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Part 1 Training
There is a fixed syllabus for each cadet level that contains items such as:
SCC Organisation / History
SCC / RN / RAF / Army Rank Structure
Activities available in the SCC
RN History / Customs
Ship's Routine
Piping (Boatswain's Call)
Parade Training (Foot and Rifle Drill)
Power of Command
Leadership
Instructional Technique
Seamanship and Boat work
Safety Awareness
Fire Prevention
Principles of First Aid
Outline of Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
Advancement
There is a rank structure within the Sea Cadet Corps, similar to that in the Royal Navy. You will start as a New Entry and then progress through Cadet, Ordinary Cadet, Able Cadet, Leading Cadet and Cadet Petty Officer. To achieve advancement you will need to:
Complete a task book covering Part 1 Compulsory Training Complete the correct level of specialist training (not necessary until Able Cadet).
Achieve the correct number of points from Proficiency Training
Pass a simple test / examination
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Waterborne Training
Dinghy Sailing
Sailing is a wonderful activity that allows you to work by yourself in a single-handed dinghy or as part of a team in a larger dinghy. It is a truly exhilarating sport that develops self confidence and awareness of natural elements.
All dinghy sailing within the Sea Cadet Corps is conducted under the Royal Yachting Association sailing schemes.
The two main dinghies used by the SCC are the Bosun and the Topper, however the opportunity often arises to sail higher performance craft.
Gloucester Sea Cadet Unit has a Bosun, a Topper, two Mirrors and a number of other craft that are used for sailing. We also attend training establishments such as H.M.S. Bristol at Portsmouth, SCTC Weymouth, SCTC Caledonia where a large number of craft are available. We also attend and are member of Whitefriars Sailing Club near Cirencester during the Spring and Summer months.
Canoeing
Canoeing is another popular sport where you can develop your own personal waterborne skills. All training is conducted under the British Canoe Union Training Scheme.
Pulling
Pulling (or rowing) is the basis for all good seamanship practices. It teaches good teamwork and waterborne skills.
Power Boating
Power Boating allows cadets to learn boat handling in displacement and planing power craft. All instruction is carried out under the Royal Yachting Association power boat training scheme.
Windsurfing
This is an activity which is available to cadets by attending Sea Cadet organised training camps.
Offshore Sailing
The Sea Cadet Corps has a number of large sailing craft which Cadets can sail on. The most impressive craft is T.S. Royalist which is a square rigger. Cadets can attend week long trips on Royalist and learn how to work as part of the crew while at the same time visiting British or Foreign ports.
Offshore Power Boating
The Sea Cadet Corps offers offshore power boat training in a number of large power vessels. These vessels frequently visit British and Foreign ports.
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Specialisation Training
Cadets undertake specialist training in one or more of the following areas. The subjects that are undertaken are optional. Some of the specialisations are available within the Unit or Cadets may go away on camps to achieve the awards.
Seamanship
Physical Training
Cook / Steward
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
First Aid
Radio Communications
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Proficiency Training
There are numerous proficiency activities in which cadets can participate, including:
Expedition Training (Camping)
Small Bore Shooting (Brighton Unit has it's own indoor range)
Full Bore Shooting
Piping
Band
Diving
Meteorology
Swimming
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Parade & Ceremonial
The Sea Cadets are often called upon to fly the flag for the Royal Navy at parades and special events in their local communities.
Drill and ceremonial forms part of the regular routine in a Unit. Cadets learn leadership skills, team spirit and camaraderie, while keeping naval traditions alive.
Parade training teaches Cadets many skills which are invaluable in the wider world, such as discipline, smart personal appearance and bearing, physical fitness, mental alertness, self-confidence, and a sense of pride in the organisation and their own part in it.
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D of E Award
The Sea Cadets is the ideal place to undertake the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme as many of our activities directly map onto the award elements.
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Bands and music
Every year, thousands of people are entertained by Sea Cadet Bands. Occasions range from Unit fund raising events, local Fetes and Carnivals, Civic Parades, right up to the most prestigious public occasions. Sea Cadet Bands also perform overseas on a regular basis.
Sea Cadets usually commence their musical careers as members of a Unit band. Such bands have traditionally consisted of drums, bugles and bell lyres, but over a period of time the instrumental composition has widened to include brass and woodwind as well. This has meant that cadets who have perhaps learned instrument skills at school can take a full part in Sea Cadet musical activities. There are now a few bands across the country who are entirely brass and woodwind in line up.
This has meant that Sea Cadet Bands have increasingly been able to take on a wider range of musical engagements and the musical offering now embraces melodic concert pieces and more upbeat material, as well as keeping our traditional military offering strong and healthy. Whatever the occasion Sea Cadet Bands perform with pride, professionalism, flair and always a smile.
Basic training is delivered at unit level by Unit bandmasters or visiting instructors who are assisted by Area Staff as required. Several times a year, bands and musicians are brought together to form combined or massed bands for the major events. Intensive and high quality training is given at Area and National level for these events, very often enhanced by the active involvement of members of The Royal Marines Band Service.
We are very much intent on following the practices and principles of Royal Marines musical instruction and much of our training follows their methodology and documentation. We are enormously proud of our close association with our “parent Band Service”. This relationship goes back over many years and we are very grateful for all their help and encouragement. As well as adjudication at competitions, guidance and advice is available to instructors, musical workshops take place, access to the music library is arranged and training techniques and instructional documents are shared. Continuous exposure of Sea Cadet Musicians to The Royal Marines Band Service can help enormously any cadet who seeks to follow a musical career and a number of cadets each year are granted work experience placements with a Royal Marines Band.
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BTEC First Diploma in Public Services
1. This qualification is now available through Sea Cadet training and through the completion of work and project books. It is open to all Cadets who will become 16+ (by 31 August) in the year after registration 31 August and under 19 on 1 September in the year of registration.
2. They must achieve the rate of Petty Officer Cadet or Cadet Sergeant before completing the Diploma.
3. The BTEC Diploma is of great advantage as an educational qualification, being the equivalent of four GCSEs at A to C level. It can thus improve the appeal of any Cadet’s CV.
4. The majority of the knowledge and skills required to complete these units and thus achieve the Diploma can be gained from normal Sea Cadet Training. Cadets studying for the BTEC diploma will also be issued with the following resources:
Workbook
Workbook Resource Book
IVA Resource Book
Cadets must also undertake a weekend at a designated Sea Cadet training centre (probably in January of each year).
5. Work and project books will be marked and assessed by the Vocational Qualification Office at the Army Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park, Frimley Park being Edexcel’s approved Educational Delivery Centre for the Cadet Forces.
6. Cadets will be required to:
complete the Sea Cadet syllabus up to Petty Officer Cadet or Cadet Sergeant
pass PT Acquaint or BTEC Outdoor Skills course
achieve Expedition Leader (EL5) or BTEC Outdoor Skills course and/or D of E bronze
complete the Integrated Vocational Assignment (IVA)
answer the questions in the Cadet Workbook
give a five-minute presentation
It is important that Course Reports, Board Results, Certificates and other documentation recording these qualifications are correctly completed and available for inspection by the appointed verifiers. Completion of the Diploma must be achieved within three years of registration, although many should be able complete in about 12 months. Merit and Distinction may be achieved by further qualifications. Details will be found in the Personal Record Book issued to all candidates. §
7. Cadets will be required to complete the following units:
Unit 1: The Public Services
Unit 2: Public Service Skills
Unit 3: Public Service Fitness
Unit 7: Outdoor Activities
Unit 9: Land Navigation with Map and Compass
Unit 14: Expedition Skills
8. Verification of the quality of activities that Cadets undertake to qualify for the award and the assessments linked to these assignments will be carried out by the Cadet Vocational Manager at Frimley Park and qualified Sea Cadet personnel. Edexcel’s own External Verifiers will carry out external verification.
9. Except where Sea Cadet Officers and Instructors are professionally competent to advise young people about careers and vocational qualifications, it is important that all cadets should discuss this opportunity with their careers advisor at school or college before applying.
10. Any person wishing to apply to join this scheme must discuss it with either their unit BTEC Coordinator or their unit Commanding Officer before submitting their application.
11. Cadets or young adult staff who wish to apply to join this scheme and achieve a valuable educational qualification should complete the application form, not forgetting to have it signed by their Commanding Officer or their BTEC Unit Coordinator.
12. For further information, take a look at Cadet Vocational Qualification Office
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Sports
Physical fitness is obviously of great importance throughout life and life as a Sea Cadet is most definitely active! Every Cadet gets involved in sport and exercise, but some can choose to specialise in this area. As well as activities such as a 2.4km run, a swimming test and a daily exercise routine, Cadets can expect to learn about gym safety and how to look after their PT kit. As they progress, they are asked to organise PT displays at local events and to run sports competitions for their fellow Cadets.
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Seamanship and ropework
As Cadets progress in seamanship, it sub-divides into ropework and navigation. Further information about seamanship and navigation can be found under ‘Adventure Afloat’.
Cadets choosing ropework start off learning bends and hitches such as the rolling hitch, the sheet bend and the fisherman’s bend, continue through with rules for handling ropes and make a start on basic rigging. Cadets with these skills are obviously very valuable to their Unit in helping look after the boats properly. As they progress, Cadets can learn decorative ropework and even basic sailmaking, allowing them to make practical items of equipment for use in the Unit.
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Camps
There are many camps and visits available to cadets throughout the year.
Unit Camps
Gloucester Unit organises many weekend camping activities throughout the year at various locations in the area.
District Camps
Severn District have had a very successful Summer Camp in 2008 to Mayote in France and we are currently organising another for 2009.
Area Camps
The Southwest Area organises many training weekends and weeks in many activities.
National Camps
The Sea Cadet Corps as a national organisation hosts many training events throughout the year in all Cadet subjects. Many of these camps are held on Naval establishments where the cadets are trained by RN staff. Booking these camps is simplicity itself. A chart of available national courses is displayed on the wall and once a course is chosen by a Cadet and booked by the Unit, the Cadet will receive joining instructions and travel warrants. The cost of the camps are very minimal.
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Rock climbing
Rock climbing and abseiling are an exciting way to build confidence and develop character.
Opportunities for cadets to take part in rock climbing are increasing with a number of units and establishments now having their own climbing wall, or access to a wall at a local school or leisure centre. And there are plenty of opportunities to climb on crags in the UK’s main climbing areas such as Snowdonia, the Peak District and the Lake District.
As with all our activities, rock climbing is supervised by highly qualified instructors who are themselves experienced climbers and in many cases mountaineers. Cadets with an interest in climbing are encouraged to build their experience and skills to provide them with the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications and even become instructors themselves.
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Competitions
At T.S. Gloucester we take part in competitions for many activities throughout the year, such as:
Sailing
Canoeing
Pulling
Boat Handling
Shooting
Drill
Piping
Football
Athletics
and more.
If we win the event at District level, we then move on to Area Level and finally to National Level. Competing in competitions at all levels are considered to be a honor for any cadet involved!
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Unit Staff
UNIT STAFF
S/Lt (SCC) Yonna Berry RNR, Officer in Charge
PO (SCC) Benjamin Nash, 1st Lieutenant
Marine Cadet Detachment Commander (vacant)
PO (SCC) Tim Excell, Training Officer/Instructor
PO (SCC) Paul Mercer, Boats Officer/Instructor
PO (SCC) John Ross, Stores Officer/Instructor
CPO (SCC) Adam Whitehead Instructor
CPO (SCC) Ash Watts, Instructor
PO (SCC) Christine Riley, Instructor
PO (SCC) Tony Riley, Instructor
Sgt (SCC) Martin Sullivan, MCD Instructor
Mr Steve Burt, Administration Officer and Trainee Instructor
Miss Kimberley Kirkham - Unit Assistant
Unit Management Committee (UMC)
Clr Pam Tracey - President
Mr. Martin Nash - Chairman
Mr Alan Yates - Vice Chairman
Mrs Maureen Tomlinson - Treasurer
Ms. Karen Mercer - Secretary
Mr. Andrew Harding - Health & Safety Officer
Mrs. Kerry Ross - UMC Member
Ms. Bev Weaver - UMC member
Mrs. Sharon Mercer - UMC member
Mrs. Caroline Horton - UMC member
Mrs. Tricia Harding - UMC member
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