Royal Canadian Army Cadets


The Royal Canadian Army Cadets is a national Canadian youth program sponsored by the Canadian Armed Forces and the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada. Under the authority of the National Defence Act, the program is administered by the Canadian Armed Forces and funded through the Department of National Defence. Additionally, the civilian partner of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, the Army Cadet League of Canada, also ensures financial, accommodations and transportation support for RCAC programs and services at a community level.
All Royal Canadian Army Cadet corps receive logistical assistance and a certain degree of administrative support from their affiliated Regular Force or Reserve Force units.
While cadets may wear the badges and accoutrements of their affiliated unit, cadets are considered to be civilians and are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets is recognized as Canada's oldest youth program.
As of 2016, there are approximately 18,920 army cadets in about 429 corps which are spread across the country.
Together with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Air Cadets, it forms the largest federally funded youth program which is known as the Canadian Cadet Organization or the Canadian Cadet Movement.
Members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets are encouraged to become active and responsible members of their communities.
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets are the rough equivalent to the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps in the United States, the Army Cadet Force in the United Kingdom and the Australian Army Cadets in Australia.

Overview

Along with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Air Cadets, the Royal Canadian Army Cadets are a part of the Canadian Cadet Organizations.
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets and the other cadet branches are generally administered by the Reserve Force of the Canadian Armed Forces and are federally funded through the Department of National Defence. Additionally, the program is run in partnership with the civilian Army Cadet League of Canada, which provides supervision of the local corps and squadron sponsors which support the program at the community level. The Army Cadet League of Canada ensures financial, accommodations and transportation support for programs and services not provided by the Department of National Defence.
Cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and there is no expectation to join the military at a later date. However, former Cadets who do decide to go on to join the military may find that there are certain benefits to be found within the military in certain areas such as basic training. The service records for members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, which are usually digitally created but sometimes physically made, are not destroyed until the age of twenty five. These service records may be very helpful as a reference for future military service. Former members who have been dismissed from the organization due to misconduct, however, may find that their service record can potentially inhibit their entry into the military.
In keeping with Commonwealth custom, the Royal Canadian Army Cadets stand second in the order of precedence, after the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and before the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.
Youths of any country of origin, nationality and citizenship can join the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, provided that they are between the ages of 12 to 18. The membership in a Royal Canadian Army Cadet corps is always free of charge. Uniforms, training manuals, and instruction are provided for free. If a cadet remains in a corps until their 19th birthday, then they may be "aged out" following a special ceremony which happens during their final parade night. Upon departing the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, most of the items issued to them during their time in the program must be returned. If a Regimental Sergeant Major is departing a corps, then he or she will relinquish the senior position by passing on the drill cane or the corps flag to his or her chosen and appointed successor.
The organization and rank system of the Canadian Army is used. Cadets are appointed to non-commissioned member ranks and take seniority amongst themselves. A few large school-sponsored cadet corps use Canadian Army commissioned officer designations from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel, a practice that is not officially recognized.
Adult leadership is provided by members of the Canadian Forces Reserve sub-component which is known as the Cadet Organization Administration and Training Service, which is composed mostly of officers of the Cadet Instructor Cadre branch. The leadership of each individual corps is supplemented, if necessary, by contracted Civilian Instructors, authorized adult volunteers, and, on occasion, officers and non-commissioned members of other Canadian Armed Forces branches. The CIC branch is specifically trained to administer and support the Royal Canadian Sea, Army, and Air Cadet training program. Like all other Reserve Force members, they come from all walks of life and all parts of local communities. Some commissioned CIC officers are former cadets themselves, while others many have former Regular Force or Reserve Force service.

Aim

The aim of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets is "to develop in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership; promote physical fitness; and stimulate the interest of youth in the sea, land, and air activities of the Canadian Forces." The Royal Canadian Army Cadets shares this aim with the Sea and Air Cadets; however, each focuses on its own parent element.

RCAC Badge

The badge of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets is the official emblem of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. It is worn on the upper sleeve of the cadet uniform and on the breast of the issue parkas. It is also worn as a brass or cloth cap badge in place of an affiliated unit badge or for non-affiliated corps. The motto of Acer Acerpori is Latin for "as the maple, so the sapling".

History

Early history

The Royal Canadian Army Cadets can trace its history to the creation of drill associations or militia companies in 1861, predating confederation by six years. These early militia companies and drill associations were not cadet corps but were militia sub-units formed in educational and other public institutions. Enrolment was limited to men between the ages of 13 and 60. The drill was not only a parade square and discipline exercise, but a skill that was necessary for the defence of the Colony. The American Civil War and the threat of the Fenian Raids motivated their creation in Upper and Lower Canada.
In 1866, when the Fenians threatened Ontario, the Upper Canada College Rifle Company was called to active service, along with its parent regiment. While the regiment marched to Ridgeway to confront the Fenian invaders, the UCC Rifle Company guarded the port, armouries and government buildings of Toronto. For this deed, the student company proudly carried the battle honour “FENIAN RAID 1865-66” on its drums and colours from that day forward. Students in the battalion who stood guard also were entitled to receive the Canadian General Service Medal, with their names inscribed on the medal’s edge and the “Fenian Raid 1866” bar on its red and white striped ribbon.
Trinity College Volunteer Rifle Company was formed on June 1, 1861 in Port Hope, Ontario. Bishop’s College Drill Association was formed in Lennoxville, Quebec, on December 6, 1861. Another 14 of the early "Drill Associations" or "Rifle Companies" stood up in Ontario and Quebec. Canada's oldest continuously-active cadet corps is No. 2 Bishop's College School Cadet Corps in Lennoxville, Quebec, and No. 7 Royal Canadian Army Cadets in St. Thomas, Ontario, both having roots firmly in the previous drill associations.
In 1904, the allocation of numbers to cadet corps was instituted and the Quarterly Militia List, correct to April 1, 1904, lists Cadet Organizations from 1 to 104. The earliest date of organization shown is November 28, 1879, four months after Militia General Order 18 of July 25, 1879 allowed the formations of 74 "Associations for Drill in Educational Institutions" for young men. These cadets were taught drill and marksmanship, but were not required to be employed in active service. The 74 associations included 34 in Ontario, 24 in Québec, 13 in the Maritimes, two in Manitoba, and one in British Columbia.
The origin of the term "cadet corps" is debatable, as some believe it was first used in 1898, in Ontario, bundled in a provision that the corps' instructors would be members of the local school teaching staff, and not from the local militia unit.

Public support

Increased support, motivated in part by the Northwest Campaign during the Riel Rebellion of 1885, allowed improved issue of uniforms, weapons and other equipment to schools providing military training.

Cadet Instructor Cadre

The first authority for cadet instructors to hold rank in the Militia was established by Special General Order Dec. 21, 1903. The appointment was 2nd Lieutenant and the officer was permitted to retain the rank only as long as he remained an instructor and the cadet corps remained efficient.
On May 1, 1909 a cadre of commissioned officers, as a Corps of School Cadet Instructors was established. It was composed of qualified male school teachers. On May 1, 1921 the Corps was reorganized on Jan 1, 1924 and designated the Cadet Services of Canada. It was a component of the Canadian Army Non-Permanent Active Militia and the forerunner of the current Cadet Instructor Cadre.
With the integration of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968, the officer cadre was designated as the Cadet Instructors List, a sub-component of the Reserve Force of the Canadian Armed Forces.
In July 1994, it was re-named to the Cadet Instructor Cadre.
In 2009, the Reserve Force sub-component was re-named to the Cadet Organization Administration and Training Service.
As of 2017, it still consists of the CIC branch.

Strathcona Trust

In 1910, Sir Donald Alexander Smith, Lord Strathcona, the Canadian High Commissioner to Britain, created a trust with the Dominion Government with a sum of $500,000, with the aim of inspiring citizenship and patriotism. through physical training, rifle shooting, and military drill. He is remembered today with the Lord Strathcona Medal, which is awarded to a cadet in each corps and squadron who best exemplifies the qualities of being a cadet.

World Wars

Approximately 40,000 former cadets served in His Majesty's forces during the First World War. By the end of the war, there were approximately 64,000 boys enrolled in army cadet corps across Canada.
During the twenty years following the First World War, cadet training came to a standstill. Many corps survived these hard times, but the Great Depression and the lack of public interest caused the cancellation of the uniform grant for army cadets in 1931. The instructional grant for 12 and 13 year olds was additionally cancelled in 1934. In Alberta, only a couple of corps functioned beyond 1934.
The beginning of the Second World War brought a renewed public interest in cadet training. An astoundingly high amount of cadet corps were raised in high schools across the country.

Post-war years

In 1942, in recognition of the significant contribution of former cadets to the ongoing war effort, His Majesty King George VI granted the "Royal" prefix to the Canadian Army Cadets, giving it the title of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. The Royal prefix was also afforded Sea at the same time. Air cadets were given the Royal prefix in 1953 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
It is estimated that nearly 230,000 former army cadets served in His Majesty's forces during the Second World War.
After 1945, quotas were imposed, which ended up reducing Canada's total cadet membership to approximately 75,000 members. Many of the closed corps, those with membership restricted to boys in one particular school, were disbanded; some of them became open corps, training in Militia armouries or in Legion halls; others acquired their own buildings.
The Korean War stimulated growth among open corps in the early 1950s. Many school corps moved to armouries and drill halls. After 1954, Korean War veterans staffed the Area Cadet Offices that began to manage these corps and the summer camps that trained them.

Unification of the Canadian Forces

Following the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, a number of changes occurred in the Army Cadet world:
Females were unofficial participants in cadet training almost from the very beginning of cadets.
Shortly after the Highland Cadet Corps was formed at the Guelph Grammar School at Guelph in 1882, an all-female cadet company called the Daughters of the Regiment were started. The Canadian Army provided no support for training or uniforms for the all-female cadet company. In addition, females were prohibited from attending summer training at camps.
On July 30, 1975, the Parliament of Canada amended the relevant legislation by changing the word "boys" to "persons", therefore permitting females to become members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. Therefore, females became full participants in the cadet branch. The biggest change was during the summer training program: what had been for many decades an exclusively male environment changed dramatically at local corps and at Army Cadet Summer Training Centres. Today, males and females are given equality of opportunity as it relates to participating in any and all Royal Canadian Army Cadet corps-level functions.

2004 – 125th anniversary

2004 marked the 125th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. The Army Cadet League of Canada issued a 125th Anniversary pin to be worn by all 25,000+ army cadets across the country at the time. Canada Post honoured the cadets with a stamp which was unveiled in Ottawa in March 2004. Many parades honouring the century-and-a-quarter of cadets occurred across Canada: there were Freedom of the City parades in Vernon, Oromocto and Calgary as well as other major cities and towns across the country. The original Royal Banner was laid up in Vernon during the final battalion parade on August 19 at the Army Cadet Summer Training Centre, and the new Royal Banner was paraded in front of 1,500 cadets and 2,000 members of the audience.

RCAC Training

Optional Training

In the cadet program there are several optional training programs which consist of:
This optional training is an extension of the mandatory training that cadets receive within their individual corps.

Star Level Program

The Star Level Program is the main training program carried out by all Royal Canadian Army Cadet corps within Canada. This program is mandated by the Department of National Defence and specifically through the Directorate of Cadets & Junior Rangers.
The Star Level Program is composed of five levels:
Starting in the 2012-13 training year, the National Star of Excellence or NSE replaced the National Star Certification Examination or NSCE as a ranking tool for Senior Cadets. Year 5 of LHQ training was also introduced as "Master Cadet" consisting of a great deal of On the Job Training and self-led professional development opportunities.
Cadets are taught a variety of subjects, known as Performance Objectives that include: citizenship, physical fitness, healthy living, drill, marksmanship, map and compass, outdoor survival, eco-friendly camping and military history and traditions. To better assist in understanding the Star Level training, the Star programs are identified as follows:

Green Star

The Master Cadet is the highest star level. It is earned only by those who have attained all the star levels. Cadets are required to complete their "Master Cadet Handbook" and attend a Master Cadet Workshop at the zone level to achieve the Master Cadet certification. Cadets that are working on their Master Cadet certification are only Gold Star qualified.

Summer Training

Selected Army Cadets attend summer training at locations across Canada. The training supports and expands the local headquarters program. Courses last from two to eleven weeks, with most cadets attending the two-week "General Training" course in their first year.
Experienced cadets may apply to be employed as staff cadets to assist the adult instructors.

Summer Training Courses

Summer Training Courses are as follows:
Once a cadet has completed an Instructor-level course he or she may apply for advanced the training to be appointed as a staff cadet at a cadet training centre or engage in the advanced training course or exchange, such as:
*Outward Bound courses has been merged with Maple Leaf Exchange.
**Limited number of cadets attend the Wales CCAT, under discretion of the Officer In Charge of the exchange.
***One week of the exchange is spent in CTC Connaught, Ontario.

Cadet Training Centres

During the summertime, some members of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets are selected for summer training. They go on to train at various camps which include:
Additional Training Centres

Headdress

A variety of headdresses are worn by the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, such include:
All forms of headdress are accompanied with a cap-badge or cap-brass representing the Cadet Corps' affiliated regiment or a simple cap-badge with the standard Royal Canadian Army Cadet badge. It is colloquially known by Cadets as the "cookie-cutter" badge. For example, Cadet Corps that are affiliated with the Royal Canadian Dragoons wear a cap-brass with a springbok.

Full Dress Uniform

Note: Cadet insignia are distinguished from their Canadian Armed Forces counterparts through the inclusion of "CADET" written at the bottom of the slip-on.
*Individual corps may have their own local requirements for promotions, in addition to the national standards.
The second rank of "Lance Corporal", formerly "Private", was changed in January 2010, due to the French translation "Soldat" being the word "Soldier".
If an Army Cadet Corps has an affiliation with a unit of the Canadian Army that traditionally has different titles for the Ranks of "Private", "Corporal", and "Master Corporal", then they are then entitled to make use of those alternative titles for the ranks of "Lance Corporal", "Corporal, and "Master Corporal" in their units as well.
BranchMaster CorporalCorporalLance Corporal
Royal Canadian Armoured CorpsMaster Corporal / caporal-chef Corporal / caporal Trooper / cavalier
Royal Regiment of Canadian ArtilleryMaster Bombardier / bombardier-chef Bombardier / bombardier Gunner / artilleur
Corps of Royal Canadian EngineersMaster Corporal / caporal-chef Corporal / caporal Sapper / sapeur
Royal Canadian Corps of SignalsMaster Corporal / caporal-chef Corporal / caporal Signalman / signaleur
Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical EngineersMaster Corporal / caporal-chef Corporal / caporal Craftsman / artisan
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps members of guards regimentsMaster Corporal / caporal-chef Corporal / caporal Guardsman / garde
RCIC members of rifle regimentsMaster Corporal / caporal-chef Corporal / caporal Rifleman / carabinier
RCIC members of fusilier regimentsMaster Corporal / caporal-chef Corporal / caporal Fusilier / fusilier
Highland RegimentMaster Corporal / caporal-chef Corporal / caporal Highlander / montagnarde
RCIC members of voltigeur regimentMaster Corporal / caporal-chef Corporal / caporal Voltigeur / voltigeur ''

In the guard regiments, warrant officers are known as "colour sergeants" and second lieutenants are known as "ensigns", although the latter does not exist in the RCAC program.

Honours and awards

The Canadian Cadet Movement maintains its own Honours and Awards system. Cadets may be awarded these based on criteria including bravery, citizenship, service, outstanding performance on a summer training course, and more. In addition, cadets may also wear, on their uniform, any orders, decorations, and medals of Canada they have been awarded.
Within the system, there are several honours and awards common to all three cadet elements and some that are unique to each. A cadet who transfers from one element to another may continue to wear any medals awarded from their previous service, but in general, army cadets may be eligible for the following eight honours and awards, and are in the order of precedence:
MedalDescription
Cadet Award for Bravery
The Cadet Award of Bravery may be awarded to a cadet who performs an outstanding deed of valour involving risk of life in attempting to save the life or property of others. One Gold Star is issued with this medal, to Cadets who lose their lives during their deed of valour
Lord Strathcona Trust Fund Medal
The Lord Strathcona Trust Fund Medal, most commonly referred to as the Lord Strathcona Medal is the highest award, which can be bestowed upon a cadet in recognition of exemplary performance in physical and military training. This award is given out to one Cadet, in every cadet corps across Canada per year.
Royal Canadian Legion Cadet Medal of Excellence
The Royal Canadian Legion Cadet Medal of Excellence is awarded in recognition for individual endeavours in citizenship that meet or enhance the aims and objectives of the cadet movement. This award is given out to one Cadet, in every cadet corps across Canada per year.
Major General Howard Medal
The Major-General W.A. Howard Medal is presented annually to the cadet in each province and territory that receives the highest overall assessment on their Gold Star year. This award is given to one cadet in each province/territory per year.
ANAVETS Cadet Medal of Merit
The Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada, as a legacy to its desire to promote excellence and awareness of the CCO, has established the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada Cadet Medal of Merit.
One medal shall be awarded at each CTC to the top cadet, male or female, for each Instructor level course.
Order of St. George Medal
Awarded to the top Staff Cadet at each CSTC.
Army Cadet Service Medal
This medal is presented to an Army Cadet that has successfully completed four years of honourable service within the Canadian cadet program. Single bars are awarded for each additional year.
Cadet Certificate of CommendationAwarded for outstanding deeds in attempting to save the life or property of another person. This award is not part of the order of precedence.