second, his heirs and successors, as a cadet in His Majesty's Corps of Young Cadets, according to law. So help me God.

Ranks

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

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

Uniforms

The field uniform of the Cadet Corps is based on the general service duty dress of the Royal Army. It includes a khaki shirt with black necktie. This is worn with grey shorts and knee-socks in summer and grey knee trousers in winter, with the black leather belt. A dark khaki-brown tunic may be worn over the shirt in winter and cold weather. Royal blue shoulder patches are sewn onto uniform shirts and coats with the words 'Cadet Corps' embroidered in white.

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.

Staff officers wear their Home Service uniforms with the cadet shoulder patches.