Marine Society and Sea Cadets
| Marine Society and Sea Cadet Corps | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1854–Present |
| Role | Mod Sponsored Youth Charity |
| Headquarters | Headquarters, MSSCHQ |
| Motto(s) | Ready Aye Ready |
| Commanders | |
| Captain | Captain Phillip Russel RN |
The MSSC (Marine Society & Sea Cadets) is the parent charity of the Sea Cadets and of The Marine Society . It is also the base of the Captain of the Sea Cadet Corps (CSC), currently Captain Philip Russl who is a serving Captain o Inf the Royal Navy. He is also the Director of Operations. MSSC is based in London near Westminster at 202 Lambeth Road SE1 7JW. This is where all nationally made decisions, such as the Sea Cadet Regulations and other such items are made. The MSSC is a charity formed in 2004 with the merger of The Marine Society and the Sea Cadet Association. The Sea Cadet Corps is a British voluntary uniformed youth cadet organization and the first named organization of its kind. It consists of about 400 units and 14,000 young people learning nautical and life skills. The first Sea Cadet Unit was established in Whitstable in 1854.[1] The Marine Society was established in 1756. Both share very similar beginnings, to support young, destitute orphans and boys, clothe and educate them, and train them with a skill. Many of the Marine Society boys went on to be apprenticed on Royal Naval ships, including Nelson's Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Organization of the Sea Cadet Corps
The Sea Cadet Corps from Headquarters is divided into six areas (Northern, Northwest, Eastern, London, Southern and South West). The areas have an Area Officer (AO) as it were a commanding officer (Normally a Serving Commander in the Royal Navy or a Lieutenant Colnel in the Royal Marines. Each area is split into districts, normally there are about six or seven districts in an area. Districts are controlled by District Officers (usually a Lieutenant Commander (SCC) RNR), with the assistance of the Deputy District Officer (DDO) and in some districts an Assistant District Officer (ADO) in conjunction with the District Training Officer and the District Juniors Officer. Together they make the District Staff. Normal officers and instructors can apply to be Area Staff Officers and Headquarters staff officers in individual subjects such as Piping, Drill and Ceremonial, Boating, etc. They apply to Headquarters for the position and then they are interviewed and the new Headquarters Staff Officer (HQSO) is selected.
The SEA CADET PROMISE
"I promise to serve my God, the Queen, my Country and the Sea Cadet Corps and to obey the orders of my superior officers.
I will be proud of my uniform, be smart and seaman like in wearing it and always do my duty."
This is said by a cadet at promotion from a New Entry to a Cadet
Ranks and Rates in the Sea Cadet Corps
From the junior cadets age 10 and above the ranks start as Junior Cadet, Junior cadet First Class and Leading junior. Those are the junior cadet ranks. They are just an introduction to the Sea Cadets from age 10 to 12.
After the juniors section cadets move on to a New Entry which is the probationary period toward becoming a senior enrolled cadet. Age 12 and above. Juniors can do their New Entry (NE) training when they are juniors and can be promoted to Cadet (Cdt) as soon as they turn 12 years old.
When a fully enrolled cadet can say the Sea Cadet Promise they become a Cadet (no star) and from then can achieve Cadet 1st Class (one star), after this they will progress to Ordinary Cadet normally when they are 13 about one rank every year. For example: Ordinary Cadet (SCC) J Bloggs
Promotion to Able Cadet comes at approximately 14. This is the start of the Senior Ratings, where the Able Cadet will be the Duty Leading Hand (DLH) and take responsibility at Colours and Evening Colours and insure the smooth running of the ship. As an Able Cadet takes on more responsibility, teaches lessons and controls bad behaviour by junior and younger cadets that may not be as mature as the Able Cadet.
Promotion to Leading Cadet requires going away on a Board / Examination to pass. This must be done at a district level and can not be done by the ship's Commanding Officer / Officer in Charge. Candidates must be 15 years old to achieve this rank and also must have certain qualifications before the promotion in conjunction with ASCR (Appendix to the Sea Cadet Regulations) 1 - Training Instructions (TIs.)
The final and most senior cadet rank of the Sea Cadet Corps is Petty Officer Cadet (POC) also just known as Petty Officer. Candidates must be 16 years old and have been a Leading Cadet for at least six months to become a POC. Promotion again requires going to a Board / Examination course at district/area/national level to become the rank and certain qualifications.
Staff of the Sea Cadet Corps
All Sea Cadet ranks are followed by (SCC). Officers and Warrant Officers are entitled to use the post nominal RNR or RMR after there names.
NON Uniformed Ranks
- Unit Assistant (UA)
- Probationary Civilian Instructor (PCI)
- Civilian Instructor (CI)
Uniformed Ranks
- Probationary Petty Officer - PPO (SCC) (Reserved for Ex Cadets entering as CFAV's)
- Acting Petty Officer - APO (SCC)
- Petty Officer - PO(SCC)
- Chief Petty Officer - CPO(SCC)
- Warrant Officer 2 - WO2(SCC)RNR
- Warrant Officer 1 - WO1(SCC)RNR*
WO1 (SCC) RNR & WO1(SCC)RMR are reserved ranks for either Executive Warrant Officer Posts or the Regimental Sergeant Major post. There is also a Corps Executive Warrant Officer / Corps Regimental Sergeant Major post which is deemed the senior warrant officer in the organisation.
Officer Ranks
All SCC officers are appointed on successful completion of a national Officer Selection Board (OSB) this now forms part of the new Officer Development Program (ODP) which is a 3 stage program.
- ODP1 - (POAC) is the area run Pre Board weekend
- ODP2 - (OSB) is the national Officer selection Board
- ODP3 - Is a 1 year period after the completion of the board where officer are "Acting" and complete a period of mentoring and training being confirmed as officers.
- Midshipman - Mid(SCC)RNR
- (Acting Sub Lieutenant - AS/Lt (SCC) RNR)
- Sub-Lieutenant - S/Lt(SCC)RNR
- Lieutenant - Lt(SCC)RNR
- Lieutenant Commander - Lt Cdr(SCC) RNR
- Commander - Cdr(SCC)RNR
- In 2009 the Ranks of Commander and Lieutenant Colonel where introduced into the rank structure. These rank where initially reserved for senior appointments such as SSO, SRO and RMCSSO. On completion of appointment the incumbent is free to return to a lower role retaining the rank.
- Sea Cadet Officers wear the RNVR Lace.