King's Cadet Corps
| His Majesty's Corps of Boy Cadets | |
|---|---|
 Badge of the Cadet Corps | |
| Active | June 5, 1876–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 |
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 864,000 boys between the ages of 11 and 18 inclusive in the Corps, approximately 73 per cent of all senior school boys.
Symbols
—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 with a triangular cut out as their flag, rather than the civilian Great Cross, in addition to ceremonial banners, pennants, guidons and standards.
Organisation
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. 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 (40–16) | |||||||||
| Patrol (10–15) | |||||||||
The Corps operate on a practical level more locally within a regional and national hierarchy. Local cadet companies of around 300 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 Dist., 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 around four troops. A troop is commanded by a senior Under Officer. A Serjeant is the second-in-command of the troop, with four patrols commanded by Corporals and Sub-Corporals of around 8 to 12 cadets each. Staff Serjeants and Under Officers hold appointments within the company, such as Company Serjeant Major and Company Quartermaster Serjeant. Staff lieutenants and ensigns commands 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
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. Cadets participate in physical training in regular cross-country hikes, marches and voyages, athletics, swimming, gymnastics, wrestling, sports and games. 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 by service. Loyalty to God, King and country is paramount, but almost as important is loyalty to one's comrades, friends, family and community. Of high importance is the inculcation of obedience to superiors and enforced hierarchy of rank. Hoever, a sense of camaraderie and even a level of equality between boys of all classes and backgrounds is promoted, subject to the overriding 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.
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. 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
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. 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, whereupon they become liable for muster service.
Boys typically join the Corps when they enter the First Form in senior school. Boys join their local company, and normally are allocated to a troop consisting of those living in the same area. Usually, there is a junior troop and a senior troop for a given location. Boys generally advance to the senior troop upon entering the Lower Fifth Form year, whereupon they become Able Cadets.
The connexions developed between cadet companies and local regiments and naval bases are considered valuable for 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 are often eligible to train as an officer during their muster service. If so, they may be then commissioned as reserve officers in the Home reserves, in the ordinary service or, optionally, in the Cadet Corps as staff officers.
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 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.
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| 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. Class II officers also receive warrants of appointment, but they are not thereby entitled to salutes. All cadet non-commissioned officers and under officers 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
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. Staff officers at battalion level and above are employed full time in the Home Service or Fleet.
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 a shilling 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 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.
Uniforms
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 or Home Fleet uniforms, with the cadet shoulder patches or armband (if part-time).
Dress uniforms
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.
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 | This page is written in Erbonian English, which has its own spelling conventions (colour, travelled, centre, realise, instal, sobre, shew, artefact), and some terms that are used in it may be different or absent from other varieties of English. |