
A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
or
maritime
Maritime may refer to:
Geography
* Maritime Alps, a mountain range in the southwestern part of the Alps
* Maritime Region, a region in Togo
* Maritime Southeast Asia
* The Maritimes, the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Princ ...
sector,
often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in voluntary youth organisations.
Usage by country
Antigua and Barbuda
The
Antigua and Barbuda Cadet Corps consists of students between the ages of 12 and 19. It Is a voluntary youth organization, sponsored by the government and people of Antigua & Barbuda that acquires its membership from the Secondary School. The main objective is to provide training and personal development to the youths through paramilitary activities and also embrace community activities. The training is geared to inspire young men and woman to become model citizens. Emphasis during training is often based on discipline, loyalty, leadership and good citizenry.
Presently, the cadet corps has 200 active members and falls under the direct command of Colonel Glyne V. Dunnah, a regular officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF), and is a part of the ABDF. There are two categories in the Cadet Corps: Sea Cadets and Infantry Cadets. Ranks start from Recruit—WNCO.
Australia

In Australia, a cadet is an officer in training. The official rank is Officer Cadet (OCDT for members of the
Australian Regular Army
The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...
and OFFCDT for members of the
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
), however OCDTs in the Royal Military College—Duntroon are referred to as ''staff cadet'' (Scdt) for historical reasons. A "cadet" can be a person aged between 12.5 and 19 who is a member of the
Australian Defence Force Cadets (ADFC). The ADFC is composed of the
Australian Army Cadets
The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is the youth military program and organisation of the Australian Army, tasked with supporting participants to contribute to society, fostering interest in defence force careers, and developing support for the ...
(AAC),
Australian Navy Cadets
The Australian Navy Cadets (ANC) is a voluntary youth organisation owned and sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy. Together with the Australian Air Force Cadets and Australian Army Cadets, it forms the Australian Defence Force Cadets. It host ...
(ANC), and
Australian Air Force Cadets
The Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC), known as the ''Air Training Corps (AIRTC)'' until 2001, is a Federal Government funded youth organisation. The parent force of the AAFC is the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Along with the Australian ...
(AAFC), which are funded by the Australian Government via the Department of Defence.
Other cadet movements include the
St John Ambulance Cadets, and the South Australian
Country Fire Service Cadets. The longest running cadet corps in Australia is
The King's School Cadet Corps.
Austria-Hungary
In
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
, the cadets of the
Austro-Hungarian Army (1867–1918) wore the
Feldwebel rank insignia on the gorget patch.
The characteristic of the cadet ranks was the so-called distinction-galloon on the sleeve ends. It was similar to the feldwebel-galloon, however, from gold colour instead of emperor-yellow. The particular rank was added as well.
Bangladesh
The recruits of the
Bangladesh Army,
Bangladesh Navy
The Bangladesh Navy ( bn, বাংলাদেশ নৌবাহিনী, Bangladesh Nou Bahini) is the naval warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, responsible for Bangladesh's of maritime territorial area, and the defence of imp ...
and
Bangladesh Air Force
The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) ( bn, বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী, Bangladesh Biman Bahini) is the aerial warfare branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The Air Force is primarily responsible for air defence of B ...
and trainees of
Bangladesh Marine Academy are called Gentleman Cadets (GC). Students of
Cadet Colleges Cadet college is a special military school system of British India and later, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
History
British India
This system was first established in the pre-Partition, pre-Independence era in order to support the push to indigeni ...
and MCSK (Military Collegiate School Khulna) as well as those volunteering in
Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) are called cadets. There are 12 Cadet Colleges in Bangladesh, nine for men and three for women, first of which the with
Faujdarhat Cadet College
Faujdarhat Cadet College is a historic public military high school (grade 7 to grade 12), modelled after public schools in the UK (according to the Public Schools Act 1868), run following the national curriculum of Bangladesh in English version, ...
was established in 1958. BNCC, under the dual administration of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), promotes youth development movement in Bangladesh.
During the
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War ( bn, মুক্তিযুদ্ধ, , also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence, or simply the Liberation War in Bangladesh) was a revolution and War, armed conflict sparked by the rise of the Benga ...
, cadets of this organisation played an important role as freedom fighters, with a number of casualties.
Canada

In Canada, the term "cadet" may refer to an unsworn police constable undergoing training with a police service, or a youth participant in the
Canadian Cadet Organizations program. An officer-in-training with the
Canadian Armed Forces
}
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force.
...
is known as an "
officer cadet
Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Units, University Officer Training Corps and University Air ...
" or a "naval cadet".
The Canadian Cadets Organization is Canada's oldest and largest youth organisation, with over 52,000 participants in 2020. The Canadian Cadets Organization is made up of three youth groups, the
Royal Canadian Air Cadets
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets (french: Cadets de l'Aviation royale du Canada) is a Canadian national youth program for young individuals aged 12 to 18. Under the authority of the National Defence Act, the program is administered by the Canadian F ...
, the
Royal Canadian Army Cadets
The Royal Canadian Army Cadets (RCAC; french: Cadets royaux de l’Armée canadienne) 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 D ...
, and the
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadets (RCSC; french: links=no, Cadets de la Marine royale du Canada) is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Armed Forces and the civilian Navy League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, t ...
, and is open to youths aged 12 to 18. The program is administered by the
Department of National Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to:
Current departments of defence
* Department of Defence (Australia)
* Department of National Defence (Canada)
* Department of Defence (Ireland)
* Department of National Defense (Philipp ...
(DND) and is sponsored by the
Canadian Forces
}
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force.
...
. However, cadets are not members of the Canadian Armed Forces and are not expected to join it. Funding for these organisations is provided through the DND in partnership with the Army Cadet, Air Cadet, and Navy Leagues of Canada. The
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal police, federal and national police service of ...
maintains a similar youth program in partnership with
Scouts Canada called the RCMP Rovers and Ventures.
Officer/naval cadets in the Canadian Armed Forces are
subordinate officer Subordinate officer is a term used in some armed forces for a grade of officer above a non-commissioned officer but still not actually commissioned, usually still in training. Such officers are treated for most intents and purposes as commissioned ...
who are undergoing training to become a commissioned officer. Officer cadets may be post-secondary students of the
Royal Military College of Canada
'')
, established = 1876
, type = Military academy
, chancellor = Anita Anand ('' la, ex officio, label=none'' as Defence Minister)
, principal = Harry Kowal
, head_label ...
or the
Royal Military College Saint-Jean
, mottoeng = Truth, Duty, Valour
, established = 1952
, type = Military college
, chancellor = Anita Anand (''ex officio'' as Defence Minister)
, principal = Commanda ...
under the Regular Officer Training Plan. Civilians and non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces that are undergoing training and commissioning programs, like the "University Training Plan for Non-Commissioned Members" or the "Commissioning from the Ranks Plan", are also appointed as officer cadets.
Finland
The National Defence University Finland educates all officers in Finnish military. All students serve as cadets under the Cadet School for the first year and then either in Navy Academy, Air Academy or one of Army Academy's schools as cadets or holding an upper cadet rank (i.e. sergeant cadet).
Germany
In Germany, the rank ''cadet'' (german: Seekadett) only exists in the
German Navy for officers in training. In the Army and the
Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
, officers in training usually have the rank of a ''Fahnenjunker'' or
ensign (German: ''Fähnrich'') before they are promoted into the rank of a
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
.
Ghana
The
National Cadet Corps (Ghana) National Cadet Corps may refer to:
*Bangladesh National Cadet Corps
* National Cadet Corps (Ghana)
*National Cadet Corps (India)
* National Cadet Corps (Pakistan)
*National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
*National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)
The Nation ...
(NCCG) of Ghana is an amalgamation of Army (GA), Navy (GN), Air Force (GHF), Police (GPS) and the Fire (GNFRS) Cadets in Ghana. It came into establishment in 2002 under the ministry of education, presently Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Hong Kong
Cadet corps are linked to
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
colonial past include the
Hong Kong Sea Cadet Corps
Hong Kong Sea Cadet Corps is a youth organization based in Hong Kong and formed in 1968 by former Royal Naval Reserve officers by the creation of Hong Kong Law (Hong Kong Sea Cadet Corps Ordinance)
The HKSCC was linked to British Armed Forces' ...
,
Hong Kong Adventure Corps
The Hong Kong Adventure Corps is a voluntary uniformed group subsidised by the Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club. It was created in 1995 with ties to the British Army's Army Cadet Force and Combined Cadet Force. Like the Hong ...
,
Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps
The Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps () is a voluntary uniformed group (although employees working at headquarters are paid) subsidised by the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong government and is registered under the Societies Ordinance as a non-pro ...
and
Hong Kong Army Cadets Association Limited
The Hong Kong Army Cadets Association (), established on 18 January 2015, is a Hong Kong Uniformed Youth Group (), it is connected with the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison and the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in th ...
. They are now funded by the
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
government and has no ties to either the
British Forces or the
PLA
PLA may refer to:
Organizations Politics and military
* People's Liberation Army, the armed forces of China and of the ruling Chinese Communist Party
* People's Liberation Army (disambiguation)
** Irish National Liberation Army, formerly called ...
.
India
In India, the
National Cadet Corps National Cadet Corps may refer to:
*Bangladesh National Cadet Corps
*National Cadet Corps (Ghana)
*National Cadet Corps (India)
*National Cadet Corps (Pakistan)
*National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
*National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)
The National ...
is a voluntary cadet organization for motivating college students to pursue a career in the
Indian Armed Forces. It aims to develop qualities of character, discipline, teamwork, leadership and adventure in the students. The corps organizes outdoor activities, such as camping, trekking, mountain climbing, etc. besides providing small arms training to cadets. Cadets have no commitment for serving in the armed forces, but are given a preference by the Services Selection Board when applying for officer commissions in the military services.
''Cadet'' is also used as a rank for those enrolled in
military academies of India
The Indian Defence services have established numerous academies and staff colleges across India for the purpose of training professional soldiers in military sciences, warfare command and strategy, and associated technologies.
Education and train ...
, such as the
National Defence Academy,
Indian Military Academy,
Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy,
Indian Coast Guard Academy
The Indian Coast Guard Academy will be a military training institute for Indian Coast Guard personnel, which is currently under construction in Mangalore, Karnataka .
History
Indian Coast Guard personnel were historically trained at the Indian ...
or
Armed Forces Medical College (India)
upright=1.1, AFMC main building
The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) is a leading medical training institute in Pune, India, in the state of Maharashtra. The college is managed by the Indian Armed Forces.
Established in May 1948 as a post ...
. Trainee mariners of maritime college such as
Indian Maritime University
The Indian Maritime University (IMU) is a public central university directly under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in India. It deals with a wide range of topics related to the sea, ranging from oceanography to maritime law and h ...
are also called as Cadet. These cadets are commissioned as officers in the respective service upon graduation, and make a commitment to serve. The term Gentleman Cadet is used to refer to
Indian Military Academy trainees.
Indonesia
In the
service academies
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally provides education in a military environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned. ...
of Indonesia which includes (Military, Naval, and Air Force) also with the
Police Academy
A police academy, also known as a law enforcement training center, police college, or police university, is a training school for police cadets, designed to prepare them for the law enforcement agency they will be joining upon graduation, or othe ...
, cadets are called ''Taruna'' for military academy and police academy cadets, ''Kadet'' for naval academy cadets, and ''Karbol'' for air force academy cadets in
Indonesian
Indonesian is anything of, from, or related to Indonesia, an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. It may refer to:
* Indonesians, citizens of Indonesia
** Native Indonesians, diverse groups of local inhabitants of the archipelago
** Indonesian ...
. For recruits or trainee who are training to be soldiers or police personnel in the enlisted ranks, the term is called ''Siswa'' which literally means "student", it also refers to students who are studying in military high schools and other training institutions.
Ireland
In Ireland, a ''cadet'' is a pupil of the military
college
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering ...
, which carries out officer training for the
Air Corps,
Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
and
Naval Service Naval Service may refer to either:
* His Majesty's Naval Service, Britain's Royal Navy plus additional services
* Naval Service (Ireland), a branch of the Irish Defence Forces
* United States Department of the Navy, United States military department ...
. Training takes two years and the cadets are split into senior and junior grades and classes.
Jamaica
The cadet force came into being on November 1, 1943, and was then known as the Army and Air Cadet Force. The creation of the force was instigated by the then officer commanding (OC) troops – Brigadier T. Denis DALY, M.C; the then garrison commander – Colonel C. W. M. FIRTH, M.C; the then director of education – Hon. B. H. EASTER, C.M.G, C.B.E. and the first commandant of the cadet force in Jamaica - Colonel Michael Ralph de CORDOVA, CBE, ED, JP (then Major Michael Ralph de CORDOVA, M.B.E) who evolved the organization, rules and regulations and also designed its badge and heraldry. Prior to this date, one or two schools had training units (Army Training Corps), but by the end of November 1943, cadet units were formed in 16 different schools, colleges, and training centres, and the force was organized with an establishment of 46 officers and 1,068 cadets under the command of then Lt Col M. R. de CORDOVA.
Netherlands

The
Royal Military Academy ( nl,
Koninklijke Militaire Academie or ''KMA'') is the
service academy for the
Dutch Army, the
Dutch Air Force, and the
Royal Marechaussee. Located in
Breda
Breda () is a city and municipality in the southern part of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Brabant. The name derived from ''brede Aa'' ('wide Aa' or 'broad Aa') and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. Breda has ...
, the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
, the KMA has trained future
officers
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
since 1828. All students serve as cadet or holding an upper cadet rank (i.e. ''cadet-sergeant'')
Students of the Dutch
Royal Naval College ( nl,
Koninklijk Instituut voor Marine or ''KIM''), the
service academy for the
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Royal Netherlands Navy ( nl, Koninklijke Marine, links=no) is the naval force of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
During the 17th century, the navy of the Dutch Republic (1581–1795) was one of the most powerful naval forces in the world an ...
, including the
Netherlands Marine Corps
The Netherlands Marine Corps ( nl, Korps Mariniers) is the elite naval infantry corps of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines trace their origins back to the establishment of the on 10 December 1665, by the then grand pensionary of the Dut ...
do not serve as ''cadet'', but as adelborst, the Dutch term for
midshipman
A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...
, or holding an upper ''adelborst'' rank (i.e. ''sergeant-adelborst'').
Both cadets and adelborsts are addressed as "''jonker''" (derived from "''jonge heer''" ("young lord") ).
New Zealand
In New Zealand, the cadet forces comprises the
Sea Cadet Corps
Sea cadets are members of a sea cadet corps, a formal uniformed youth organisation for young people with an interest in waterborne activities and or the national navy. The organisation may be sponsored in whole or in part by the navy or a naval s ...
(SCC), the
New Zealand Cadet Corps
The New Zealand Cadet Corps (also known as Army Cadets and NZCC), is one of the three corps in the New Zealand Cadet Forces, the other two being the Air Training Corps, and Sea Cadet Corps. There is no reference to the Army within the official ti ...
(NZCC), and the
Air Training Corps (ATC). All three corps are part of the umbrella organisation of the
New Zealand Cadet Forces.
Norway
In Norway, a cadet is an officer in training at one of the three Norwegian War Academies ("Krigsskole"). Each service branch (Army, Navy, and Air Force) is responsible for its own war academy (i.e. Naval War Academy).
The cadets hold the rank of 2nd Lieutenant during training, and graduates as a 1st Lieutenant.
Pakistan
Pakistan has a strong line of cadet colleges throughout the country.
Cadet Colleges Cadet college is a special military school system of British India and later, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
History
British India
This system was first established in the pre-Partition, pre-Independence era in order to support the push to indigeni ...
are special school system of the
Pakistan Armed Forces
The Pakistan Armed Forces (; ) are the military forces of Pakistan. It is the world's sixth-largest military measured by active military personnel and consist of three formally uniformed services—the Army, Navy, and the Air Force, which are ...
that act as feeder schools for the services officer training academies of the
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...
,
Navy
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...
and
Air Force
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an a ...
. They are specifically intended to prepare young students from a very broad range of socioeconomic and linguistic backgrounds to pass the demanding physical, educational, psychological and behavioural standards of the
Inter Services Selection Board (ISSB). This is distinct from the purpose of regular cantonment schools intended to educate the children of service members. The expansion of the Pakistan armed forces, and the broadening of the social base of its officers corps from the 1960s onwards has inevitably led to the expansion in the number of cadet colleges and their distribution around the country.
Philippines
In the Philippines, the term ''cadet'' is used in mostly military attached organizations, but it is more distinctive in the
service academies
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally provides education in a military environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned. ...
of the Philippines,
.g., the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the Philippine National Police Academy">Philippine_Military_Academy.html" ;"title=".g., the Philippine Military Academy">.g., the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA), Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) and Aerospace Cadets of the Philippines (ACP)]. Graduates of these service academies are automatically given officer commissions in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. Graduates of PMMA are given reserve officer status in the Philippine Navy and mostly go to private shipping firms. The term cadet is also applicable to the enrollees of Citizen's Army Training (for high school) and Reserve Officer Training Corps (for college). Service academy cadets are thought to be between the NCO and officer ranks, and NCO consider cadets as rank higher to them. Punishments for the cadets depends on their violations. If a cadet violated the rules and regulations of Philippine Military Training and the rules of the school itself, the cadet will get punished by either doing push-ups, pumping, or squat.
Officer candidates are referred to RESCOM, AFPOCS and PCGOBETC students who had baccalaureate degree, foreign service academies and reserve officer pools undergoing 4 months to 1 year of rigorous military training. On the other hand, cadets are referred to students of military schools undergoing 4 years of military training while completing their college degree.
Russia
In Russia, cadets are students who study in the
Cadet Corps (Russia)
A Cadet corps (russian: Кадетский корпус, translit=Kadetskiy korpus), historically an admissions-based all-boys military cadets school, prepared boys to become commissioned officers in Imperial Russia. Boys entered a cadet corps be ...
which are military schools subordinate to the
Ministry of Defence (Russia)
The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (russian: Министерство обороны Российской Федерации, Минобороны России, informally abbreviated as МО, МО РФ or Minoboron) is the govern ...
, they provide secondary education and also have additional military related classes which are to prepare children for future service.
Singapore
In
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
, there are three national cadet forces, the
National Cadet Corps National Cadet Corps may refer to:
*Bangladesh National Cadet Corps
*National Cadet Corps (Ghana)
*National Cadet Corps (India)
*National Cadet Corps (Pakistan)
*National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
*National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)
The National ...
, the
National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC), and the
National Civil Defence Cadet Corps
The National Civil Defence Cadet Corps (NCDCC) of Singapore was formed in 2005 and is currently the newest recognised member of the National Uniformed Group. The creation of this Uniformed Group was initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs in r ...
(NCDCC). Secondary school students who are members of these three organisations are called 'cadets'.
In NPCC and NCDCC, the rank of Cadet is below the rank of Lance Corporal. For NPCC, Secondary One students officially attain the rank of Cadet at their Area's Swearing-In Ceremony. Cadets do not bear any rank insignia; however, the letters 'NPCC' and 'NCDCC' are at the bottom of the rank to differentiate NPCC and NCDCC Cadets from
Singapore Police Force and
Singapore Civil Defence Force personnel respectively.
Sri Lanka
In
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
, there is one primary cadet force which is the
National Cadet Corps National Cadet Corps may refer to:
*Bangladesh National Cadet Corps
*National Cadet Corps (Ghana)
*National Cadet Corps (India)
*National Cadet Corps (Pakistan)
*National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
*National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)
The National ...
(NCC). In recent years the NCC developed an Air Force Wing, a Naval Wing and a Police Wing. Western Cadet Bands and Eastern Cadet Bands
The National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka) is the Sri Lankan military cadet corps and is a Ministry of Defence sponsored youth organisation in Sri Lanka. Formally the Ceylon Cadet Corps since 1881. It is open to high school students on voluntary basis and has a history of more than 126 years. The officers are teachers who act as instructors. The Cadets are given basic military training in small arms and parades. The officers and cadets have no liability for active military service but many volunteer to join the armed forces.
South Africa
South Africa has a long history of having cadets, with many schools having their own corps, however after the end of
apartheid
Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...
they were phased out. Cadets exist today, with some schools still maintaining their own unit. The Sea Cadets are also still in existence.
Turkey
In Turkey, a cadet is a pupil of the military college, which carries out officer training for the Air Forces, Army, Naval Forces and coast guard and gendarmerie. Training takes two years and the cadets are split into senior and junior grades and classes. Military colleges and schools were gathered under one roof within the
National Defense University in 2016.
UK

In
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
countries, including the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, the rank of Cadet is the first rank of the cadet forces, higher ranks also contain the word cadet such as Cadet Warrant Officer used in the
Air Training Corps however in practice they are often referred to CWO; the other ranks such as Cadet Corporal are sometimes known as Corporal. In the United Kingdom the cadet forces are the
Community Cadet Forces,
Combined Cadet Force
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which operates in schools, and normally includes Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force sections. Its aim is to "provide a ...
and the
Volunteer Cadet Corps
The Volunteer Cadet Corps (VCC) is a national youth organisation managed by the United Kingdom's Royal Navy and sponsored by the UK's Ministry of Defence. The VCC comprises:
* Headquarters VCC. Based at in Gosport.
* VCC Training Centre. Base ...
. Other cadet organisations include
Police Cadets, and
St John Ambulance Cadets.
Officers in training at one of the UK's officer training schools, these are
Britannia Royal Naval College for the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
,
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) is the principal military training centre for the Royal Marines. It is situated near the villages of Lympstone and Exton, between the city of Exeter, and the town of Exmouth in Devon, England.
Histo ...
for the
Royal Marines
The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...
,
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS or RMA Sandhurst), commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is one of several military academies of the United Kingdom and is the British Army's initial officer training centre. It is located in the town of ...
for the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
and
Royal Air Force College Cranwell for the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
, as well as students who are part of the
Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme
The Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS) is a university sponsorship programme for students who want to join the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force or Engineering and Science branch of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Civil Service a ...
, have the rank of
Officer Cadet
Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Units, University Officer Training Corps and University Air ...
''.''
United States

In the United States, ''cadet'' refers to a full-time college student who is concurrently in training to become a commissioned officer of the armed forces. Students enrolled in military-themed secondary education academies or school programs (
JROTC) are also referred to as cadets.
Students at the
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...
, the
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a United States service academy in El Paso County, Colorado, immediately north of Colorado Springs. It educates cadets for service in the officer corps of the United States Air Force and Uni ...
, and the
United States Coast Guard Academy respectively hold the rank of Cadet, United States Army; Cadet, United States Air Force; and Cadet, United States Coast Guard, while students in the
Army Reserve Officer Training Corps
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AROTC) is the United States Army component of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It is the largest Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program which is a group of college and university-based offic ...
(AROTC) and the
Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) respectively hold the rank of Cadet, United States Army Reserve; and Cadet, United States Air Force Reserve. In contrast, students at the
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
and those enrolled in the
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at civilian colleges and universities are referred to as "midshipman" (plural: "midshipmen") vice cadet and hold Midshipman rank in the United States Navy and United States Naval Reserve, respectively.
Students at the
United States Merchant Marine Academy and the preponderance of students at the Maine Maritime Academy, the
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, the
California Maritime Academy and the
State University of New York Maritime College, though called cadets at their respective institutions, actually hold the rank of
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...
,
United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marines are United States civilian mariners and U.S. civilian and federally owned merchant vessels. Both the civilian mariners and the merchant vessels are managed by a combination of the government and private sectors, an ...
Reserve, United States Naval Reserve. Some state-sponsored military colleges, including The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and private military colleges,
Wentworth Military Academy (WMA, closed in 2017, but still having an "OLD BOY" Facebook page and museum,)
Norwich University
Norwich University – The Military College of Vermont is a private senior military college in Northfield, Vermont. It is the oldest private and senior military college in the United States and offers bachelor's and master's degrees on-campus ...
(NU), refer to their students as cadets, or have lists of corps of cadets.
The word cadet also refers to youths in military youth organizations. These include the
American Cadet Alliance
The American Cadet Alliance (ACA), formerly the United States Army Cadet Corps (USAC) was founded under the name " Colonel Cody's Boy Scouts" by Captain James H. C. Smyth at the First Presbyterian Church, Manhattan, New York in 1909. The ACA ...
, the
California Cadet Corps, the
United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, the
Young Marines
The Young Marines is a youth program in the United States and Japan open to all youth between the ages of 8 to 18 or
high school graduation (whichever is later, not to exceed 20 years of
age). The Young Marines program is the lea ...
and the
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded mem ...
.
See also
*
Cadet rifle
Springfield Model 1922 cadet rifle
A tangent sight on a CZ 452 rifle, with calibrated markings for ranges out to 300 meters
Australian Air Force Cadets using the CZ 452 during firearms training
TOZ-17
L81 A2 Cadet Target Rifle
C12A1 Canadian ...
*
Police Cadet
*
The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps
The Cadets Drum Corps (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Cadets of Garfield, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, The Cadets was one of the thirteen ...
*
Medical Cadet Corps
The Medical Cadet Corp (MCC) is a program of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (Adventist church) started in the 1930s in the United States with the intention of preparing young men of draft age for military service in noncombatant roles. The trai ...
*
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC) is the military component of the student body at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Cadets live together in residence halls, attend morning formation, wear a distinctive uniform, and recei ...
*
Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps
The Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps () is a voluntary uniformed group (although employees working at headquarters are paid) subsidised by the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong government and is registered under the Societies Ordinance as a non-pro ...
*
California Cadet Corps
*
Deck Cadet (Maritime)
References
External links
Volunteer Cadet Corps(Royal Naval and Royal Marines Cadets)
Online community for cadets in UK!EtymologyOnLineUnited States Army Cadet CorpsArmy Cadets in Exeter & East DevonUnited States Naval Sea Cadet CorpsUK Sea Cadet CorpsiPoliceCadet.comNew Zealand Cadet ForcesCanadian Cadet MovementWeb Cadet Corps: Online International Cadet Organization circa 1996Australian Cadet SiteSwiss Cadets AssociationSwiss Verkehrskadetten AssociationAlpha Company Royal Marines Cadets
{{Authority control
Military ranks
Military ranks of the United States Coast Guard
Military youth groups
Police ranks