@Former AE is active within the Royal Marines Cadets and has written an overview of the current role of Cadets, its structure and history.
News related to Royal Marines Cadets can be posted here along with questions which are relevant to Cadets.
Introduction
As part of the Sea Cadets, the Royal Marines Cadets (RMC) participate in all waterborne activities as well as having the opportunity to branch off and partake in more strenuous adventure training. The RMVCC are a separate organisation but works along the same lines as their SCC equivalent and on occasions we work together. They are based at Lympstone, Portsmouth and Arbroath.
The RMC learn fieldcraft, map reading and weapons handling as part of their core syllabus and take part in training exercises across the country to not only expand their core skills but to also test their navigational and fieldcraft skills.
Royal Marines Cadets are based in Detachments which sit within Sea Cadet units. There are currently approximately 136 RMC detachments across the UK. The lower age limit to be a Royal Marines Cadet is 13 years, with ageing out being 18 years of age.
RMC History
The RMC was originally formed in 1954 by the CGRM and originally named Marine Cadet Section. In 2011 the MCS was renamed the Royal Marines Cadets (RMC) following approval from HM the Queen. Since its formation the RMC has expanded from five detachments to approximately 136. We were presented with our Colours By HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip in the garden of Buckingham Palace on the occasion of the Corps 350th anniversary and marched along The Mall behind the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines.
Objectives: In addition to the aim of the Sea Cadet Corps, the Royal Marines Cadet section has three objectives:
- To provide a platform for young people with an interest in the Royal Marines to broaden their knowledge of that Corps.
- Instil the qualities of good citizenship and high moral values in our young people by using the skills, ethos and qualities of the Royal Marines.
- To be advocates of the Royal Marines throughout communities and to increase the footprint of the Royal Marines family within those communities.
Royal Marines Cadets Structure
The Royal Marines Cadets section is an integral part of the SCC and although both the SCC and RMC partake in joint events the RMC looks to the Corps of Royal Marines for its styles, standards of dress, drill and training.
National: The operational head of the RMC is the Staff Royal Marines Officer (SRMO), who is a serving Colour Sergeant on secondment from the Royal Marines. He is responsible for overseeing the running of the RMC and reporting to the CSC. He is also responsible for conducting the annual CATSEA, field assessment including blank firing, which all detachments must participate in.
The SRMO is assisted by the Royal Marines Cadets Senior Staff Officer (RMCSSO) and Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), who is the senior WO1 in the Royal Marines Cadets.
In addition to appointments made within the SCC, the honorary appointment of Colonel Commandant Royal Marines Cadets is made by the Queen, in conjunction with the Commandant General Royal Marines to act as a focus for all the Royal Marines Cadet organisations, including the RMC of the SCC.
Company: The Royal Marines Cadets of the SCC is divided up into Royal Marines Cadet (RMC) Companies which are aligned to the six Sea Cadet Areas and each is identified by a phonetic letter, the exception being Command Company.
| HQ | Command Company |
|---|
| South West | Alpha Company |
| North West | Bravo Company |
| London | Lima Company |
| Eastern | X-Ray Company |
| Northern | Yankee Company |
| Southern | Zulu Company |
Each company has a Company Commander, usually a Major (SCC) RMR and in addition, Company staff include:
- Company 2IC – Second in Command – Organisation of the Company and Officer Development
- Company Training Officer – organises Company-level training
- Company Sergeant Major (CSM) – SNCO Development
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant – Stores
- Company Drill Leader
- Company Medic
- Company Signals Officer
- Company Training Team
Troops: RMC Companies are made up of Troops. These Troops are known as: 1 Troop, 2 Troop, 3 Troop, continuing to a maximum required and overlap Districts as required. There should be enough Troops to manage the Detachments efficiently and effectively and the Area Officer, a serving RN Officer and RMCSSO are required that the Company/Troop structure is appropriate to manage this. Troops are led by Troop Commanders.
Detachments: Royal Marines Cadet Detachments (RMCD) are formed in authorised Sea Cadet units. The RMCDs are supported by RMC Officers and Senior Non Commissioned Officers (SNCO) dedicated to supporting those Detachments, led by the Detachment Commander. The RMC are fully integrated at every level into the Sea Cadet national organisation.
Links:
https://www.sea-cadets.org/royal-marines-cadets
https://www.facebook.com/RMCadetsSCC/
Many Cadet detachments also have their own Twitter and Instagram pages.
