Every day, young people are confronted with decisions regarding their future.

The Army Cadet movement can help with those decisions by encouraging young people to develop self-discipline, confidence, pride, responsibility and a sense of self worth..

The AIMS of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets are to develop in youth the attributes of "Good Citizenship and Leadership, to Promote Physical Fitness", and to "Stimulate interest in the Canadian Armed Forces". All this is achieved in a challenging, yet disciplined environment.

Army Cadets are not part of the Canadian Forces. The movement is, however, sponsored in part by the Department of National Defense in partnership with the
Army Cadet League of Canada.

The Army Cadet League is made up of members of the civilian community who are dedicated to the development of youth. Sponsoring committees at each Army Cadet Corps work along with the league. These committees are supported by parents, business professionals and other individuals willing to volunteer time and energy to help ensure the success of the local corps.

Army Cadets are instructed by members of the Cadet Instructors Cadre.
These specialist officers of the Canadian forces reserve are trained to instruct
and supervise young people. They too are members of the local community
who have civilian careers but have chosen to dedicate their valuable time to working with young Canadians.

Army Cadets offer many unique adventure oriented experiences. For example, cadets can learn how to Abseil down a rock-face or to survive in the wilderness. They could also gain cultural experience by traveling across Canada to attend various training courses, or even to a foreign country as part of an International Army Cadet Exchange Programme.

It does not cost anything to join Army Cadets. In fact, selected cadets who complete certain courses are paid a training bonus! The Army Cadet League assisted by the local Army Cadet Corps does periodically hold fund raising campaigns to help pay for expenses involved in optional training activities.

Please support your children and our efforts to help them explore the
challenging opportunities of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets.

The earliest reference to a cadet unit being organized dates from 1861; six years before confederation!

The General Militia Orders of June 3, 1861 authorized a Volunteer Militia Rifle Company, Class B.

Although this rifle company was more of an Officer Training Corps than a cadet corps, the beginnings of the Royal Canadian Army Cadets had been laid.

On November 28, 1879 the formation of "Associations for Drill in Educational Institutions" were authorized. The Drill Associations were for young men over 14 years of age still enrolled in studies in the school. This is recognized as the official founding of the RCAC.

In 1887 students over 12 years of age were then allowed to take part in the training also, although individual schools were responsible for providing uniforms to wear and suitable officers for training.

The term "Cadet Corps" first appeared in 1898. A Cadet Corps' affiliation with local militia units dates from 1899. The first regulations for cadets were issued in 1906, which allowed three types of cadet corps to exist based on the status of the cadets themselves.

In 1918 there were over 64,000 cadets enrolled, and upwards of 40,000 ex-cadets had voluntarily served their country during the First World War.

 

Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC)

 

The CIC is the largest officer branch of Canadian Forces (CF). There are over 5,000 CIC officers involved in the training of over 50,000 cadets across Canada.

There are over 1 000 cadet units across the country and many of them are looking for dynamic adults interested in joining their staff.

The Cadet Instructors Cadre is a sub-component of the Canadian Reserve Force.
It is composed of adults who dedicate their free time taking care of Canada's Youth. These adults are carefully screened before being enrolled as Reserve Officers in the Canadian Forces.

All Officers of the CIC hold the same commission as do all other officers of the Canadian Forces. They must undergo training specifically designed for them.

The CIC is one of the most diversified and active components of the CF.
Our officers are highly committed and experienced individuals who use their backgrounds as teachers, doctors, police officers, students, lawyers, bankers, city workers other members of the Canadian Forces as well as many other occupations in the support of cadet training objectives. All of these individuals have similar goals: to ensure that our cadets benefit from the best training possible and that they develop their skills to the fullest. The best possible reward for an officer of the CIC is to see his/her cadets progress and achieve their full potential.

Members of the CIC are a key element in the outstanding success story of Canadian Cadet Organizations. Our members rapidly become important figures in the life's of the cadets put under their charge. They are often asked to be "surrogate" parents, sisters, brothers, to some of these youths. This role takes even more importance in today's society where so many teenagers are looking for credible role models, a sense of direction and a sense of belonging.

Members of the CIC are involved in every aspect of the Cadet Organizations, from the administration and the supply to the training. However, being a CIC is not a career in itself; as for any other reservist of the CF, our members perform their main duties on a part-time basis, usually one or two evenings per week. Many however, will volunteer a great deal more, often spending their entire weekends, so that cadets have even more opportunities to get involved in interesting activities. In fact, it is safe to say that most could not even tell how many days they devote each year to cadet activities.

CIC officers are driven by a strong desire to see cadets grow into responsible and proud young adults and succeed (many would say that being involved in cadet business is simply addictive). It is in fact very easy to get caught in the enthusiasm generated by a group of teenagers full of promise and looking for camaraderie.

Although CICs might very well be involved in a part-time capacity, they are full-time Youth Leaders. For them, taking care of teenagers is not a job, it is a highly enjoyable way of fulfilling a very important civic mission.

"C.I.C. Training Canada's Leaders of Tomorrow"!