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 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".

Early history

The Royal Canadian Army Cadets (RCAC) can trace its history to the creation of drill associations or militia companies in 1861, predating confederation by six years.^[4] 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 Canada East and Canada West.

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 (Nov. 1879), and No. 7 Royal Canadian Army Cadets in St. Thomas, Ontario (Feb. 1880), 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 Oct. 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. This followed the High School Cadet Instructor's Certificate, established in 1898 through the Canadian Militia.

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 and includes the CIC Branch and former members of the Primary Reserve and Regular Force who retain their previous branch affiliation while serving the Cadet Organization.

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. Many 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.^[6]

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. Regular Force members, many who had served in Korea staffed the Area Cadet Offices that managed the corps and the summer camps.

Unification of the Canadian Forces

Following the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, a number of changes occurred in the Army Cadet world:

• QR&O (Cadets) brought Sea and Air Cadet commissioned officers under the single service control of the Canadian Forces and standardized the three Cadet Organizations.
• A directorate of cadets was established in Ottawa, at the Department of National Defence headquarters, to set policy and co-ordinate the activities of the Sea, Army and Air Cadet Organizations.
• The Army Cadet League of Canada was formed in 1971 to provide the Royal Canadian Army Cadets with the same civilian and Canadian Armed Forces partnership structure that was enjoyed by Sea Cadets and Air Cadets through the long established Navy League and the Air Cadet League.
• Officers of the Cadet Services of Canada, The Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and former Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve Cadet Instructors were consolidated in the Cadet Instructor List, which was redesignated the Cadet Instructor Cadre in July 1994.
• The Army Cadet League's Arms, Supporters, Flag and Badge were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on March 31. 1995^[7]

Females in the cadet program

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.^[8]

Optional Training

In the cadet program there are several optional training programs which consist of:

• Military Band and Pipes Band
• Marksmanship
• Biathlon
• First Aid Program
• Drill Team
• Orienteering
• Rappelling
• Parachuting

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:

• Green Star (Level 1)
• Red Star (Level 2)
• Silver Star (Level 3)
• Gold Star (Level 4)
• Master Cadet (Level 5)

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 (OJT) and self-led professional development opportunities. As of August 4, 2023, the National Star of Excellence program has been phased out.^[9]

Cadets are taught a variety of subjects, known as Performance Objectives (PO) 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:

Summer Training

Selected Army Cadets can attend summer training at locations across Canada. The training supports and expands the local headquarters program. Green Star and Red Star cadets attend the Cadet Activity Program (CAP), but Silver Stars, Gold Stars, and Master Cadets attend training courses at Cadet Training Centres (CTC) across the country. CTC courses can last from two to seven weeks. Experienced cadets may apply to be employed as staff cadets to assist the adult instructors at CTCs or CAP.

Cadet Training Centres

This section's factual accuracy is disputed. (March 2024)

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:

• CTC Argonaut, which is located at CFB Gagetown.
• CTC Bagotville, which is located at CFB Bagotville.
• CTC Blackdown, which is located at CFB Borden.
• CTC Brandon, which is located in Brandon, Manitoba.
• CTC Cold Lake, which is located at CFB Cold Lake.
• CTC Connaught, which is located in Nepean, Ontario.
• CTC Greenwood, which is located at CFB Greenwood.
• CTC St-Jean, which is located in St-Jean-sur-Rechileau, Quebec.
• CTC Trenton, which is located at CFB Trenton.
• CTC Valcartier, which is located at CFB Valcartier.
• CTC Vernon, which located in Vernon, British Columbia.
• HMCS Quadra, which is located in Comox, British Columbia.

Headdress

A variety of headdresses are worn by the Royal Canadian Army Cadets, such include:

• The beret is the most common form of headdress. The colour black is worn by armored and artillery, rifle green by infantry, scarlet by Military Police, and maroon by Airborne Cadet Corps).
• The glengarry, balmoral, and caubeen are typically worn by kilted regiments and their respective pipe bands. These regiments typically wear green berets in place of their other headdresses when in their Field Training Uniform.
  • These pieces of headdress are typically considered regimental kit, and are typically not issued to junior ranks.
• The Forage Cap is also a form of headdress typically worn by G.G.H.G. (Governor General's Horse Guards) and G.G.F.G. (Governor General's Foot Guards) affiliated Cadet Corps.

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

• All Cadets are issued with a standard, rifle green tunic, which, apart from the material and colour, mimics the style of Canadian Expeditionary Force tunics during the First World War.
• The tunic is accompanied by a waist belt secured by loops sewn onto the tunic itself.
  • Although unofficial in the Cadet Administrative Training Orders (CATO), upon a promotion to a certain rank, appointment, membership to the drill team, flag party or other circumstances the Cadet may be issued a white or black parade belt with either the regiment's brass buckle, or the standard Canadian Forces brass buckle.
• The top button of the tunic is always left undone and a tie is worn with an issued short sleeve collared shirt.
  • Special cases such as rank, appointment, regimental standing orders, or weather may call for the wear of the tunic without a tie, or with an ascot (Under discretion of the Commanding Officer of Unit or CSTC).
• All badges showing a Cadet's corps, achievement, and rank are sewn directly onto the tunic.
• Cadet Medals are worn on the right side (In accordance with national direction that only Orders, Decorations, or Medals that are part of the Canadian Honours System are worn on the left).

Parade Boots

• In 2017, Cadets Canada released a Multipurpose Boot, designed to eventually replace both Parade Boots and Combat Boots. However, most corps still use the Canadian Forces Parade Boots. (as of 2019)
• Cadets are issued with one pair of Canadian Forces parade boots, or the Multipurpose Boots. These boots come in three main variations. They are typically referred to as:
  • Parade boots (1st Gen):
    • Similar in appearance to British ammunition boots
    • American Biltrite oil and acid resistant sole
    • Steel toe
    • Typically manufactured by Boulet
    • No longer in production, issued by some Cadet Corps
    • Regarded as being louder, easier to polish, and longer lasting by Cadets
  • Hybrid boots (2nd Gen):
    • Steel toe
    • Similar in appearance to parade boots
    • Current issue by both the Canadian Forces and Army, Air and Sea Cadets
  • "Moon" boots (3rd Gen):
    • Feature a clunky and heavy Vibram sole
    • Drastically different in appearance to parade boots and hybrid boots
    • Current issue by both the Canadian Forces and Army, Air and Sea Cadets

Cadet Field Training Uniform (FTU)

• Cadets are issued a pair of pants and a tunic that is olive drab in colour and is of similar cut of Canadian Forces uniforms of 2000-2010.
• Cadets are authorized to wear the Cadet Field Training Uniform, depending on the supply of the unit or CSTC, according to their duties and/or at the discretion of their Commanding Officer.
  • The Cadet Field Training Uniform has rank slides on the centre of the chest.
  • The Cadet Field Training Uniforms can be easily identified by the "Cadets Canada" logo embroidered on the large pocket covers on the shirt and the pants.
• Some Cadet Corps (depending on budget and other expenditures) provide combat boots free of charge to their Cadets. Others may purchase their own pair of boots from Army Surplus stores, private trades, or have them handed down from retired Cadets.
  • Due to shortages in black CF Mark Three and Four boots, Cadets have been requested to purchase much more expensive proprietary boots (Ex. S.W.A.T.), or used tan CF boots.
  • However, cadets are not to be required to purchase their own combat boots. They must be issued to be considered a mandatory requirement.
  • With the introduction of Multipurpose Boots in 2017, cadets are able to wear the same boots from their parade uniform on their C-5 dress (if they are Multipurpose Boots).
• The tunic has two drawstrings; one at the hem and one at the waist to give the tunic a form fitting appearance.
• The trousers are to be bloused above the boot with blousing bands, or with the included drawstrings at the bottom of each pant leg.